“The report I heard in my own country about your [Solomon’s] achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness.” (1 Kings 10:6-9, NIV 1984).
My Musings – This was the conclusion of the queen of Sheba. She had “heard about the fame of Solomon and his relation to the name of the Lord, [and] she came to test him with hard questions. Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan—with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind. Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her. When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed.” (1 Kings 10:1-5, NIV 1984).
What is particularly interesting is not only had the fame of Solomon spread, but also “his relation to the name of the Lord.” Resulting in her, in all likelihood a pagan queen, giving “praise…to the Lord your God.” Israel, God’s chosen people, surrounded as they were by pagan countries, was called to be a beacon of light though which all nations would be blessed. So, it was important, even then, that they “live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” (1 Peter 2:12, NIV 1984).
My Musings – As believers in Christ we are also, “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that [we] may declare the praises of him who called [us] out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9, NIV 1984). And during this age, we are called to be “the light of the world… [letting our] light shine before men, that they may see [our] good deeds and praise [our] Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13, 16, NIV 1984). We are not the source of the light, but merely a reflection of His light, so that people seeing it will also see in it our “relation to the name of the Lord.” In order that they will not merely “praise [our] Father in heaven,” but also come into the same relationship with Him that we have through Jesus Christ our Lord. So, let it shine, that the world may see it “with [their] own eyes.” And seeing, believe.
The Brew Is A Musing 