2 Chronicles 9

Solomon was the great son of David. This was not what he said about himself. It was the conclusion of others who came from afar in order to verify the reports that they had heard about this man. One such observer was the queen of Sheba. She came to test him and she went away impressed with his wisdom and with his glorious life. She spoke of the king's greatness and honored him with many gifts.

It was the queen of Sheba's opinion that Solomon's subjects should be far from disappointed with the way that their king exercised his authority over the nation. “Happy are your wives! Happy are these your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!” Furthermore, she claimed that Solomon was a credit to his God. “Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on his throne as king for the Lord your God!” She said that God's gift of Solomon to Israel was a sign of the Lord's love for His people and His determination to bless them forever. “Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness.” The king received gifts from this royal emissary and he gave her gifts as she returned back to her own land.

Solomon's wealth was truly monumental. The details provided in this chapter are not only for the accountant to total up but also for the museum curator and the wildlife scientist and geologist to admire. He reigned for forty years until the day that he died.

An observer did not need faith in order to see the greatness of Solomon. Nor will faith be necessary to admire the glory of Jesus, the descendant of Solomon, when He comes again. On that day the entire earth will have to admit that one greater than Solomon has come.

It does take faith to see Jesus for who He is now. Only by faith can we see what the centurion saw when he looked at a man dying on a cross and said, “Truly this man was the Son of God.” Those who see the greatness of Jesus in His suffering and who long for His return are blessed by God.