40
Prophets and Kings
Another of the deviations from right principles that finally led to
the downfall of Israel’s king was his yielding to the temptation to take
to himself the glory that belongs to God alone.
From the day that Solomon was entrusted with the work of building
the temple, to the time of its completion, his avowed purpose was “to
build an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.”
2 Chronicles
6:7
. This purpose was fully recognized before the assembled hosts
of Israel at the time of the dedication of the temple. In his prayer the
[66]
king acknowledged that Jehovah had said, “My name shall be there.”
1 Kings 8:29
.
One of the most touching portions of Solomon’s dedicatory prayer
was his plea to God for the strangers that should come from countries
afar to learn more of Him whose fame had been spread abroad among
the nations. “They shall hear,” the king pleaded, “of Thy great name,
and of Thy strong hand, and of Thy stretched-out arm.” In behalf of
every one of these stranger worshipers Solomon had petitioned: “Hear
Thou, ... and do according to all that the stranger calleth to Thee for:
that all people of the earth may know Thy name, to fear Thee, as do
Thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I
have builded, is called by Thy name.”
Verses 42, 43
.
At the close of the service, Solomon had exhorted Israel to be
faithful and true to God, in order that “all the people of the earth may
know,” he said, “that the Lord is God, and that there is none else.”
Verse 60
.
A Greater than Solomon was the designer of the temple; the wis-
dom and glory of God stood there revealed. Those who were un-
acquainted with this fact naturally admired and praised Solomon as
the architect and builder; but the king disclaimed any honor for its
conception or erection.
Thus it was when the Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon.
Hearing of his wisdom and of the magnificent temple he had built,
she determined “to prove him with hard questions” and to see for
herself his famous works. Attended by a retinue of servants, and with
camels bearing “spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones,”
[67]
she made the long journey to Jerusalem. “And when she was come to
Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.” She
talked with him of the mysteries of nature; and Solomon taught her of
the God of nature, the great Creator, who dwells in the highest heaven