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How Solomon Missed His Chance
35
her of the God of nature, of the great Creator, who dwells in heaven
and rules over all. And “Solomon answered all her questions; there
was nothing so difficult for the king, that he could not explain it to
her.”
1 Kings 10:1-3
; see
2 Chronicles 9:1, 2
.
“When the Queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon,
the house that he had built, ... there was no more spirit in her.” She
acknowledged, “It was a true report which I heard in my own land
about your words and your wisdom. However I did not believe the
words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half
was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of
which I heard.”
1 Kings 10:4-7
; see
2 Chronicles 9:3-6
.
Solomon had so fully taught the queen regarding the source of
his wisdom and prosperity that she was compelled not to praise the
human agent, but to exclaim, “Blessed be the Lord your God, who
delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the
Lord has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do
justice and righteousness.”
1 Kings 10:9
. This is the impression that
God intended to be made on all peoples.
If Solomon had continued to turn attention from himself to the
One who had given him wisdom, riches, and honor, what a history
might have been his! But, raised to the heights of greatness, Solomon
became dizzy, lost his balance, and fell. Constantly praised, he
finally permitted others to speak of him as the one most worthy
of praise for the matchless splendor of the building that had been
planned and built to honor the name of the Lord God of Israel.
So the temple of Jehovah came to be known throughout the
nations as “Solomon’s temple.” The human agent had taken to him-
self the glory that belonged to the One “higher than the highest.”
[26]
Ecclesiastes 5:8
. Even to this day the temple of which Solomon
declared, “This temple which I have built is called by Your name”
(
2 Chronicles 6:33
) is spoken of as “Solomon’s temple.”
We cannot show greater weakness than by allowing others to
give us the honor for gifts that are Heavenbestowed. When we are
faithful in exalting the name of God, He controls our impulses and
enables us to develop spiritual and intellectual power.
Jesus, the divine Master, taught His disciples to pray, “Our Father
in heaven, hallowed be Your name.” And they were to acknowledge,
“
Yours
is ... the glory.”
Matthew 6:9, 13
, emphasis supplied. Jesus