Listen "#193 | The Rise and Fall of King Solomon: The Messenger"
Episode Synopsis
In this episode, we explore the mysterious account of the Queen of Sheba’s visit to King Solomon in 1 Kings 10:1–13. At first glance, her appearance in the narrative seems unnecessary—after all, Scripture has already told us that kings and nobles from all over the world were regularly coming to hear Solomon’s wisdom and bring him gifts. So why does the Bible pause to highlight this specific encounter?We dig into the subtle textual clues that suggest this visit by Queen Sheba is more than just an quest to satisfy curiosity. The Queen’s name—Sheba—bears a striking phonetic resemblance to the Hebrew word shuvah, meaning “to turn” or “return.” Could her journey symbolize a divine invitation for Solomon to turn back to God and fulfil his roles and responsibilities as Israel's King? What's important to recognize about this story is that it contains the only account in Solomon’s narrative of someone reminding him of his core responsibility as Israel’s king: to practice justice and righteousness. In doing so, she functions not just as a royal guest, but as a prophetic messenger—sent to gently remind Solomon and call him back to the heart of his vocation.We also take a closer look at her extravagant gifts and how they align with what Deuteronomy 17 permits a king to multiply— spices, and goods, but not gold, wives, horses, or foreign alliances. Her offerings may hint at a righteous form of royal prosperity—one that Solomon ultimately failed to embrace.Finally, we turn to Jesus’ reflection on this moment. When He declared that the “Queen of the South” would rise up and condemn His generation, He wasn’t just comparing his wisdom with Solomon's wisdom—He was saying that he was greater than Solomon in much the same way that our righteouness needs to be greater than the righteousness of the Pharisees. Jesus was more righteous than Solomon. Even without palace or riches, Jesus overflowed with the true wealth of God's kingdom—wisdom, power, and authority to overcome both the internal and external forms evil. And just as the Queen of Sheba journeyed to hear Solomon, those of Jesus' generation should have been willing to journey towards him. However, sadly, many in Jesus’ own day refused to draw near to him. Key Passages: 1 Kings 10:1-13Matthew 12:42Explainer Video on how to use www.biblehub.com and www.blueletterbible.orgLeave us a question or comment at our website podcast page.* Intro Music: "Admirable" Carlos Herrera Music