1Ki 10:1-13 “So King Solomon Exceeded all the kings of the Earth for Riches and for Wisdom”

Study Aired February 17, 2022]

1Ki 10:1  And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions. 
1Ki 10:2  And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. 
1Ki 10:3  And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not. 
1Ki 10:4  And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon’s wisdom, and the house that he had built, 
1Ki 10:5  And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her. 
1Ki 10:6  And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. 
1Ki 10:7  Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. 
1Ki 10:8  Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. 
1Ki 10:9  Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice. 
1Ki 10:10  And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
1Ki 10:11  And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones. 
1Ki 10:12  And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king’s house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day. 
1Ki 10:13  And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.

In last week’s study we looked at how God’s elect, who are the body of Christ (1Co 3:16, Eph 5:30), are the light of the world who preach the gospel of the kingdom of God to all men with works and words (Joh 14:11, Joh 14:20, Luk 6:43-45) which we understand are being accomplished by Christ, our hope of glory within (Col 1:27-28) and King on the throne of our hearts (Luk 17:21, Rom 8:9).

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 

Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 

Joh 14:11  Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. 

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 

Luk 6:43  For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 
Luk 6:44  For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 
Col 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 

Luk 17:21  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

It is in our hearts and minds that God is able to accomplish this witnessing of the kingdom of God to all nations within us giving us the power to subdue the powers and principalities that we are able to rule over through Jesus Christ (Eph 6:10-12, Eph 1:21) who is working in us both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure within (Php 2:12-13).

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 
Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 
Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 
Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

As we gain dominion over the beast of the field within our own lives, little and by little through Christ who increases as we decrease (Exo 23:29-30), the fruit of our lives increases (Luk 8:15) which outwardly witnesses to the world that our kingdom is not of this world (Joh 18:36, 1Jn 4:17), but rather resides within us in earnest as we wait on the Lord and possess our souls in patience with great hope, believing and anticipating that in a moment and in a twinkling of an eye this will happen: “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev 11:15)

Exo 23:29  I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. 
Exo 23:30  By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land. 

Luk 8:15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

When that day occurs, the Lord will draw the world to the body of Christ to witness to them the wisdom and riches of Christ within us, which is what this prophecy in Isaiah  (Isa 60:1-22) is all about. What we are looking at today in the tenth chapter of the first book of Kings is a type and shadow of the prophetic events found in Isaiah 60:1-22. So with that in mind, let’s look at these very confirming verses telling us what God has in store for those who love not their lives in this age (Rev 12:11) and are blessed to endure until the end through our Savior Jesus Christ (Php 4:13, Mat 24:13).

Isa 60:1  Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 
Isa 60:2  For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 
Isa 60:3  And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 
Isa 60:4  Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. 
Isa 60:5  Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. 
Isa 60:6  The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD. 
Isa 60:7  All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory. 
Isa 60:8  Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? 
Isa 60:9  Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. 
Isa 60:10  And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee. 
Isa 60:11  Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought. 
Isa 60:12  For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. 
Isa 60:13  The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. 
Isa 60:14  The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 
Isa 60:15  Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. 
Isa 60:16  Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. 
Isa 60:17  For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness. 
Isa 60:18  Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. 
Isa 60:19  The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. 
Isa 60:20  Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. 
Isa 60:21  Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. 
Isa 60:22  A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time. 

1Ki 10:1  And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions. 

The body of Christ will be proved by “the queen of Sheba” who represents Babylon during the thousand-year reign of the saints, the kingdoms of this world (Rev 11:15). That time of ruling over the nations is an unknown (Rev 20:6) amount of time seeing the thousand years represents the process of spiritual completion through judgment, three 10’s (10x10x10=1000) that God’s elect will be able to execute upon all nations so men can learn God’s righteousness because His judgments will be in the earth (Isa 26:9).

The world will be coming to prove the elect “with hard questions” and it will be the answers to those very hard questions that will sow the seed that will not return void until it is purified in the lake of fire (Isa 55:11, Joh 12:48, Rev 20:12, Rev 21:8). Nothing will be hidden from us regarding what is in the hearts of men as revealed in type and shadow with these words in regard to Solomon’s encounter with the queen of Sheba “there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not” (Luk 8:17, Joh 20:19).

Isa 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Joh 12:48  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 

Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works [words and the works are the same].

Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

1Ki 10:2  And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
1Ki 10:3  And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not. 

This is a very central section of our study as it shows the contrast between all the many wonderful works of the queen of Sheba who represents Babylon who “communed with him of all that was in her heart” and how “Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not“. Solomon as a type of the elect church can answer all of the world’s questions, and nothing is “hid from the king” again is a type and shadow statement of how nothing will be hidden from those who will be given to judge the nations under Christ (1Co 6:3, Heb 4:13).

1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 

Heb 4:13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

The world, represented by Babylon [the queen of Sheba], will bring to “Jerusalem” (Gal 4:26) which represents the mind of Christ [Solomon], “a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones” which represents the many wonderful works that people do in their flesh (Mat 7:22) separate and independent of the knowledge that God is sovereign and that we have no free will. This is the “very great train” that carries with it this lie of the devil from the very beginning, from the garden of Eden, where humanity attributes the disobedient actions of Adam and Eve as something that was a work of their hands independent from the Creator and therefore something that God had not determined according to the counsel of His own will from the start. We self-righteously look at the sins of others and say. “I wouldn’t do what they did if I were in the garden of Eden.” The truth is we will not be justified in this life until we are led by God to repent of such a spirit that just naturally reigns in the heart of mankind (Eph 1:11, Rom 2:4, Luk 18:13-14).

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Luk 18:13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 
Luk 18:14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Our speech can become very seasoned in this life prior to knowing Christ, which language is understood and heard by the world (1Jn 4:5). This is what the ‘spices’ Babylon carries before Solomon represent. However, when in the possession of Solomon they will serve a purpose which is more akin to the salt, which is a seasoning that enhances food spoken of in Colossians 4:6 and Matthew 5:13 telling us, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Solomon knew how to answer the queen, “Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not“, which represents how God’s elect will have this same grace given to them as saviors who come up on mount Zion, who will be able to discern good and evil to the glory of God, as Solomon also did with the “two women that were harlots” (1Ki 3:16-27), revealing to us in type and shadow who was the true church [of the two women] who possessed the true doctrine [child] (Heb 5:14, Mal 3:18).

Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 

Mal 3:18  Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

The much gold and precious stones of Babylon within us, although of great value, are still as so much dung in the eyes of God while it is wrapped around an idol of our heart (Eze 14:4) and connected to our earthly endeavors and completely unable to acknowledge God’s sovereignty (Php 3:8-11). That is what God is burning out of the elect so we can “be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.“

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 
Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 
Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 
Php 3:11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

All these treasures, the “spices, and very much gold, and precious stones“, are carried by an unclean animal, a camel (Deu 14:7), to remind us that these are works of the flesh and not of the spirit, and they do not and cannot compare to Solomon’s God-given riches and wisdom that “exceeded all the kings of the earth” (1Co 1:25).

1Ki 10:4  And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon’s wisdom, and the house that he had built, 
1Ki 10:5  And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her. 

Having no more “spirit^H7307 in her” could have also been translated “no more courage” (see Jos 2:11) or “no more breath” (see Jer 10:14, Jer 51:17), again showing us a shadow of the work in front of the elect, moving the world to repentance and a renewed spirit within them (Psa 76:12, Psa 78:8, Psa 34:18, Psa 51:10-12, Psa 104:30).

Psa 76:12  He shall cut off the spirit^H7307 of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.

Psa 78:8  And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit^H7307  was not stedfast with God.

Psa 34:18  The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit^H7307.

Psa 51:9  Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 
Psa 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit^H7307 within me. 
Psa 51:11  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit^H7307 from me. 
Psa 51:12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free^H5082 (noble, honorable)  spirit^H7307.

This section of scripture truly captures the moment when the world will come to see the resurrected Christ and His Christ, the world being represented by the queen: “And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon’s wisdom, and the house that he had built…” She was, as the world will be, left breathless: “…there was no more spirit in her” (1Ki 10:4,5).

Isa 66:8  Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1Co 2:9), and in this story the queen of Sheba is only seeing the fruit of Solomon’s life represented by “the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD“.

The “his servants” of this verse represent the elect of God (2Co 6:4), as does “the attendance of his ministers” and “their apparel” represent the righteousness of the saints (Rev 19:8). His “cupbearers” represent those who will bring healing to the nations with the word of God we will bear for the world’s sake as we do for each other today (Mat 10:42). This last section, “his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD“, is speaking of the relationship the elect have with God that has transcended the flesh (2Co 5:16), represented by the six steps that lead up to “the house of the LORD” (1Ki 10:19).  However, “the meat of his table” is from the Lord, and it will bring healing to all in God’s perfect time (Eze 47:12).

2Co 6:4  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers^G1249 of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 

Mat 10:42  And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

2Co 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh [six steps]: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 

1Ki 10:19  The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.

Eze 47:12  And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.

1Ki 10:6  And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.
1Ki 10:7  Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. 
1Ki 10:8  Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. 
1Ki 10:9  Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice. 

Blessed are those who believe and have not seen, quoted in John 20:29, cannot be said of someone who says to “the king…It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.“

It is in Babylon, in our “own land” that we hear of the great stories of the gospel, and of all the things that Christ did, represented by “thy acts and of thy wisdom“, yet we don’t believe the words until we start to be dragged out of Babylon and come to realize how blind we were “until I came, and mine eyes had seen“. It’s then, if we are blessed to continue in the truth and become disciples indeed, that we will deeply realize how corrupt the Babylonian interpretation of the gospel is out of which we come, by grace through faith (2Co 6:17, Eph 2:8).

The queen says “behold, the half was not told me“, meaning we really don’t know Jesus at all when we’ve only  ‘heard half of the story’. It is the sum of His word that is Truth (Psa 119:160 [ASV]). In Babylon, we do naturally add and take away from God’s word, and both are deceptive acts that God gives Satan the power to do (Psa 17:13, 2Co 4:4). When we take away from the words of God, He takes “away his [our] part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book” from us, meaning we have no stay of bread or water while in Babylon (Rev 22:19, Isa 3:1). The queen of Sheba represents the world who will come to see the truth through the body of Christ recognizing “thy wisdom and prosperity” that “exceedeth the fame which I heard” (Eph 3:10).

Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 

On the other side of that coin, the queen goes on to say, “Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom” (Rev 1:3) and “Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.” (Rom 11:26,  Oba 1:21, Isa 26:9). Just as the queen of Sheba here, we do at first speak beyond our understanding and can prophesy but always and only “by the inspiration of the Almighty” (Job 32:8, Pro 2:6, 1Co 13:9).

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. 

Rom 11:26  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S. 

Job 32:8  But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. 
Job 32:9  Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. 

Pro 2:6  For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 

1Co 13:9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

1Ki 10:10  And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.

The queen of Sheba represents Babylon who is going to give great increase or “great store^H7235” to Solomon so that he can lay up these “precious stones” and “abundance of spices” that were most abundantly given from her seeing she represents Babylon and this increase^H7235 (“great store” of this verse) that is promised by Christ who said he would build the church (Psa 71:21, Eze 36:11, Mat 16:18). That foundation is Christ, and He is the way, the truth, and the life (Joh 14:6), the pure foundational words of Christ which are likened to “an hundred and twenty [120] talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones“, which must be apprehended by Christ in us typified by Solomon who is now the recipient of all these great treasures that can now be purified seven times in an earthen vessel, the temple of God we are (1Co 3:16, Psa 12:6).

Psa 71:21  Thou shalt increase^H7235 my greatness, and comfort me on every side. 

Eze 36:11  And I will multiply^H7235 upon you man and beast; and they shall increase^H7235 and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 

Psa 12:6  The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times [Sheba^H7614 = “seven” or “an oath”].

1Ki 10:11  And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones. 
1Ki 10:12  And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king’s house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day. 

In our last study we saw how Solomon developed a navy that symbolizes the strength of Christ in us to rule over “Eziongeber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom“, which places represent our flesh. He also maintained a working relationship with Hiram, stated this way: “And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon“. It was through this relationship that Solomon was able to receive the benefit of his close tie to Hiram whose navy “came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon“.

In this section of Kings, we are seeing the fruit of this relationship with Hiram that is being brought forth, which is typical of how the gospel can go forth and be preached “whether in pretence, or in truth” (Php 1:18), by whichever navy, Solomon’s or Hiram’s, (the Lord can use either source) to bring “gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones“.

Now we not only have “gold from Ophir” and “precious stones“, we also have “plenty of almug trees” which trees we know represent men (Mar 8:24) who  are being made into “pillars for the house of the LORD” (Rev 3:12), and “harps also and psalteries for singers” which represent those who are now blessed to have become a new creation from those “almug trees” (2Ch 2:8) who are now able to worship God in spirit and in truth (Joh 4:21-23).

2Ch 2:8  Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon [‘white’, (this is the negative example of white representing self-righteousness) ‘incense’ – Hitchcock definition]; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants,

Lebanon or LIBANUS, signifying white, from its snows,—the most elevated mountain or mountain chain in Syria, celebrated in all ages for its cedars; which, as is well known, furnished the wood for Solomon’s temple. This mountain is the centre, or nucleus, of all the mountain ridges which, from the north, the south, and the east, converge toward this point; but it overtops them all. (Excerpt from The Biblical and Theological Dictionary by Richard Watson)

Joh 4:21  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 
Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 
Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

1Ki 10:13  And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.

As the world asks and seeks and knocks during the thousand year reign of the saints (Mat 7:7), Christ, represented by king Solomon, will give “unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty“. This true “royal bounty” is the word of God that is laid up and given unto the world during the thousand-year reign. However, what the world will ultimately do with that “royal bounty” is then expressed with these words: “So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.“

This type and shadow event of the queen of Sheba asking things of Solomon is reminding God’s elect today that we all start off asking amiss to consume things upon our own lust, and that it is only after we go through an experience of evil and then give an accounting of all those things that were given to us (Luk 15:17) that we learn to ask unselfishly and for the benefit of others (Jas 4:3, Pro 30:8).

Luk 15:17  And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

Jas 4:3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 

Pro 30:8  Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

It takes that experience of evil for us and all of God’s creation to clearly come to see how Christ, who is typified by Solomon, “exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom“. This, too, is instructive for us today to know that we must never take anything for granted, and that we must hold fast to the true riches and understand what the statement means: “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” (Rev 3:11-12)

Rev 3:11  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown [1Co 11:31, Lev 26:40-42, Heb 8:12, 1Jn 1:9].
Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.