Overwhelmed

 DEVOTION

1^ST KINGS

OVERWHELMED

1 Kings 10:1-5

10:1 When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relation to the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions. 2 Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan — with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones — she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind. 3 Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her. 4 When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, 5 the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the LORD, she was overwhelmed.

NIV

If the Queen of Sheba was overwhelmed by all that Solomon built, especially his palace and all his finely dressed servants, and his great table with enough seats for his officials and all the burnt offerings he made at the temple, can we imagine how we might be overwhelmed when we see the kingdom of God in all its splendor? Solomon may have used a lot of gold to line the entire interior of the temple, as well as parts of his palace, but the new city of Jerusalem will have streets of gold. Solomon was given the gift of wisdom and is known as wiser than any man who has lived or will ever live, but it was only a gift from God, whose wisdom is immeasurable. Solomon may also have been the wealthiest man ever to live. Although we have some wealthy men today, no one will ever have more wealth than God Almighty, for His riches are immeasurable. Although Solomon had a remarkable ability to get things accomplished, nothing compares to God’s abilities, which cannot be measured, for there is nothing impossible with Him. We know we could never do as much as Solomon or offer God as many physical offerings as he did. Yet, we ourselves are a greater offering than any animal or grain offering that Solomon made. Solomon’s temple, palace, and other places he built may have been precious with tremendous value, but nothing is more valuable to God than we are, who he formed with his own hands and made in their image. From what we know of the end of Solomon’s life, he fell from his relationship with God. We cannot know God's judgment concerning Solomon. However, we know enough to know that we must not follow in Solomon’s footsteps, but listen to the voice of God and follow the path He has marked out for us, as He has ordered our footsteps. Walking with our Lord, being blessed by His grace, Jesus, we find ourselves overwhelmed.