Walking Among Them: The Queen of Sheba

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The object of this study is to take some time out of our busy, often chaotic days and spend some time with women who have gone before us. Not just any women, but 26 women of the Bible. We’ll “Walk Among Them” and see how their stories relate to our lives. It’s my hope that we will discover God’s presence and grace in our own lives as the lives and lessons of these women unfold before us this year.

Queen of Sheba

Just who was this Queen of Sheba that we meet in the Book of Kings–and where and what was Sheba? She is simply too powerful of a woman to be overlooked. She is an Ethiopian Queen known to her people as Makeda. The history surrounding her is interesting and contradicting, but it was the 10^th Century B.C. Her mention in Scripture is brief, but poignant. There are, as with all of the women we’ve walked with, pagan or Jew, lessons to be gleaned from the walk. The Queen of Sheba is no exception.

Sheba was a land located on the tip of Arabia which bordered the Red Sea. It was a place where many caravans would pass through and it is through these merchants that the Queen would hear of the great Solomon. History tells us that she was a pagan queen, a curious Queen, and one who had legendary intellect for a woman of her day. We meet her in 1 Kings when she comes to the visit the one whom she’s heard so much about, King Solomon.

“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. “ 1Kings 10:1

She most certainly did not arrive empty handed. In fact she arrived in Jerusalem with a very great caravan, along with camels, spices, “huge quantities of gold,” and precious stones. She was going to talk to the King. Not just any King, this was Solomon, whom she’d heard had a gift of wisdom. She was a pagan, but was none the less intrigued by this man and her arrival to Jerusalem would prove to be worth the ride–a journey that was neither convenient nor comfortable, even for a Queen. A visit such as this was a GRAND affair and it was involved and unlike today where Heads of State visit foreign nations for days at a time, a visit like this would likely last weeks or even months.

Imagine it for a moment! A Queen arrives. She is majestic in her own right, and King Solomon treats her as the royalty she is. It is historically documented that she received lodging and clothing while she remained in Jerusalem. Just why had she come?

“She came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind. Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her. When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, the cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed.” 1 Kings 10:2-5

In a word, she was IMPRESSED! She literally can’t believe her eyes. (read 1 Kings 10: 6-13)

She is impressed and in awe. She tells the King that what she’d heard is only HALF of what she is seeing with her own eyes. She is in awe of his achievements and his wisdom. She even praises the God of Solomon. She recognizes that this God of Israel has “eternal love for Israel, and has made Solomon King to maintain justice and righteousness.” The mention of the Queen of Sheba ends in 1 Kings with verse 13, telling us that “King Solomon gave the Queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for, besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned to reunite with her own country.”

It is in the Book of Matthew that the Queen is mentioned again. It’s in Matthew 12:42 that we read;

“The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom and now one greater than Solomon is here.” Matthew 12:42

The Queen of Sheba certainly came a great distance to “question” Solomon. She was intrigued and even went on to praise this God of his, although she was not a believer. Sheba leaves us with some interesting questions to reflect on as we continue out walk with this interesting woman of the Bible.

Reflections from the Walk

With each woman that we study, I’ll have some thoughts and ideas for reflection, meditation and journaling that will be called “Reflections from the Walk.” It’s in Walking Among Them that we can learn lessons that we can take with us on our daily walks.

1. The Queen of Sheba showers the King with gifts. These were not “re-gifts,” they were the REAL DEAL. Gold and expensive spices. These were no Dollar Store last minute gifts that she brought. Let’s think for a moment about out gift giving. Certainly the Queen of Sheba has the resources to shower elaborate gifts and most of us do not have that luxury, but do we THINK about the gifts we give?

Of course there is no greater gift than the gift that God so willingly gave us in His Son, Jesus. Do we take for granted that GIFT in our life, the gift we have been given? It is a gift worth FAR more than gold and spices. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 9:15, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” It’s a gift that is free to each of us…spend some time reflecting on what a priceless gift Jesus Christ is in your life and spend some time thanking God for that gift.

2. Most of us give gifts. It’s part of our culture, and quite frankly, it’s fun….except when it’s a burden. Spend some time evaluating your attitude about gift and gift giving. Do you think about the gifts that you give or are they merely hassles and “have to’s” in your life. I have a friend who gives the most wonderful gifts. It is not that they are expensive; it’s that they are THOUGHTFUL! Receiving one is a treasure. She truly pours herself into her gifts. Giving gifts that are special need not be expensive but thoughtful. Giving gifts of meaning will require time spent thinking about the recipient and what would make them smile. Often it’s something unique to their personality that will truly touch their hearts, or a donation to a cause or charity that will truly move them.

Look ahead at your calendar. Gather the names of those that you’ll need to buy gifts for and for this month resolve to really “think” about the gift that you will choose for that person. It’s in thinking of others in this way that you’ll get a glimpse into the heart of Christ and how much he thought of YOU. These gifts are treasures, and if you find this satisfying, continue in the months to come. It does require planning, but you’ll be truly giving from your heart, and that is what we are called to do.

3. Solomon was generous, as was the Queen of Sheba. Spend some time focusing on your generous spirit.

Do you give generously of your time and talents?

Do you ever find yourself hoarding things that you could be sharing with others? (clothing you can’t fit into any longer, food that overflows from the pantry, extra money that is selfishly spent and not given) St. Francis of Assisi reminds us that, “it’s in giving that we receive.” Do a personal evaluation of your “giving heart” and ask God to reveal areas where you need some change that only HE can stir and guide.

4. The Queen of Sheba admits to Solomon that she does not believe what she’s heard until she’s seen it with her own eyes. There are times when a doubting spirit is good (think tabloids and celebrity gossip and infomercials) and other times where doubting is detrimental (think Thomas). Spend some time thinking about your own spirit. Are there areas where you need to stop doubting the sovereignty of God, areas that you need to release to God and stop doubting?

Spend some time reflecting on some Scriptures and ask God to guide you in the areas of doubt.

Look to:

Romans 10:17

Psalm 94:19

Jude 1:22

Mark 9:23-24

Quietly meditating on these Scriptures and allowing God to guide you in the area of doubt can bring about great and miraculous changes.

A PDF of this study can be found HERE

Join me next time when we’ll walk with the Widow of Zerephath.

Lori is a 5 year homeschool mom to 3. Currently a 8th grader, a 6th grader and a 4th grader. Lori insists that when she was wrestling with the decision to home school, a gentle voice guided her with the words, “you know what you should do.” Never looking back, accepting the challenges and rewards and CONSTANTLY clinging to THE ROCK…”No Storm can shake my inmost calm when to this ROCK I’m clinging.” Lori hopes to impart peace and inspiration amidst the daily chaos. Be sure to visit her blog at All You Have to Give.