When a Queen Meets the King’s Wisdom (1 Kings 10:1-13)

Big Idea: The world is watching to see if the wisdom and glory of our God are real. Is your life proving it?

Introduction:

Church, if you’ve ever been on a long road trip, you know it takes a good reason to go hundreds of miles—especially in the ancient world. But here in 1 Kings 10, we meet a woman—a Queen!—who packed her camels, her spices, her gold, and her questions, and journeyed from Sheba (modern-day Yemen) all the way to Jerusalem. That’s over 1,500 miles of hot, dusty desert just to see if what she heard about Solomon was true.

Let me tell you something: People are still traveling long distances looking for answers. They're chasing wisdom, searching for meaning, desperate for truth. The world is full of Queens of Sheba—people who’ve heard rumors of something greater and are trying to find out if it's real.

1. The Queen Came with Questions (v. 1–3)

1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions. 2 She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart. 3 So Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing so difficult for the king that he could not explain it to her.

This queen wasn’t coming for small talk. She brought hard questions. Deep ones. Questions about life, death, meaning, maybe even about God. Solomon didn't panic. He answered every one of her questions.

Why? Because the wisdom didn’t come from Solomon—it came from God. And, when God gives you wisdom, it’ll stand up to scrutiny.

2. The Queen Saw the Glory (v. 4–5)

4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, 5 the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her.

She saw it. She didn’t just hear it she saw it with her eyes. She saw the way his servants dressed. The way they carried themselves. She saw the temple. She saw the offerings. She saw order, excellence, beauty, and most of all God’s presence in it all.

Illustration: You may be the only Bible some people ever read. What does your life look like to the watching world?

If a “Queen of Sheba” came to your home, your business, or your church, would she see the excellence and order of God? Would she leave saying, “Surely, God is in this place”?

We talk a lot about witnessing and we should but listen: your life is preaching long before your lips are.

3. The Queen Was Overwhelmed and Worshiped (v. 6–9)

6 Then she said to the king: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. 7 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. 8 Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! 9 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.”

She came skeptical, but she left in awe of God. The queen didn’t just admire Solomon she gave glory to the Lord, the source of it all. Now here's the shout: Solomon’s wisdom led someone from a pagan nation to praise the Lord! That’s what our lives are supposed to do point people to Jesus.

Application: God blesses His people to make them credible witnesses. The blessings of God are meant to be billboards of His goodness.

Let me ask you this, church: Is your marriage pointing people to Jesus? Is your attitude on Monday morning pointing people to Jesus? Is the way you raise your kids, handle your money, love your neighbor pointing people to Jesus?

4. The Queen Left with More Than She Brought (v. 10–13)

10 Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great quantity, and precious stones. There never again came such abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. 11 Also, the ships of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought great quantities of almug wood and precious stones from Ophir. 12 And the king made steps of the almug wood for the house of the LORD and for the king’s house, also harps and stringed instruments for singers. There never again came such almug wood, nor has the like been seen to this day. 13 Now King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired, whatever she asked, besides what Solomon had given her according to the royal generosity. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.

She brought gold, spices, and precious stones, but she left with more than she could have imagined.

She came with questions, but she left with answers. She came with riches, but she left with greater riches. She came with curiosity, but she left with faith.

That’s what happens when someone truly encounters the wisdom of God.

Conclusion:

Let’s look at what Jesus said in Matthew 12:42: The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

That “something greater” is Jesus Christ.

Solomon had wisdom—Jesus is wisdom. Solomon had riches—Jesus owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Solomon had a throne—Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father.

If the Queen of Sheba was willing to travel across the desert to meet Solomon, how much more should we be willing to pursue Jesus?

Call to Action:

Are you here today with questions? Jesus has answers. Are you here today looking for truth? Jesus is the truth. Are you burdened? Broken? Searching? Come to the King of Kings.