The Half Has Not Been Told

1 Kings 10:1–10 NKJV

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. 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. 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.” 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.

The Queen of Sheba had heard of the fame of Solomon

Solomon had become famous throughout the world of the time

His kingdom was very wealthy

He was known for wisdom and knowledge - greater than any other

wrote the proverbs

The kingdom grew in wealth and power - through trade and industry and God’s providence

Other leaders payed tribute to have alliances etc.

The Queen of Sheba was obviously from a wealthy and established kingdom

it is not certain where this was - perhaps Ethiopia

She came with a very great company -

this would have been a spectacular event

camels and soldiers

gold and spices and precious stones

Servants and musicians

bakers and cooks

No doubt this was an older established kingdom

Israel was still a relatively newer kingdom -

Solomon was only the third king of all Israel

She had heard of all this fame of this new, relatively young king and kingdom

She came to see for herself

The Wisdom and Fame of Solomon

There was a reason that Solomon had become so prosperous

The Bible says that the beginning of Wisdom is the fear of the Lord

If you want to really be successful - begin with The Lord

Jesus spoke of the Wise and Foolish Builders

Except the Lord build the House - they labor in vain

Solomon had had an encounter with God at the beginning of his kingship

Given a choice, he made the right choice

God honored His Word

This is the was the source of all the fame that The Queen of Sheba had heard of Solomon

She had heard of the wealth of Solomon

She had heard of the Wisdom of Solomon

She had heard of the building of Solomon

She had heard of the power and might of Solomon

Shed had heard of the splendor and beauty of Solomon and his kingdom

She came to see for herself

The Half Had Not Been Told

Solomon answered all her questions

there was nothing hid from Solomon that he could not answer

When she saw Solomon’s wisdom and his house

there was no more spirit in her

She saw the food on Solomon’s table

She saw the seating of Solomon’s officials

She saw the attending of Solomon’s servants and their apparel and robes

She saw the cupbearers of Solomon

She saw the burnt offerings Solomon offered to the Lord

And she was overwhelmed

She said I had heard of all this in my own country - and did not believe it

but the half had not been told me

She said the wisdom of Solomon was greater than she had heard

The wealth of Solomon was greater than all that had been reported to her

Happy were the people under Solomon’s leadership and government

Happy were the officials who stand before Solomon

The Half Had not Been Told Her of the greatness, and wealth and Wisdom of Solomon

Today a Greater Than Solomon is here!

The half has not been told of the greatness and the joy and the peace that is in HIM

the half has not been told of the grace and the mercy and the Love that is in HIM

The half has not been told of His forgiveness, and His providence

We are of course talking about Jesus!

Matthew 12:42 NKJV

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.

See that you do not reject Him

Happy are those under His Leadership

Happy are those who rule with HIM

Happy are those who trust in HIM

In Him Is Life

He is the Way, the truth and the Life

He is the source of abundant Life

the life that really is life

the Life that never ends

The Half has Not been Told Of Him

No Eye has seen - No ear has heard ...

the things He has prepared for those who love Him

You may be like this Queen of Sheba today ---

You may have heard of all His Wisdom

and His goodness, and love, and faithfulness

You may have heard of this in your own place -

and like her, you may not have believed it

I invite you today to come and see!

Come taste and see that the Lord is good!

Come see for yourself the beauty of the Lord

Come hear His Wisdom and partake of His providence

— have not seen the righteous forsaken

Like this Queen, you will find that the Half has not been told you!

Come to His table! You are welcome there.

a talent of gold = approx 2 Million

120 talents = approx. 240 million