Let God Be Magnified

Everyone –

“Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with difficult questions.” – 1 Kings 10:1

If you could ask for one thing of the Lord what would it be?

That was the opportunity presented to Solomon shortly after the death of his father, David. In a dream God came to Solomon and told him, “Ask what you wish me to give you.” (1 Kings 3:5c). After praising Him and relating to Him his concern, Solomon asks,

“…give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” – 1 Kings 3:10a

What was God’s response? It was one filled with joy and honor as of a proud Father:

“Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.” – 1 Kings 3:11,12

It was this wisdom that the Queen of Sheba came to observe. She had heard about it but had come from afar to see for herself if it was true. But what she found was not exactly as she had expected – it was far more:

“Then she said to the king, ‘It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. Nevertheless I did not believe the reports, until I came and my eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. You exceed in wisdom and prosperity the report that I heard.’” – 1 Kings 10:6,7

But when she says “your words and wisdom” she really means, “God’s words and wisdom” for it was He who gave it to Solomon. The words that he spoke and the wisdom he possessed were all a gift of God and from God. So when we read in the book of Proverbs the insight of Solomon we are reading the true instruction from God. For Solomon’s words are inspired as the Scriptures plainly prove:

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16,17

I think that the purpose and effect of God’s word is stated nicely by Solomon:

“My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will discern the fear of the Lord And discover the knowledge of God.” – Proverbs 2:1-5

It is any wonder, then, that those who heard the very instruction of God were blessed as the Queen of Sheba pointed out?:

“How blessed are your men, how blessed are these your servants who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom.” – 1 Kings 10:8

Can we draw a parallel between the servants of Solomon and us today? For if they were blessed by listening to Solomon – God’s inspired instruction – should we be any less blessed through reading His recorded Word?

Notice two things about the servants and then compare them to yourself:

1. They stood before him continually

- these men were constantly in “the Word” through Solomon. Can you say that about yourself? Do you ever wonder why you feel spiritually empty or distant from God? Have you considered that you haven’t spent enough time in His presence through His Word? These men were there CONSISTENTLY. How often are you there?

2. They heard the wisdom

- notice they didn’t say, “listened to the wisdom.” There is a difference here. These men not only listened to it but they applied and absorbed it – they heard it. It is not enough to check the box and read God’s Word (listening). We are instructed to dwell upon the word of the Lord (hearing):

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” – Colossians 3:16

In one of the final prayers that Jesus made to the Father on our behalf He asked Him for this:

“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” – John 17:17

One of Jesus’ final requests and desires was that we, His servants and followers, might dwell upon the Word of God for instruction, guidance, and righteousness. By pursuing these we will “renew our mind” and make our ways His ways and thereby, step by step, become more Christ-like in our attitudes, thoughts, and actions. It was the desire of our Lord that we read His word – should we then deny our Lord and reject His desire?

I’ll leave you with this final thought by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was a German Christian whose life was ruled by this overwhelming truth: “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer was hanged for his witness for Christ by the Germans on Sunday, April 9, 1945. He was a true man of Christ and he had this to say about the study of God’s Word:

“We must learn to know the Scriptures again, as the Reformers and our fathers knew them. We must not grudge the time and the work it takes. We must know the Scriptures first and foremost for the sake of our salvation. But besides this, there are ample reasons that make this requirement exceedingly urgent. How, for example, shall we ever attain certainty and confidence in our personal and church activity if we do not stand on solid Biblical ground? It is not our heart that determines our course, but God’s Word. But who in this day has any proper understanding of the need for scriptural proof? How often we hear innumerable arguments ‘from life’ and ‘from experience’ put forward as the basis for most crucial decisions, but the argument of Scripture is missing. And this authority would perhaps point exactly in the opposite direction. It is not surprising, of course, that the person who attempts to cast discredit upon their wisdom should be the one who himself does not seriously read, know, and study the Scriptures. But one who will not learn to handle the Bible for himself is not an evangelical Christian.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “Life Together,” pp. 54,55

Later Eriek