diff --git a/content/bible_journal/2chronicles/9:1-12.md b/content/bible_journal/2chronicles/9:1-12.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..24e71d4 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/bible_journal/2chronicles/9:1-12.md @@ -0,0 +1,28 @@ ++++ +title = "2 Chronicles 9:1–12" +date = "2024-11-29" ++++ + +### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/2Chronicles9.1-12) + +Solomon's fame spread to neighboring countries and beyond. +The queen of Sheba made a state visit, bringing an appropriately large retinue in caravan. +Unfortunately, we don't know exactly where Sheba was, because there are conflicting reports in history. +Some scholars think Sheba (or Seba as it is sometimes called) is related to the Sabeans of the southern coast of Arabia. +Others place it across the sea in the horn of Africa, as there is a medieval Ethiopian source that claims that land to be Sheba. +Wherever she came from, the queen had heard fantastic tales about Solomon, and came to see for herself whether they were true. + +Her response is that they didn't tell her the half of it. +She had heard he was fabulously wealthy and great in wisdom, but his God-given wisdom surpassed everything she had heard previously. +Furthermore, she could tell that he employed his wisdom for the good of his people. +It is said one can know a man's true character by how he treats those who serve him, and she observes that not only are Solomon's wives happy, but his servants are too. +Solomon didn't become rich by oppressing his people and extracting wealth from them. +Instead, they benefitted from his wise rule, and had it better than we would otherwise expect for their position. + +The queen of Sheba displays her own wisdom by attributing Solomon's success to Yahweh, the God of Israel. +She realizes that he did not reach his current position on his own strength, and did not cultivate his own wisdom all by himself. +Instead, it is the Lord who has blessed Israel through Solomon's wisdom and benevolent reign. + +* * * + +We long for Your perfect reign that will last forever, as we compare and contrast our good and bad human rulers You have appointed over us for a time.