And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind.
People came from every direction to hear one man speak, and the verse says God put that wisdom in Solomon. That one line raises three questions: where such wisdom comes from, why it drew the nations, and who it points to.
Wisdom Received, Not Achieved
This wisdom came to Solomon as an answer to prayer. Solomon saw that the nation he governed was not his own property but a trust, and that changed what he asked for:
William KellyHe did not regard the people as his people, his to govern, his to serve God in, but God's people entrusted to him. This gives seriousness; and it exercises conscience. So he asked for wisdom, for he surely needed it. If they had been his own people, he might have had enough wisdom himself. But they were God's people, so he needed wisdom from God. That is what he asked for — not wealth, and not a long life.
A Glory Greater Than Its Report
People came because of a report. What they found was greater than the report:
J. N. DarbyIt is a glory whose report attracts the nations. But when people see it, it surpasses everything anyone could say about it. You have to come near it to appreciate it. It is a glory that excels all the world has seen, and a wisdom never equalled. That wisdom drew all the kings of the earth. Each year they brought their offerings and their gifts to the king who sat on the throne of the Lord on earth.
A Rehearsal of a Coming Reign
One writer sees this worldwide traffic to Solomon's court as a picture of something still ahead:
H. L. RossierThe queen of Sheba was not the only one to come to him: "The whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom" (vv. 23-29). What a blessed time it will be when everyone can come and draw from this divine spring, sure of finding God's thoughts there in all their fullness!
The Queen Who Condemns a Generation
Jesus later set this queen against the people of His own day. She travelled from the ends of the earth; they had far less ground to cover.
William Kelly"The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon." This showed how determined she was to hear the wisdom of Solomon. The wise and wealthy son of David did not carry the Word of God in his everyday speech, as the Lord Jesus did. Yet she came with no miracle to attract her, and no sign to guide or confirm her. She heard the wisdom of Solomon: "and behold, something greater than Solomon is here."
The Same Wisdom, Now Within Reach
That wisdom did not end with Solomon. One writer points to Christ, and to what He is for people now:
An Outline of Sound WordsNo question brought to Jesus on earth ever puzzled Him. The wisdom of the True Solomon, the Greater than Solomon, could meet and answer every hard question. Nor is it different now, for Christ, risen from the dead, and glorified in heaven, "has been made to us wisdom from God" (1 Cor. 1:30). There is no question the troubled, anxious sinner can bring to Him that He will not answer in wisdom and in grace.
The Warning Folded Into the Praise
This is the high point of Solomon's reign. One writer will not let the splendour stand alone:
C. KnappBut light and gift are not enough in themselves to keep a person in the path with God. For a time all goes well with Solomon. His power is unmatched… It is sad that a tale of failure has to stain so glorious a record. The book of Kings records that failure; Chronicles passes over it.
Summary
- Given — God put this wisdom in Solomon. He asked for it because the people he ruled were God's, not his.
- Sought — Its fame pulled kings across the earth. But you had to come near to measure the glory, because the report always fell short of the sight.
- Shared — The scene is a preview. When Christ reigns, everyone will be able to come and draw from that spring.
- Shamed — A queen came from the ends of the earth to hear Solomon, with no sign to guide her. Someone greater than Solomon stood among people she will rise up and condemn.
- Guarded — Light and gift alone did not keep Solomon. His wisdom at its height stood just before his failure.