Day 141 - The Half was not Told Me!

Today's Reading: 1 Kings 10,11 and 1 Cor. 13

I love what happened when the Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon... She'd heard of his glory, and she'd heard of his wisdom. So she came to test and prove him, to see if what she had heard was really true! And when she saw and heard, there was no more spirit left in her... for she recognized that she was standing in the presence of someone that was ordained by God.

Here's what she said: "Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came and mine eyes had seen it: and behold, the HALF WAS NOT TOLD ME: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard..."

Then she says something very profound... instead of exalting King Solomon, she gives glory to the One who alone deserves the honor and glory!

"Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the Lord loved Israel forever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgement and justice." (1 Kings. 10:7,9)

Ellen White writes:

"By the time of the close of her visit the queen had been so fully taught by Solomon as to the source of his wisdom and prosperity that she was constrained, not to extol the human agent, but to exclaim, “Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the Lord loved Israel forever, therefore made He thee king, to do judgment and justice.” 1 Kings 10:9. This is the impression that God designed should be made upon all peoples. And when “all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart” (2 Chronicles 9:23), Solomon for a time honored God by reverently pointing them to the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the Ruler of the universe, the All-wise. 

However... Solomon's blessing eventually led to his downfall... The reading continues...

Had Solomon continued in humility of mind to turn the attention of men from himself to the One who had given him wisdom and riches and honor, what a history might have been his! But while the pen of inspiration records his virtues, it also bears faithful witness to his downfall. Raised to a pinnacle of greatness and surrounded with the gifts of fortune, Solomon became dizzy, lost his balance, and fell. Constantly extolled by men of the world, he was at length unable to withstand the flattery offered him. The wisdom entrusted to him that he might glorify the Giver, filled him with pride. He finally permitted men to speak of him as the one most worthy of praise for the matchless splendor of the building planned and erected for the honor of “the name of the Lord God of Israel." 

I have to include this as well... as it speaks so much to us today!

"Man cannot show greater weakness than by allowing men to ascribe to him the honor for gifts that are Heaven-bestowed. The true Christian will make God first and last and best in everything. No ambitious motives will chill his love for God; steadily, perseveringly, will he cause honor to redound to his heavenly Father. It is when we are faithful in exalting the name of God that our impulses are under divine supervision, and we are enabled to develop spiritual and intellectual power." (Prophets and Kings, p. 68)

Wow, wow, wow!!! Once again I am reminded... our ONLY SAFETY is staying at the foot of the Cross. He must increase, we must decrease. He must get the glory! May the world see when they hear of what God has done... the half was not told me... God is truly the One to be praised!

Tomorrow's Reading: 1 Kings 12,13 and 1 Cor. 14