Wisdom and Truth

What is the definition of wisdom? Think about that...it is not as easy as it first appears. Remember, you cannot use the word "wise" or "wisdom" when defining this word. Are you thinking? Well, here is the definition of wisdom I researched: God or Jesus Christ providing you direction through the Holy Spirit on how to apply the knowledge you have been given about something. What do you think? Not as easy as it first seems is it? It seems we actually need wisdom just to define its meaning! Please note that all three Persons of the Trinity are needed in order to provide wisdom...how cool is that? So what does this have to do with our reading for today? Let's find out!

I wanted to focus mostly on the visit to Solomon by the Queen of Sheba that is found in chapter 9. This whole visit is quite intriguing. Apparently, the Queen of Sheba had heard of Solomon's wisdom and decided to make a venture to see him and find out if what she had heard was in fact true. Remember, there were no newspapers, magazines, phones, Internet, television, or mail. So hearing about something like this when you did not live geographically near that person meant that it had to be a fairly MAJOR thing. I have some respect for the Queen of Sheba in that she did not just take for truth what she heard was true...she wanted to hear and find out for HERSELF whether or not this was in fact the case. This is a HUGE danger that we and our children face in today's technologically based society. We have to guard against taking as truth what we hear on the television, what we see on the Internet, or read in a newspaper. Because we are bombarded on a daily basis, almost on a moment by moment basis, with information and data, it becomes VERY EASY to take these things as true and many, many times they are NOT true! What is the ONLY source of Truth? Jesus says in John 14:6, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the father except through me." And who came to testify to the truth? In John 18:37, Jesus tells Pilate, "...for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

Furthermore, when she got to king Solomon, she talked with him "about all she had on her mind" (verse 1). She "talked" with him...she did not grill him, she did not have an attitude, and she was not "high and mighty". The Hebrew word for "talked" is "dabar" and it means "to speak together, a general term for verbal communication." And Solomon apparently had enough respect for her that he answered her questions, and he answered them wisely. Apparently the whole experience was so amazing, that Scripture tells us she was "overwhelmed". I did some research on this word because it is the only place in the entire Bible that this Hebrew word is used. The Hebrew word here for overwhelmed is "ruah". This is a compound Hebrew word that when all the meanings are combined it has the definition of breath, wind; by extension: spirit, mind, heart, as the immaterial part of a person that can respond to God. So that would explain her verbal response to Solomon of all that she had seen and heard when she says in verse 8, "Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne as king to rule for the Lord your God." I wonder, when was the last time we were that "overwhelmed" by God? He should be "overwhelming" us ALL THE TIME because of who He is and because of what He does!

Chapter 9 then goes into a detailed description of Solomon's splendor. All I can say is WOW!!! His wealth and splendor were overwhelming, were they not?!?!? Yet as Jesus said in Matthew 6:29, his glory is NOTHING compared to God's creation! Have you been "WOWED" lately by God's creation? If you have not, spend some time outside. Listen to the beautiful and varied songs of the birds, look at all the variety around you in trees, bugs, and flowers, watch the sunset or the sunrise and be amazed that God did that JUST FOR YOU! All of the splendor of His creation was made for OUR enjoyment...so ENJOY IT!!! I thoroughly enjoy my time outside with my horses where I can pray and commune with God as I take in the beauty of my horses and ALL of the incredible nature around me.

***These are my four horses - Little Bit, Nadia, Journey, and Blackie. They are SO special to me!!!***

On a final note, please notice that the author of Chronicles includes none of the negative information about Solomon's idolatry in the latter part of his rule. Also, the information about Rehoboam and the attack on Jerusalem by Shishak is included only as it applies to the Kingdom of Judah. The author does not include anything about the Kingdom of Israel, as his only focus was on the positives in the Kingdom of Judah, the tribe from which our Savior comes!

So, do you seek God's Truth and Wisdom in your life? Are you intentional about guarding yourself from the foolishness of this world? Do you know The Truth, and The Way, and The Life, I mean REALLY know Him? He wants to know you!!!