The Half Was Not Told Me 1 Kings 1:1 -10 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
It is hard to appreciate what the Queen of Sheba encountered when she traveled to Jerusalem to hear the wisdom of Solomon. So, tonight we want to simply expound on three very notable things that occurred in her visit that are instructive to us. [Outline adapted from T. DeWitt Talmage]
First, notice how wonderful it is to see someone of nobility surrender to God – she was the Queen of Sheba – when she heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord she had to see it for herself – and when she saw it there was no more spirit in her – how hard it is for those of social standing and wealth to humble themselves before Almighty God – 1 Cor 1:26 – she’s one of the nobles who got in, Matt 12:42.
Second, notice how earnestly she searched for the truth – she traveled over 1300 miles by my calculations to go from what is now Yemen on the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden on the Arabian Sea to Jerusalem – she had to cross mountains and travel through wilderness to get to him – and she came with a great train and with great wealth, willing as she was to pay a great sum for the wisdom she would receive from him – and to think today we go to great lengths at our expense to tell others about Christ and, at the least inconvenience, they turn a deaf ear to the gospel – how wonderful it is to see how willing she was to seek so earnestly for the truth – as Solomon said, “Buy the truth and sell it not!”
Third, notice how surprised she was when she found God’s wisdom – “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” – never will anyone know the great blessings we enjoy in our salvation until they find what we have found – and all attempts to help them understand the greatness of our God will only get half the job done until they receive him and know him personally – and then they like the Queen will say, “the half was not told me” – what a great surprise we received when we first came to Christ – and now think what a great surprise we will get when we behold with our own eyes the beauty and grandeur of our Savior and all that he has created in heaven above – like the Queen, there will be no more spirit in us – we’ll just fall to our knees and proclaim, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing!”
Conclusion: Keep praying dear ones and keep witnessing – there are more yet to surrender to God and more yet who will be surprised when they find him!