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The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon

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Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD'S eternal love for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness. (1 Kings 10:9)

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Solomon was well known as the wisest king in the world.

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After Solomon became king, he served The LORD with all of his heart.

The LORD was pleased with all of Solomon's actions.

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The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, "Ask whatever you want, and I will give you." The LORD gladly received Solomon's worship.

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 Solomon could ask whatever he wanted. However, he asked only one.

"LORD, I have become king and I cannot judge because I am like a child.

Give me wisdom so that I can rule over these people well."

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The LORD granted Solomon with great wisdom. That's why the Israelites were so peaceful and were overflowed with many precious things from all around the country.

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The rumor that Solomon was wise in Israel spread to the neighboring countries. When the queen of Sheba heard the news, she wanted to test Solomon's wisdom.

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So the queen of Sheba visited Jerusalem with many officials.

She carried gold, jewels, and so on with her camel caravan.

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The queen of Sheba started to test Solomon with difficult questions that she had prepared. However, Solomon answered all of her questions.

Nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her.

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The queen of Sheba was surprised to see all of the food on his table and all of the things in the palace. She was overwhelmed by the service of his officials and their clothing that they wore.

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She was also surprised by the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the LORD. The queen of Sheba felt that the wisdom of Solomon was greater than she had heard about him.

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So she was unsparing with her praise towards Solomon.

She said to the king, "The report I have heard in my own country about your achievement and your wisdom is true. How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!"

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The queen of Sheba continued to praise God because of Solomon. "Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD'S eternal love for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness."

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She then generously gave many gifts to Solomon. In return, King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for, besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.

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God gave Solomon the wisdom required as a gift. Solomon who received the wisdom from God became the greatest king in the world. God lifted Solomon high.

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If we also have the wisdom of God, we can live faithful lives like Solomon. The Bible says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)

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Therefore, if we read the Bible, the written wisdom of God, and ask for wisdom, God will make us wise and great people. To receive the wisdom of God, we should pray and read the Bible from now on.