Beneath the Surface

The Queen of Sheba heard astonishing reports about Solomon’s reign. Unbelievable! She felt compelled to visit Israel herself to see if the reports about this nation and its leader were true. When she finally saw everything firsthand, she was convinced and overwhelmed.

The queen blessed God that He had put Solomon on the throne, and she knew He must have loved Israel greatly to give them a king like Solomon. She also assumed the people must have been grateful: “How blessed are your men, how blessed are these your servants who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom” (v. 8).

Yes, everything looked wonderful. But, as latter events proved, everyone was not as positive as she imagined, and Solomon’s heart gradually turned away from God. Divisions began forming, and many were unhappy with the king’s leadership. We see this after Solomon’s death, when some leaders—perhaps those whom the Queen of Sheba imagined to be so blessed—told Solomon’s son, “Your father made our yoke hard” (1 Kings 12:4). They decided to form their own nation.

As we look at people in the world, we need to realize that things aren’t always how they appear. Troubling things may be going on beneath the surface or behind the scenes.

What is going on “beneath the surface” of your life? What are your secret thoughts? Do you have any hidden sins you need to deal with? God knew the truth about Solomon’s life, and He knows the truth about you.

Make sure you’ve confessed your sins. Seek to live according to God’s Word. Be faithful to His call in everything you do.