David Bahn – Reflections

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These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are 1 Kings 11, 2 Chronicles 9, Proverbs 30, Psalm 150.

2 Chronicles 9:1-9

Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions, having a very great retinue and camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. ² And Solomon answered all her questions. There was nothing hidden from Solomon that he could not explain to her. ³ And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, ⁴ the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, and their clothing, his cupbearers, and their clothing, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her.

⁵ And she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, ⁶ but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, half the greatness of your wisdom was not told me; you surpass the report that I heard. ⁷ Happy are your men! Happy are these your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! ⁸ Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on his throne as king for the Lord your God! Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness.” ⁹ Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. There were no spices such as those that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

A colleague, describing the actions of someone who had made a poor decision, said, “He was too clever by half.” I had not heard of that saying before, but it described well the actions of our acquaintance. He had attempted an end-run of sorts, thinking he could outfox his adversary. It was clever, but a bit too much so. And it failed. His adversary saw through it. He had been too clever by half.

I’m wondering whether Solomon had been too clever by half as well. He was wealthy beyond measure. He was more successful than any other king of his day. He had shared his wisdom in the books of Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. But he also decided to share a peek into his treasury with the queen of Sheba. She was impressed no doubt. But I wonder whether Solomon fell prey to believing his wealth made him invincibile. Maybe he thought he could handle it – wealth, women, power, and status – without being tripped up by his own fame and success.

Sadly, it’s clear that he couldn’t. He wasn’t smarter than God (something too many people believe themselves to be today). He couldn’t succeed if he failed to keep God’s commands. The wisdom he shared was not beneath him – though he apparently thought he was above it.

Solomon’s wealth apparently took the queen’s breath away. But his failure to refrain from wives from among the different nations (cf. 1 Kings 11) led to his downfall. The queen was impressed. But God was not impressed. God was displeased and told him his kingdom would be taken from his sons. He was the last king of an undivided Israel.

Some people are gifted beyond what their character can sustain. That is very sad, and often the cause of the ruin of people and even nations. Solomon may be the poster child for such a tragedy.

But the greatest person ever to have lived – the very embodiment of wisdom and grace – did not stumble over wealth, power, praise, or temptation. Jesus did not merely speak wisdom; he lived it perfectly. Though rich beyond measure, he set aside his glory and became poor for our sake, not to impress others with what he possessed, but to ransom and redeem us.

Solomon’s wisdom could not save even Solomon. But Jesus’ wisdom leads to life. Better than being too clever by half is learning to trust the One who is wisdom incarnate and whose grace is enough even for those who do not hold a candle to Solomon’s wisdom or wealth.