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[0:00] The end reading is in two parts. So we've jumped back to 1 Kings chapter 9 which is on page 347. And we'll read the first nine verses and then we'll go back to chapter 10.

[0:13] So starting in 1 Kings chapter 9 beginning at verse 1. When Solomon had finished building the temple of the Lord and the royal palace and had achieved all he had desired to do, the Lord appeared to him a second time as he had appeared to him at Gibeon.

[0:32] The Lord said to him, I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me. I have consecrated this temple which you have built by putting my name there forever.

[0:44] My eyes and my heart will always be there. As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, you shall never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.

[1:09] But, if you or your descendants turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my name.

[1:25] Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?

[1:41] People will answer, because they have forsaken the Lord their God, who brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshipping and serving them.

[1:52] That is why the Lord brought all this disaster on them. And then turning the page to chapter 10, from verse 18 to the end of the chapter.

[2:03] Then the king made a great throne covered with ivory and overlaid with fine gold. The throne had six steps and its back had a rounded top.

[2:15] On both sides of the seats were armrests with a lion standing beside each of them. Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom.

[2:29] All King Solomon's goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the palace of the forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon's days.

[2:42] The king had a fleet of trading ships at sea along with the ships of Hiram. Once every three years it returned carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons.

[2:54] King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.

[3:05] Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift. Articles of silver and gold, robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules.

[3:16] Solomon accumulated chariots and horses. He had 1400 chariots and 12,000 horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.

[3:28] The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore fig trees in the foothills. Solomon's horses were imported from Egypt and from Kew.

[3:39] The royal merchants purchased them from Kew at the current price. They imported chariot from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver and a horse for 150. They also exported them to the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.

[3:53] This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Good morning, St Silas. Thank you so much, Katrina, for reading that for us. If you could keep your Bibles open at 1 Kings 9 and 10, that would be really helpful.

[4:06] Page 348. There's an outline on the back of the notice sheet. But let's pray. Let's ask for God's help as we turn to his word. We praise you, Heavenly Father, for your gracious plan across the ages, now fulfilled in the coming of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus.

[4:25] And as we come into the week where we especially remember his death and resurrection, we ask that you will open your word to our hearts now. And you'll open our hearts to respond rightly to your word.

[4:37] For we ask in Jesus' name. Amen. Well, today's Bible passage makes us think about Christian hope. Christian hope being confidence about the future.

[4:51] Real confidence that there is a better ultimate future. Grounded, our confidence grounded in what God promises to us today. But also in how God has worked in the past.

[5:03] And that's what we'll see and return to later. We're all people who naturally live with hope. Naturally, we look for things to put our hope in. And we long to know that the future will be a place that is brighter.

[5:18] A place where we're happy. A place where we're secure. And we're going to think about that a bit later. We're in this series looking at this Bible book, 1 Kings.

[5:29] And in these opening chapters of 1 Kings, God is revealing to us what life was like in the golden age for the people of God. For the Old Testament people of God.

[5:41] This is the absolute high point. If you were a God follower. Someone who trusted the God of the Bible before Jesus comes. It's the 10th century BC.

[5:52] Solomon is king. David's son. And in today's passage, the focus is the Queen of Sheba visiting Solomon. And it has inspired people ever since.

[6:03] I guess it's one of the most famous events in human history. It's the source of a moment of great pub quiz trivia. Because it gives rise to the only Scottish football team mentioned in the Bible.

[6:17] Queen of the South. Because Queen of the South. Dumfries football team is called Queen of the South. Because of the Queen of Sheba.

[6:28] Because Dumfries got nicknamed the Queen of the South after her. Maybe if you're someone who likes a bit more high culture. This picture here is hanging in the National Gallery in London.

[6:39] This is Claude Lorraine's 17th century masterpiece. Called the Embarkation of the Queen of Sheba. Now in this picture, the Queen of Sheba is on the right.

[6:51] I know you can't see her from where you're sitting. But if you know the painting. She is in red. And she's about to get on a ship to go to Jerusalem. From a far off land.

[7:03] From Sheba. To visit Solomon. She might not actually have travelled on the sea. So because of this painting, I was assumed that. But we'll see that in a moment. She may have gone on land.

[7:14] But anyway, she's about to set off. And the thing that's capturing the artist's imagination there. Is just this sense. Here is this prominent royal woman in her splendour. About to set off on a journey that will change her life.

[7:27] And change her eternity. And more famously still. This event inspired the music from Handel. That today we associate with weddings. In fact, on Friday night.

[7:39] Highly unusually for me. In the car. With one of my kids. We had classic FM on. And they said, we're now going to listen. To a run of pieces that we know from weddings.

[7:51] And the first one. Was the arrival of the Queen of Sheba. By Handel. Inspired by this scene. We're just going to. Let's play. A little bit of that piece. So good, isn't it?

[8:28] What a joy. Inspiring. I mean, some of you may have walked down the aisle to that. Or waited for someone to come down the aisle to you. To that. Or, it was the music that when James Bond met the Queen.

[8:43] In London 2012. At the Olympic opening ceremony. That was the music. So inspirational. What a joy. Well, what's going on? When the Queen of Sheba meets Solomon.

[8:54] And what has it got to do with us today? Today. Well, we're going to work through the chapters in these two sections. They're on the sheet to keep track. Our first point is the Queen's praise of an impressive king is a word of hope.

[9:08] Solomon is world famous. Is world famous. Have a look at verse one of chapter 10. When the Queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon. And his relationship to the Lord.

[9:20] She came to test Solomon with hard questions. Now, she's probably from what we call today Yemen. So we've got a map on the screen there. And it shows the two possible routes that she would have taken.

[9:33] Either up the Red Sea. And then into the peninsula. Or she would have gone probably she traveled. She would have traveled along what by then would have been a very well trodden.

[9:46] Spice route. A road that was used for trade. Right through the deserts of Saudi Arabia. Through towards Jerusalem. And in verse two.

[9:59] We're told that she brings a great entourage. A very great caravan. Caravan. Which isn't to bring our minds to. You know, caravans in Scotland.

[10:10] It's a long procession of associates and camels. She's bringing spices. She's bringing gold. Precious stones. So this is some journey. This is great effort.

[10:21] To come and speak to Solomon. And that helps us grasp. How famous Solomon has become. That his renown is known around the world. What would she have asked him about?

[10:33] With these hard questions that are mentioned. Well, from. I take it from what she says. And concludes. She's asking him about government affairs. How he governs his people. She's asking him how the people are.

[10:45] But she's asking spiritual questions as well. Theological questions. About this people that Solomon reigns over. That they are descended from Abraham. That they are the people.

[10:56] Who God set his love on. And rescued. And gave this land to. And now he has come. To dwell among them. In his temple. This is a special people.

[11:07] And she is overwhelmed. Now this is a great little section where. One thing that I discovered from. Andrew Satch. Who's written about one Kings. Is coming here in a few weeks. To preach for us.

[11:19] He spotted that here. We get the origin. Of three phrases that we use today. Very commonly in the English language. The first one.

[11:30] Is disguised. By our translation. But we'll just point it out. So verse four. When the Queen of Sheba. Saw all the wisdom of Solomon. And the palace he had built. The food on his table.

[11:41] The seating of his officials. The attending servants. In their robes. His cup bearers. And the burnt offerings. He made at the temple of the Lord. She was overwhelmed. Now literally. And our older translations.

[11:53] In English. Had this. And it says. It took her breath away. So that's why we say today. Of people. Oh it took my breath away. It was breathtaking. The next phrase.

[12:05] That we use today. Is in verse six. She said to the king. The report I heard. In my own country. About your achievements. And your wisdom. Is true. But I did not believe these things.

[12:17] Until I came and saw. With my own eyes. Well we say that today. Don't we? I've seen it with my own eyes now. And then she goes on. Indeed. Not even half. Was told me. Which is why we say today.

[12:29] You've not heard the half of it. You haven't heard the half of it yet. It comes from this. And then looking. In verse seven. At what impresses her the most. She says.

[12:40] In wisdom and wealth. You have far exceeded. The report I heard. This is the key. That she is overwhelmed. It's breathtaking. His wisdom. And his wealth.

[12:51] His wealth. God's people need a wise king. And we heard. In chapter three. That Solomon was asked by God. Asked me. Whatever you want. For whatever you want. And he asked for wisdom.

[13:02] And he's the wisest man. Who's ever lived. It's Solomon's wisdom. That means that God's blessing. Is being poured out. On his people. Summed up in verse eight. Where she says.

[13:13] How happy. Your people must be. How happy. Your officials. Who continually stand before you. And hear your wisdom. It doesn't mean they're sort of. Gleeful all the time.

[13:24] That word happy. Is the word that in Psalm one. Is translated. Blessed. It's a deep happiness. That all is well with them. Because God is smiling on them. And as an expression of that blessing.

[13:36] There is gold. Everywhere. Solomon has become the head of a global trade empire. Duty is pouring into his treasury. From tradesmen and ships. And merchants.

[13:47] As they pass through. Importing and exporting. Kings. Bring tribute to him. And gifts. Showering him. With good things. And the queen herself. If you look at verse 10.

[13:58] She gave the king. 120 talents of gold. Large quantities of spices. And precious stones. And our footnote tells us. What that means. 14 tons of gold. So if you watched.

[14:09] The gold. The BBC drama. It was great stuff. It was about the Brinksmart robbery. In the 1980s. One of the greatest robberies. In British crime history. The gold stolen.

[14:21] The police chased it down for years. The gold stolen. The Brinksmart robbery. Was worth 300 million pounds today. The queen of Sheba.

[14:32] Brought Solomon. Across Arabia. Gold worth more than double that. 770 million pounds worth of gold. Extraordinary.

[14:43] We hear in verse 14. Solomon's annual income. Have a look at that. The weight of the gold. That Solomon received yearly. Was 666 talents. I've looked it up.

[14:55] That has a street value today. Or I don't know. I don't know what I mean. Street value. It's not drugs. If you were buying gold today. 1.2 billion pounds a year.

[15:06] In gold. And then it goes on. Doesn't it? Not including the revenues. From merchants and traders. And from all the Arabian kings. And the governors. He is off the charts rich.

[15:17] Extraordinary. And then the writer takes us on this tour. In the chapter that we just had read. In verse 16. He wants us to picture the shields display. These gold.

[15:28] Hammered gold shields. And then he takes us to the throne room. And you got. There are these steps. And there are lions either side. And it's made of ivory. And it's plated with gold. Absolutely astonishing.

[15:40] I love verse 22. The trading ships. We think the focus is going to be on the gold again. But he adds. The fleet returned every three years. With gold. Silver.

[15:51] Ivory. And apes. And baboons. I don't know why he tells us about the baboons. I love that. So it's a great time for the zoo. In Jerusalem. But theologically. What's going on is that.

[16:03] The queen's visit. Is the crowning moment. For the golden age. For it shows us that. As God is blessing his people. In this kind of way.

[16:14] It's drawing in. The nations of the world. To know that. The God of Israel. The God of the Bible. Is the God who is there. He is the living God. And that was always God's purpose.

[16:26] In rescuing Israel. When he made his promises to Abraham. He said to them. Through your offspring. All peoples on earth. Will be blessed. And then in Exodus 19.

[16:37] Which our young adults. Have just looked at in roots. And he says to the people. Just before he gives the Ten Commandments. That if they obey him. They will be for him. A holy nation. A royal priesthood.

[16:48] And the idea of being. A royal priesthood. As a nation. And a holy nation. Is that by living such distinctive lives. For God. And being blessed by God. There will be this magnetic pull.

[17:00] To the nations around them. And they will be drawn in. To know the living God. In Deuteronomy chapter 4. Moses says to Israel. That if they obey God.

[17:11] The nations will look at them. And say surely this great nation. Is a wise and understanding people. So with the Queen of Sheba. That vision. Is becoming a reality.

[17:22] And that's what we see. As the Queen. Directs the praise. She had for the King. Towards his God. Presumably. She. She gets saved here. Spiritually.

[17:33] We will meet her in glory. If we continue in faith. In Jesus. Because look at verse 9. She says. Praise be. To the Lord your God. Who has delighted in you. And placed you on the throne of Israel.

[17:45] Because of the Lord's eternal love for Israel. He has made you King. To maintain justice. And righteousness. She gets. That the Lord is there. And if we had been there.

[17:57] As Israelites. At that time. Marvelling at the King's wisdom. Drinking from gold goblets. Eating rich spices. Laughing at baboons.

[18:08] Maybe we'd even have asked. Is this as good as it will ever get? Is this what God meant. When he made those promises. We've got the kind of king. We always needed.

[18:19] God has made his home with us. In the temple. God is drawing the nations. Back to himself. Through us. It would have taken our breath away. But as we pondered that.

[18:31] There would have just been some warning lights. On the dashboard. Things that are disconcerting. About what's going on. Maybe this isn't the heaven on earth.

[18:43] God had promised. And that brings us to our second point. Today. Is that the Lord's conditions. To an imperfect king. Become a word of prophecy. So let's just turn back then.

[18:55] To chapter nine. Where something very significant. Happens in Solomon's life. Verse two. The Lord appeared to him. A second time. As he had appeared to him. At Gibeon.

[19:06] So just as an aside. I found that interesting. This week. This week. Just to think. Even for the king of God's people. At such an important time. The Lord appearing to him. Is very rare.

[19:18] It happens twice. These significant encounters with God. Once in a dream. In chapter three. And then here again. And we read what the Lord said to him. Verse four. As for you.

[19:29] If you walk before me. Faithfully. With integrity of heart. And uprightness. As David your father did. And do all I command. And observe my decrees and laws. I will establish your royal throne.

[19:41] Over Israel forever. As I promised David your father. When I said. You shall never fail to have a successor. On the throne of Israel. So. He has to be like David.

[19:53] Verse four. And we might think. That doesn't. That's strange. David's. David was a mess. A horrible mess. At times. But the key there. Is that when King David messed up. He didn't mess up away from God.

[20:05] He came back to God. He didn't turn to pagan gods. He lived his life. Trusting God. Flawed. But holding on to the Lord. And.

[20:16] That becomes a benchmark. For the kings. After David. And what's going on there. The backdrop of this offer. That's. That God is making to Solomon. Is. That God made an unconditional promise.

[20:28] To David. In 2 Samuel chapter 7. That. That. God's. Messiah. His forever king. Who will reign forever. Over the nations of the world.

[20:39] Will come from David's line. And that is an unconditional promise. That God made. To David. In 2 Samuel 7. But for every. King. That comes in David's line.

[20:50] The question. Is this going to be the one. Well. It's conditional. For them. Will they obey God fully. To become that forever king. Forever king.

[21:01] Or not. Is this the Messiah. We've been waiting for. That's the offer. Ominously then. For Solomon. The warning. If he disobeys. Is a lot longer. Than the offer.

[21:12] If he obeys. Verses 6 to 9. As God says to him. But if you or your descendants. Turn away from me. And do not observe the commands. And decrees I have given you. And go off to serve other gods.

[21:24] And worship them. Then I will cut off Israel. From the land. I have given them. And will reject this temple. I've consecrated. And look at verse 8. This temple will become a heap of rubble.

[21:36] All who pass by will be appalled. So that's the choice that Solomon faces every day. And it leaves the people of God insecure. About the future. Thinking.

[21:47] This is great. But I hope Solomon doesn't mess this up. I hope he doesn't drift. If he does. We're going to lose this. Lose this. And what we've seen so far in 1 Kings.

[21:58] Amidst all the good things that are happening. Is that the cracks are starting to appear. On the surface. Of Solomon's life. Or you could say that there are snowflakes.

[22:09] That have been landing. And now they're starting to lay. And build up. And you're thinking. There's an avalanche coming here. Some things are just not right here.

[22:20] So in verse 11. Solomon gives 20 towns in Galilee. To a foreign king. Hiram. Hiram doesn't even like the towns.

[22:33] That's what we get told. He's not very impressed with them. But what is Solomon doing? Giving away part of Galilee. Part of the promised land. To a foreign king. And then.

[22:44] We had a warning light back in chapter 3. When Solomon married Pharaoh's daughter. Marrying someone who does not follow God. Even if you are the wisest man who's ever lived. Is not going to go well.

[22:56] It's not a good idea. And here in verse 16. Of chapter 10. We find. Is that what I mean? No.

[23:07] Verse 16 of chapter 9. We find there's this really weird thing going on. That Solomon's got this. Odd relationship. With his father-in-law. Pharaoh king of Egypt. It's too close.

[23:19] And. This is not good. Because. In Deuteronomy chapter 17. Which we've already had. Some. You know. Moses spoke. Deuteronomy.

[23:30] To the people. Before they entered the promised land. It anticipated. Them having a king. And said. What the king needs to be like. This is the backdrop. To Solomon's reign. This is what we can measure him against.

[23:41] See what you think. How is he getting on? Deuteronomy 17. On the screen. The king moreover. Must not acquire. Great numbers of horses. For himself. Or make the people return to Egypt.

[23:54] To get more of them. For the Lord has told you. You are not to go back that way again. He must not take many wives. Or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate.

[24:05] Large amounts of silver. And gold. Well what is your verdict. On Solomon. Up against. That command. How much gold. Constitutes.

[24:17] Too much. Large amounts. And that specific instruction. Not to go back to Egypt. Especially not for horses.

[24:29] Don't want great numbers of horses. Well look at chapter 10. Verse 26. Solomon accumulated chariots. And horses. He had 1400 chariots.

[24:42] And 12,000 horses. Which he kept in the chariot cities. And also with him in Jerusalem. The king made silver. As common in Jerusalem.

[24:53] As stones. Cedar. As plentiful. As sycamore fig trees. His horses were imported. From Egypt. He's playing with fire isn't he?

[25:05] Verse 29. They imported a chariot from Egypt. For 600 shekels of silver. And a horse. For 150. And the first readers of first kings knew this only too well.

[25:20] Because by the time this book is put together. The people aren't even in the land anymore. They've endured the horror of exile. They're in Babylon. Weeping. As they remember.

[25:31] How good it was. In Solomon's time. The golden age is gone. Because the kings blew it. And we might think. How can you be as foolish as that?

[25:43] When Solomon was the wisest man who's ever lived. How could he not with all his wisdom. Day by day have not thought to himself. How could it possibly be worth disobeying God.

[25:55] When God is this good to me. But that's so true of all of us isn't it? That sin isn't usually about. Whether we've got the wisdom. It's about our hearts.

[26:06] And Solomon's problem was not a lack of wisdom. It was his heart. And for the people in exile. Knowing that the kings have blown it.

[26:18] And the promised land is gone. And the temples gone. They needed to cling on to God's promises. And look forward in hope. Knowing that for God to keep those promises. He's going to have to send us a better king.

[26:31] A king who's wise like Solomon. But righteous as well. And this glorious moment. The queen of Sheba's visit. And Solomon's splendor.

[26:42] It becomes a picture that the prophets use. To describe the future age. No God really will do that. He is going to bring this new future age.

[26:53] Through a future king. So the prophet Isaiah picks up the thread. Have a look on the screen. This is Isaiah chapter 60. And this is God promising through Isaiah. Through Isaiah.

[27:04] This glorious future age. That the Messiah will bring. He says. Your sun will never set again. Your moon will wane no more. The Lord will be your everlasting light. And your days of sorrow will end.

[27:16] Then all your people will be righteous. And they will possess the land forever. So you see what's going on here. It's describing what's still future for us. Glory. The new heaven and the new earth.

[27:28] And just before that. That's verses 20 and 21. In verse 5. He says this. This is the one king's language coming through. Then you will look and be radiant.

[27:40] Your heart will throb and swell with joy. Isn't that? It's just such a good thought that isn't it? That in the future with Christ. Our hearts will ache.

[27:51] With the joy. That we're experiencing. The wealth on the seas. Will be brought to you. To you the riches of the nations will come. Herds of camels will cover your land.

[28:02] Young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come. Bearing gold and incense. And proclaiming the praise of the Lord. So you see what Isaiah is doing here. Which is what the Old Testament prophets do.

[28:14] They're describing the future. That God has revealed to them by his spirit. That he will bring. And to help them describe it. They draw on language.

[28:26] That's familiar to them. The memory trace. The memory trace. Of how wonderful it was in Solomon's time. As the Queen of Sheba came. With all that tribute. And saying that.

[28:37] That's just a foretaste. Of how good it's going to be. With God forever. What it's going to need. Is a king. Chosen by God. Wise like Solomon. But with a faithful heart.

[28:49] God. And I think if you were in exile. In Babylon. It would have been hard to imagine. How God could send such a king. But today we read this.

[29:00] And we celebrate that now. We have such a king. One who we remember today. On Palm Sunday. Went into Jerusalem on a donkey. Because he was fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah.

[29:14] To Jerusalem. See your king who is righteous. Comes to you. Riding on a donkey. Because when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. To walk away from God's commands.

[29:26] He didn't ignore Deuteronomy. He recited Deuteronomy. He said to the devil. Man does not live by bread alone. But by every word that comes from the mouth of God. And for us.

[29:39] Living between Jesus first coming. And his second coming. We can think about this in two different ways today. One is that we look back at 1 Kings. 1 Kings. And we think about the promised future.

[29:50] That we're still waiting for. In Revelation 21. When John. The Apostle John. Has his revelation of our future. Again he picks up this thread. From the Queen of Sheba.

[30:02] Through the prophet Isaiah. And he says this. He says. This is in Revelation 21. The nations will walk by its light. And the kings of the earth. Will bring their splendor into it.

[30:14] On no day will its gates ever be shut. For there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations. Will be brought into it. So again you see that. The picture of what was happening in Solomon's time.

[30:28] Being brought forward. And John saying. Picture the future like that. That's how good it's going to be. And we are therefore to enjoy. To enjoy. Reading about the Queen of Sheba visiting Solomon.

[30:39] With this real absolute confidence. This is a glimpse of our future. Jesus is fully qualified. To bring an age like this. But with a key difference.

[30:50] That for us. It will be secure forever. Because Jesus. Jesus. Is faithful. He walked before. Before God. With integrity of heart. So all around us.

[31:02] People will set their hope on things. For a future that's going to be brighter. And going to be happy. And going to be secure. Some of us will be feeling that politics is the answer. As the elections come in May. Others will be thinking about.

[31:14] Their individual pension plan. And investments. At the end of a tax year. Some of you will be here thinking. I hope this finishes soon. So I can get back in it. Revised for exams. For exams. Because for some of us.

[31:25] It's exam results. So the things that we. Put our hope in. Well when we think about. What we want to set our hope on. God is saying to us today. Set your hope confidently.

[31:36] On my son. Your king. Finally. One greater than Solomon. Has come. And first kings is a word to us today. Not just about that future. But about the present.

[31:48] Living in light. Of the coming of Jesus. Jesus. When we see the queen of Sheba. Breathless. At Solomon. It reminds us. That the best thing. We can offer people today.

[31:59] Is. Our king. She came to see him. For herself. And in John chapter one. When Philip meets Jesus. He goes to find his friend. Nathaniel.

[32:10] Come and see. Come and see him. I don't know whether you saw this weekend. That transport Scotland. Were in the news. Because of this advert. They. Um. It's an advert saying.

[32:21] Come and see the Scottish Highlands. And. Um. The picture is apparently. Of somewhere in China. So. They've got in trouble for that. And people are saying.

[32:32] Why on earth. Would you have needed to do that. When the Highlands are so glorious. Why advertise them. With a picture of China. You can just show them. What it's like.

[32:43] And. I thought. It was just thinking. In a similar way. For us. As Jesus. Sends us out. As his holy nation today. To.

[32:54] To make him known. To others. We don't need gimmicks. We don't need to kind of. Find other things. That might attract people. To. To church. Or to. Finding out more.

[33:05] We need to say to people. Come and see the king. Come and see Jesus. One greater than Solomon. Take a closer look. At him. The apostle Paul. Writes about Jesus.

[33:16] Christ is the one we proclaim. In whom are hidden. All the treasures. Of wisdom and knowledge. So that for us. Whatever's going on. In our lives today. To get to know Jesus.

[33:28] More deeply. Is it. Is to find a treasure. More valuable. Than all the gold. In Solomon's Israel. Israel. And.

[33:39] As we finish. That gives us. Both a word of grace. And a word of warning. The word of warning. Comes from Jesus himself. That in Luke chapter 11. After Jesus had proved. The wisdom. Of his words.

[33:50] Speaking like no one. Had ever taught before. And the authority. Of his words. To. To raise the dead. To drive out demons. To calm a storm. They asked him.

[34:01] For another sign. And he said this. The queen of the south. Will rise. At the judgment. With the people. Of this generation. And condemn them. For she came.

[34:12] From the ends of the earth. To listen to Solomon's wisdom. And now. Something greater than Solomon. Is here. So let me ask you. Have you.

[34:23] Not yet received Jesus. Or have you drifted. From Jesus. Today. Would be a great day. To. Come to him. Let's not find ourselves.

[34:35] On a different side. On judgment day. To the queen. Of the south. Who saw God's king. In her time. And. Felt compelled. To turn back. To God. To turn back.

[34:46] To God. But the queen. Of Sheba. Also reminds us. That Jesus speaks. To us. A word of grace. Today. Jesus is drawing people. Back to God. And for any of us.

[34:57] Ethnically. which is most of us here today, the Queen of Sheba's story is our story as well. A story of meeting God's king and finding that the wisdom of Jesus's death on the cross to save us has taken our breath away. One day a throne greater than Solomon's is going to be his and the wealth of the nations will be his and it will rightly be his as he's there in his splendor on his throne. But we can marvel today at Jesus' character as well, that though he had all of that splendor in heaven, he chose, though he was rich, to become poor for our sake, entering our world, going to the cross, that we through his poverty might become rich. And so now we treasure him and we know that our future is secure with him. Amen. Let's have a moment of quiet, a chance to reflect on what God's been teaching us through 1 Kings 9 and 10. And then in a moment, Peter and the band will lead us in closing worship and we can worship the Lord together.