So Blessed of Too Blessed

Solomon gets a visit from an Arabian Queen at the height of his success and fame. The Queen of Sheba arrives and sees for herself the blessing of God on this great man. Her reaction is priceless:
1 Kings 10:6–7 (ESV) And she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, 7 but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard. 

Notice as well the first thing she mentions is Solomon's wisdom. That's where it starts, friends. If we want God's blessing we have to get a hold of God's wisdom. His wisdom will do so much for us that others will not have anticipated it! 

We should take note that it was Solomon's wisdom for which she originally came. She had things on her mind and questions in her heart.

1 Kings 10:2–3 (ESV) She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with 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. 3 And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her.

Please don't miss this point. The QUEEN still had QUESTIONS. You would think someone who had it all and was able to travel broadly in the ancient world, who was powerful and popular would need for no thing. But she was still searching. The queen came to Solomon because she needed to understand life better. Don't we all.

Then she moves on from Solomon's individual success to Solomon's communal success.
1 Kings 10:8-9 (ESV) Happy are your men! Happy are your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 9 Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the LORD loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness.”

The men and servants in his realm are happy. This is the ultimate goal of righteous and wise government. That those who are governed are enjoying their lives. The queen knows this well stating clearly that the Lord made Solomon king because He loved the people and they needed someone to execute justice and righteousness FOR THE PEOPLE.

The problem begins for Solomon when he goes from "so blessed" to "too blessed." For he will begin in this chapter to undermine the law concerning Israel's kings. He starts gathering a war chest of military defense systems:
1 Kings 10:16–17 (ESV) King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold; 600 shekels of gold went into each shield. 17 And he made 300 shields of beaten gold; three minas of gold went into each shield. And the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.

He builds a massive throne for himself and the world came to see and hear from him:

1 Kings 10:24–25 (ESV) And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind. 25 Every one of them brought his present, articles of silver and gold, garments, myrrh, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.

But this gold and increase will lead Solomon away from simple trust in the Lord. He takes the money and increases his military spending quickly: 

1 Kings 10:26 (ESV) And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.

Now all of this was in direct conflict with Israel's law concerning the kings:

Deuteronomy 17:16–17 (ESV) Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ 17 And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.

What Solomon compromises in this chapter (concerning horses and Egypt) will lead him to compromise in the next chapter (concerning women/wives). In the end, Solomon's great blessing turned him away from trusting the Lord to trusting what the Lord could give him. This is the temptation of God's increase in our lives. One temptation and sin can lead to many more.

In Jesus we have God's true king who rejected the natural accouterments of power and prestige, not even having a place for His head. He went down to Egypt and came back with nothing. He never married but gives His life for the Bride, His Church. What Solomon failed to do, Jesus accomplished. He is our true King and source of wisdom.