2 Chronicles 9:1-31 - Homiletics

A study in the matter of fame.

The first twelve verses of this chapter—a chapter which otherwise offers little homiletic matter—put before us a very favourable instance of the legitimate operation of a great force in this world, the force called fame. It may sometimes be more pleasantly viewed under the description and title of an attraction , but it is a force under any circumstances, and often a very great one. The instance before us is a "favourable" one, because it is exhibited and it is occupied in matter which we are glad to think of, and to think of as availing itself of whatever advantage may lie within reach. And its "operation" is "legitimate," because there is nothing in the motives and methods brought into play in the effective short history on the page but what we readily sympathize with. These even add interest to the main subject. The instances of the action of fame in unfavourable matter may perhaps seem to preponderate; but perhaps, also, this may rather seem to be the case than really be so. Notice—

I. SOME GENERAL FACTS CHARACTERIZING THE ACTION OF FAME .

1 . It is in fame to travel the longest distances.

2 . It travels at no appreciable expense.

3 . The greater distance absolutely lends generally the greater bulk.

4 . The travel is swift, silent, and very difficult to track.

5 . It may serve great and useful ends, as in the present instance, and in the greater instance involved in the history of the Wise Men of the East.

6 . The fame of a person or of some exploit travels and spreads in obedience to what seem to be almost principles in human nature—the love to hear and to tell in proportion to the novelty and the strikingness for any reason of the tidings in question.

II. THE PARTICULAR FACTS THAT CHARACTERIZED THIS INSTANCE OF FAME .

1 . It was the fame of wisdom. The picture suggested to our mental vision is most interesting and most unusual. For a moment the Solomon of Scripture is the Socrates of Greece. For great stress is laid on the queen's communing with Solomon of the things in her heart, and questioning him on them. The wonders of human life individually and of human history may have been debated. The casuistry of those days may have been very real and perplexing, even though to our day it should seem trifling and simple. It is emphatically said that the queen laid herself out to prove Solomon with hard questions.

2 . The fame was also that of knowledge and what we might call learn ing. Elsewhere we read of Solomon's knowledge of natural history, and of his amazing command by memory of proverbs.

3 . It was the fame of wealth, splendour, magnifi cence; and these not lavished altogether upon himself.

4 . And not least, it was the fame of one on whom rested supereminently the blessing of the Lord his God. The queen, by whatsoever means, and these are not altogether hard to imagine, had learnt of the delight that God took in Solomon and his throne and his people, inextricably and prophetically one. Whether she knew more or less, much or but very, very little, of the relation of earth to heaven, of the dependence of man on God, and of the practice of a reasonable, intelligent, and acceptable worship of him, it is evident that she recognized and rejoiced in the fact that she had come to see a man on whom the Spirit of God rested.

III. THE CHARACTER , AT LEAST IN SOME FEATURES OF IT , ON WHICH THE FAME OF SOLOMON TOOK SUCH EFFECT .

1 . The Queen of Sheba was one of those who have an ear to hear. This does not mean an ear to hear necessarily everything. It does not mean an ear to hear the loudest sound or the nearest sound. It does mean an ear opened to hear the most important sounds, though they may be very distant, or very high, or from deepest depth. It means a discerning, instinctively selecting, discriminating ear.

2 . She had an earnestly inquiring disposition. Suggestions are often the best of thoughts, as sketches are often the best of pictures, and as seeds have all growth, flower, fruit, concealed in them. We can follow here the birth from a suggestion of thought, resolve, patient, long expectation, faith in her journey's reward, and all the final realization vouchsafed to her enterprise. How many sounds enter the ear which might well waken us I How many suggestions proffer activity for the powers and fruit for the life within us, and fall like chilled flowers, withered fruit-settings, because of the barren nature, the absolute uninquiringness of our disposition I The best seed asks soil, and good soil; the highest thoughts ask prepared minds; and the purest truth, pure hearts.

3 . The queen was willing to expend labour, to endure fatigue, to exercise long patience, in order to satisfy herself as to the trustworthiness and the very facts of the fame of Solomon . Labour, fatigue, and patience were all worthily encountered. The object was worth them, even though it were no greater and higher than it was. It was far greater and higher than the objects which often exert far greater attraction for men, when for them, being things destitute of any heavenward aspect whatsoever, they will rise up early, go to rest late, and eat the bread of sorrow continually.

4 . When the queen had seen and heard Solomon, and had satisfied herself of all, she feels no envy, seeks no points of detraction, suspects no dements of weakness, but gives to all the display her heartiest, most unaffected praise and congratulation. She can make the prosperity and blessedness of others joy and matter of thanksgiving for her own heart. She can genuinely rejoice with those who rejoice—that rarer thing, even, than to weep with those who weep! And, after bestowing her lavish Eastern gifts, can return to her home, alike wiser and happier. Amid all the dim light of knowledge, and dimmer light of religion, of faith, and of love, we cannot doubt that we have an example in this woman of some of the best qualities possible to human nature; of a large mind, a noble and pure heart, of generous apprehensions of faith and love, and of—in one word—a graciousness that cometh only from above.

IV. THE CHIEF LESSONS OF THIS HISTORY FOR OURSELVES . The history is referred to by our supreme Teacher himself ( Matthew 12:42 ; Luke 11:31 ). His powerful reference to it is to point us to a lesson for good and timely example and imitation.

1 . We are to seek; to seek earnestly; to seek simply, purely, and without envy; to seek with labour and fatigue, with patience and faith, with strong expectation and love unfeigned; and to seek, with full, ungrudging gift, his wisdom, his knowledge, his surpassing and most real splendour, and his solution of all our hard questions. The very existence of the example declares and pronounces its claim upon us. Its look, its tone, its matter, all speak forth its meaning.

2 . But we are pointed, not merely to a kindly lesson and attractive example, but to a forcible warning. For if we will not follow, do not follow, the Queen of Sheba, her example will follow us, even to the pursuing of us, to the great judgment! She will condemn us, whose expectation, and effort, and interest, and liberal generosity were all inflamed by the fame of Solomon, while all the fame of Christ fails to waken our zeal. Hearts are cold. Effort is feebleness itself, or even as nought. Patience is intolerable. Fatigue cannot be contemplated. Gold must be hoarded, and Christ and heaven must be lost; while she, of dim ages and dim knowledge, and but most broken rays of revelation, shall, because she used them to the best, rise up in the judgment and condemn those whose privileges and opportunities were immense, immeasurable! Warning and lesson both are pressed upon us by the "Greater than Solomon," the infinitely greater! Who will not wish to eschew the condemnation of which he is here warned? Who will not be guided and attracted by the lesson which is here offered to him?