“Blessed be Adonai your God, who took pleasure in you to put you on the throne of Isra’el. Because of Adonai’s eternal love for Isra’el, he has made you king, to administer judgment and justice fairly.” – 1 Kings 10:9
Verse 9 is packed with some interesting theological insights.
The Queen of Saba declares that the citizens of Israel are so blessed that Solomon is their king.
Why?
Because Adonai has blessed him to rule with “justice” and “righteousness.”
That is MISHPAT and TZEDEKAH in Hebrew.
The other idea being expressed here is that a nation’s spiritual status before the Lord is in the hands of its leader.
This isn’t symbolic or metaphorical.
A nation’s fate before the Lord rests with the leader.
However, having said that, this doesn’t do away with the element of individual responsibility before God.
The Lord deals with mankind both individually and as a group.
Your eternal salvation will be determined by your faith in Messiah Yeshua.
However, if you are part of a nation whose leaders are evil and rebellious against Adonai, you will suffer the collateral damage when the Lord judges that nation.
For instance, there may be believers in North Korea.
They are saved on an individual basis.
But unfortunately, since they are part of a group ruled by an evil regime, they suffer alongside everyone else.
Onward.
Finally, notice in verse 9 that the Queen of Saba says…
“Blessed be Adonai your God…”
I can’t help but mention that the original Hebrew here is…
“Blessed be YEHOVEH your ELOHIM.”
She is addressing the Lord by His personal name.
But that doesn’t mean she believes in the God of Israel as her Lord and Savior.
She knows the God of Israel.
But it is not a saving knowledge.
She has not accepted the God of Israel as her Lord and Savior.
That’s a huge difference.
And that leads to our takeaway for today.
You can acknowledge the existence of God.
You can even call Him by name as the Queen of Saba did.
But until you TRUST Him.
And WORSHIP Him as your God.
You have not entered into a saving or righteous belief.
Ya feel me?
Done.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
Thus, faith by itself,
unaccompanied by actions, is dead.
But someone will say that you have faith
and I have actions. Show me this faith of
yours without the actions, and I will
show you my faith by my actions!
You believe that “God is one”?
Good for you! The demons believe it too
– the thought makes them shudder with fear!”
– James 2:17-19
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