And when the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions. — 1 Kings 10:1

We may profitably consider the Queen of Sheba in her visit to Solomon, for she is given as a sign to us (Matt. 12:42). Surely she came from Arabia the Happy; but it is to be feared that many around us are dwellers in Arabia the Stony, for their hearts are hard as rocks. Jesus is greater than Solomon in wisdom, for he knows the Father himself, and all the riches of wisdom and knowledge are treasured up in him. It will be to our advantage to go to Jesus with all our doubts and troubles, and prove his love and wisdom.

  1. She would prove the king's wisdom by learning from him. The best way of knowing Christ is by becoming his disciple.
  2. She would prove him with many questions. Many are the knots in the line of life. "If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God."
  3. Those she asked were hard questions.

• Beyond herself.


• Beyond her wise men.


• But not beyond the capacious mind of Solomon.

• Would show her belief in the report of his glory and learning.
  
• Would also ease her own mind; for many a perplexity would be removed for ever. The same is true of Jesus.

  1. How can a man be just with God?
  2. How can God be just and the Justifier of him that believeth?
  3.How can a man be saved by faith alone without works, while yet it is true that a saved man must have good works?
  4.How can a man be born when he is old?
  5.How is it that God sees all things and yet no more sees the sins of believers?
  6.How can a man see the Father, who is invisible?
  7.How can it be true that that which is born of God sinneth not, and yet men born of God daily confess sin?
  8.How can a man be a new man, and yet have to sigh because of the old man?
  9.How can a man be sorrowful yet always rejoicing?
  10.How can a man's life be in heaven while yet he lives on the earth?

We read that Solomon told her all her questions, and we may rest assured that Jesus will teach us all that we need to know, for "in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2:3).

• How can we come to Christ?


• How can we ask hard questions of Christ?


• How can he reply to us? By his Word, his Spirit, his Providence.


• How is it that none can come but those whom Jesus draws, and yet him that cometh to him he will in no wise cast out? Try both truths in your own experience, and they will prove themselves.


• How is it that there is a set time and a limited day, and yet the Lord bids us come to Jesus at once? Come and see.


• How is it that we have not come long ago?


• Why should we not come at this very moment?

Philosophy was born a Pagan; but she may become a Christian, and should be christened "Mary." She may be proud to sit at Jesus' feet. Hellas coming to Judea's Messiah is a rarely beautiful sight. — Dr. Duncan

Questioners must be teachable. When Haydn was in London, a nobleman came to him for lessons in music, but found fault with all that Haydn said. At last, out of patience, the musician exclaimed, "I see, my lord, that it is you who are so good as to give lessons to me, and I am obliged to confess that I do not merit the honor of having such a master."

Do not suppose that Wisdom is so much flattered at having you for a pupil that she will set you easy lessons and yet give you the gold medal — T. T. Lynch

An example of the strange riddles of Christian experience is given in one of Ralph Erskine's "Gospel Sonnets": —

The pilgrims when staying in the house of Gaius spent their time in asking and answering such riddles.

Those who lose their way because they will not ask are rather to be blamed than pitied. Men pay a great deal to obtain the opinion of a great physician; what shall we say of sick persons who will not consult the infallible Healer, though his cures are without fee? Jesus waits to be enquired of; but the most of men had rather follow their own crude thoughts than accept his infallible teachings. Let us not be among these; but having the golden opportunity of intercourse with such a Teacher, let us bring before him every difficulty, and, like Mary, sit at Jesus' feet, and learn of him.

The hard questions of life prove us, and make us see our own ignorance and folly. Yet we would not be without them, for they also prove Jesus, and display to us his knowledge and wisdom. We can remember hard questions in Providence which we could not answer, but he has made them clear as noonday; hard questions of inward conflict, which he has fully resolved; hard questions as to apparently unfulfilled promises, which we now comprehend; and hard questions of gospel doctrine, which we now see to be the truth in himself. Let us go on proving our Lord, but yet never tempting him. Every fair test, though it be far more stringent than those which Sheba's Queen imposed upon Solomon, Jesus is more than able to endure.