Shiloh Baptist Church

The Queen of Sheba, known in the New Testament as the queen of the South (Luke 11:31) visited Solomon to examine his wisdom. Solomon, whose name means, “peaceful,” was also known as Jedidiah, beloved of the Lord, who lived in Jerusalem. He was the tenth son of David, born to Bathsheba. He had numerous half-brothers, and half-sisters including Absalom, and Adonijah. He married numerous wives and concubines including the daughter of Pharaoh. He was the father of Rehoboam and the King of Israel.

The Queen of Sheba ruled a country that was most likely in southwest Arabia, a mighty commercial power specializing in the trade of perfume and incense. During her visit, it is said that she probably negotiated a trade agreement as well as provisions for safe passage of her merchant’s caravans through Israel’s territory.

Having heard astonishing reports of Solomon’s wisdom and splendor, she found him exceeding his reputation. In response, she worshiped the God of Israel and presented Solomon with an abundance of gold, jewels, and more spices than the kingdom had ever received before. In exchange, Solomon was equally generous, giving her all she desired, whatever she asked, besides what he had given her according to the royal generosity (1 Kings 10:13).

Commenting on her story, Jesus warned his listeners that this queen would rise up in judgment on their generation. When she came to Solomon and saw his greatness, her response was not jealousy or denial, but awe and thanksgiving. She acknowledged Solomon’s greatness and honored his God.

By contrast, Jesus’ generation had met one greater than Solomon- The Messiah Himself- and their response had been unbelief (Luke 11:29). So He predicted that a woman who rules a powerful country would someday put them to shame because she, like Solomon, was wise. The queen of Sheba was a forerunner of women of power and influence, who are in awe of the Truth & Living God, an example for all women.     

Submitted by Deaconess Irene Gardon

“The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy.”

Psalm 147:11 KJV

I don’t know if I’ve ever told you this story. Like Pastor always says, ‘confession is good for the soul, but it’s bad for the reputation.’ Anyway, when I was about 10-12 years old, growing up in Alabama, I was a Girl Scout, like most young girls that age. My friends and I would gather together and walk to our meetings where we would do arts and crafts, and learn about being productive young women. It was loads of fun, and I enjoyed it.

But one day, while walking home from a meeting with my friends, like we had done so many times before, there was a stray kitten on the side of the road. My friends knew that I was afraid of cats, and they picked up the kitten and threw it on my back. The more I tried to get away from it, the more it clung to me- we were both afraid. And to this day I am afraid of cats. I don’t like them and they know it. It’s so bad that I can’t watch a cat commercial on TV, and I learned later in life that the fear of cats is a real phobia for lots of people, and it has a name. Ailurophobe.

When my daughter was small she wanted a kitten and her dad told her my story, trying to convince her that getting a pet kitten was not a good idea because mommy was afraid of cats, and when he asked her which would she rather have, the kitten or mommy? She would always say, “The cat.” Thankfully, we never got one and she learned to love me instead.

We live in a world today where there’s lots to fear. Crime is running rampant. Racism is an ever-present dread. Earthquakes. Tornadoes. Car-Accidents. Death. The Police. The loss of a job. These in no way compare to my fear of cats but nevertheless, they have the tendency to immobilize us. Every culture seems to be afraid of something. Even in Biblical times, the Hebrews feared the Romans because of the ruthless might of their occupation troops. Eventually, those fears were realized as Rome viciously destroyed Jerusalem in A.D.70.

“O God”

Change Me, O God

Rearrange me

Keep Me!

Talk with me

I Yearn For You, O God!

Save Me

Help Me!

Walk with Me

Stop me, O God!

Fill Me

Deliver Me

Lift Me, O God!

Protect Me

Hold Me, O God

Forgive Me

I’m Yours, O God!

Guide me

Hide me

Use Me

Seal Me, O God!

Amen