Concerning the Name of the Lord

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 10

Scripture Focus: Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. (1 Kings 10.1)

Devotional Thought: My granddaughter, Annabelle, is a very, very persistent questioner. If I don't answer a particular question to her liking, she will ask it again in a different form. I've never been able to "take her breath away" - to cause her to stop asking questions. She is the Queen of Questions.

King Solomon's wisdom was known far and wide. People came to him for answers. The Queen of Sheba tested Solomon with questions. Put on the spot, how did he do? The Bible says that "Solomon answered all her questions, there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her ... There was no more breath in her" (1 Kings 10.3, 5).

The Queen of Sheba was a very wealthy, powerful, and intelligent woman. It would take a lot to take her breath away. But, that's what happened. How was Solomon able to do that?

The answer lies in the line of questioning: "the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord." Though the Bible paints a very flattering picture of Solomon's knowledge and wisdom, I'm sure that he didn't literally know the answer to every question she could have asked. What he did know the answer to, however, were all her questions "concerning the name of the Lord." In other words, Solomon knew all about God, because Solomon knew God.

People have hard questions for the believer. This is true in times of large scale crises (such as the COVID19 pandemic of 2020), but it is also true in times of personal crises (such as death, illness, unemployment). We may not have the answers to all their questions, but we can be ready to answer their questions "concerning the name of the Lord."

Prayer: Lord, help me to be ready to answer questions concerning your name. As you admonish me in 1 Peter 3.15, may I be ready to give "the reason for the hope" I have within me. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 119.73-80

73 Your hands have made and fashioned me;

give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,

because I have hoped in your word.

75 I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous,

and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

76 Let your steadfast love comfort me

according to your promise to your servant.

77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;

for your law is my delight.

78 Let the insolent be put to shame,

because they have wronged me with falsehood;

as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.

79 Let those who fear you turn to me,

that they may know your testimonies.

80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes,

that I may not be put to shame!