A Prayer of Praise for the Blessings You Have (2 Chron 9.8)

Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on his throne as king for the LORD your God. Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness.

This prayer is offered by an unknown figure from history outside of scripture, whom the writer only refers to as the Queen of Sheba. Though she is not a follower of Yahweh, she blesses Him when she sees how blessed Solomon is with wealth and wisdom.

Background

The story is famous and has been used in many works of literature and art in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic history.

Before this scene, the author summarizes Solomon’s reign after the dedication of the Temple. He rebuilt many cities, rebuilt some cities that had been lost, and further consolidated the kingdom of Israel by securing its boundaries. Throughout, the author stresses his great wealth. After the Queen’s visit, the story tells us how Solomon’s wealth and status became widely known throughout the world. The account of Solomon’s reign ends there with his death.

Though we don’t know this Queen, we do know that Sheba was located where modern-day Yemen sits. Therefore, she took a 1,400-mile journey across the desert—no easy trip, even for a Queen! Though the focus in this story is about Solomon’s wisdom, commerce, and trade were probably the primary reason for the visit. Sheba was known for frankincense and myrrh, and access to the seaports of Israel would have been crucial for Sheba.

After she sees Solomon’s wealth and wisdom, she tells him that she now believes the rumors about him. She then offers the prayer above, blessing Solomon’s God for what He has done.

When we compare this account of Solomon with the one we studied in Kings, the differing focus of each is clear. Kings was written to the later exiles of Israel, after the Temple had been destroyed and their nation ravaged. Those exiles wanted to know why it had happened, and the book of Kings is telling them that the reason, in part, for their tragedy was that despite all the blessings, Solomon and the nation were unfaithful through the worship of other deities and infighting. But Chronicles was written to those exiles to give them hope after their failure. So the writers and editors stressed God’s blessings on Solomon and Israel through the building of the Temple and the riches of the nation, and emphasized that God had chosen Israel for all time.

Meaning

The prayer contains three general ideas. First, that God should be praised because he has delighted in Solomon and given him the throne of His people. It is worthwhile for us to consider how God can experience “delight“ in us, and that that is the reason he blesses us.

She also notes that God loves Israel and makes her strong forever. Since this story was written down long after the events (at least in the form we have it), when the Temple was destroyed and the people were taken away, we can see how this would offer the Exiles some hope for deliverance and restoration. Yet the promise doesn’t end there. Jesus, who later brought a new age of God’s kingdom to earth, mentions this story in Matthew 12.42 and Luke 11.31:

The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!

Finally, the Queen gives the reason for the preceding: so that Solomon could practice justice and righteousness. This is an important concept! Power is a means to an end, not the goal. Wealth is a means to an end, not the goal. When God blesses us with status or wealth, the transaction should not end there! We are then called to use those blessings to practice justice and righteousness. Could this not also apply to any blessings?

Application

Take a moment to think of the blessings that God has given you. Perhaps it is not wealth or wisdom like Solomon (though it could be). Maybe it is a strong and loving family. Perhaps it is loyal and supportive friends. Parents, job, or career. Perhaps where you live is a blessing; maybe you are blessed with creative skills or have had wonderful opportunities for education. Write down two or three of the greatest blessings you have.

Imagine the Queen of Sheba visiting you. You tell her (or show her) these blessings. What would she say about them? How would she describe them?

What prayer could she offer, blessing God, because of how He had blessed you? Use the prayer above as a model, write a prayer that the Queen could offer for your blessings.