Introduction

Good day, everyone. Today we examine Chapter 10 of 1 Kings. Before we address the main theme of this chapter, let me share a brief anecdote.

A while ago, I read a news report about people actually taking traditional temples public on the stock market. It was a bizarre spectacle. In the realm of spiritual hierarchy, a "God of Wealth" occupies a very low rank. If all gods and spirits gathered, the God of Wealth would stand way at the back—even a bandit wielding a blade commands more dread than he does. Make no mistake about this.

Why did they list the temple? Pure financial greed. But by doing so, they inverted the proper order of things. People used to pray at temples and find them effective; now, they find nothing of the sort. Why? Because these people failed to recognize basic hierarchy. They elevated a minor, obscure deity above true authority. When you commit such foolishness, how can you expect any divine blessing or efficacy?

If that is the case, what is the ultimate asset in life? Wisdom, without a doubt. If a person possesses wisdom, will he suffer from a lack of money? The answer is no. He will not lack wealth, nor will he lack health, joy, or strategic advantage. Solomon was a man of supreme intellect. When God asked him, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you," Solomon answered without hesitation: he asked for wisdom. That response pleased God immensely.

God looked down from His throne and saw that most of the world was worshipping petty gods of wealth, with very few seeking the true God. Yet Solomon alone stood out from the crowd, seeking what truly mattered. God was surprised, but even more so by the fact that Solomon asked for nothing selfish—he asked solely for wisdom to govern the nation of Israel effectively.

Consider the reality of the Israelites at the time. Although they had left Egypt, their minds were still cluttered with small tricks, petty scheming, and unruly behavior. How could anyone manage such a difficult and chaotic crowd without wisdom? Once Solomon received wisdom, he used it to build the Temple and his own palace—both massive, grand undertakings. He used it to handle foreign affairs and govern his people. Wisdom elevated Solomon to international prominence. It made him formidable.

Therefore, the theme of this chapter is: "Wisdom Brings Fame, Wealth, and National Power." I have spoken at length about petty gods and Solomon to make one fundamental point clear: wisdom is essential. Without wisdom, a person is utterly ruined. What a human being needs most is not cash in hand, but wisdom. Without wisdom, how can anyone survive, let alone thrive?

We must all cultivate an intense desire for wisdom. If a person achieves fame without wisdom, it becomes a recipe for disaster. What good is fame if you lack the intelligence to handle it? The tallest nail gets hammered down. If you lack wisdom, do not put your head above the parapet; do not seek the spotlight. Look at Abraham, the forefather of Israel. He possessed great wisdom. He sought God, and God promised him: "I will make you into a great nation, I will make your name great, and all nations on earth will be blessed through you." That covenant began with Abraham.

To this day, what I find most regrettable is that many people are foolish enough to despise wisdom while chasing money. But loving money does not make you rich. Even idol worshippers understand basic power dynamics. Why do some choose to worship Lord Guan instead of a standard god of wealth? When I asked them, they replied: "Because Lord Guan is a martial god of wealth." I asked, "Why a martial god?" They said: "If you have money but no weapon, others will come and rob you. You cannot survive without power." You see, even they possess a pragmatic logic.

Frankly, some Christians demonstrate a lower practical intelligence than idol worshippers. What is the point of accumulating wealth if you have no leverage, no strength, and no defense? Are you simply waiting to be plundered? Let me share a true story from my hometown before we return to Solomon.

During the early period of China’s economic reforms, an elderly couple in their sixties rode the wave of policy dividends and accumulated substantial wealth. Yet, they lacked the wisdom and means to protect themselves. That made their position extremely precarious. A few desperate thugs noticed their wealth and surveilled their house for several days. One day, they kicked the door open and stormed in.

Recognizing the danger, the old woman said, "Take whatever you want, just do not harm us." The thugs took the valuables and left. Just then, the couple's son returned home. Seeing what had happened, he refused to let the robbers escape. Armed with nothing but hot-headed anger, he tried to fight them off unarmed. He was promptly stabbed to death. Overcome with grief over the loss of their son, the elderly parents ended up burning millions of real Renminbi as hell bank notes for the dead. With their son gone, what good was all that cash?

Eventually, the couple donated their remaining wealth to build a temple. Today, we do not need to acquire weapons or obsess over raw cash; we come to the church to acquire wisdom. If you go to Shenzhen to make money, you come to the church to gain wisdom.

The Queen of Sheba Tests Solomon with Hard Questions

When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the Lord, she came to test Solomon with hard questions. (1 Kings 10:1)

Let me be clear: the Queen of Sheba was a master of statecraft. Do not mistake her for an ordinary, uncultivated woman. She was an exceptionally powerful ruler in her region, possessing formidable intellect. In terms of strategy, she was a top-tier grandmaster, a dominant figure of her era who governed her country with distinction.

Yet, despite her capability, she faced complex governance problems and deep intellectual riddles that she could not resolve. When she heard that the King of Israel, Solomon, possessed insight superior to her own, she decided to travel to Jerusalem and test him with these hard questions.

How did she learn about Solomon? Merchants from her realm had traded in Israel. They witnessed the magnificent construction of the Temple and Solomon's palace, and they were stunned. Upon returning, they realized the contrast between Sheba's palace and Solomon’s was night and day.

Now, while Sheba’s palace was modest compared to Solomon’s, Solomon’s palace was still not as vast as the Forbidden City in Beijing—the Forbidden City is immense. But Solomon's work was accomplished three thousand years ago. When the merchants reported what they saw, the Queen of Sheba was deeply moved. She longed to see Solomon in person. Though distance initially delayed her, her desire to meet this capable leader only grew.

After a long period of preparation, she decided to make the journey, bringing 120 talents of gold, precious stones, and rare spices. Local traditions in Ethiopia—such as the history of the Beta Israel, or black Jews—claim an ancestral connection to this historic meeting between Sheba and Solomon. Historical folklore aside, the core truth is that the Queen of Sheba found no match among the leaders in her own region. She held high standards and would not settle for mediocrity.

Naturally, a strong leader seeks someone stronger, someone who offers stability and competence. In her own land, she was at the top, and no one impressed her. But Solomon captured her complete respect. Some might point out that Solomon already had many wives and concubines, but the Queen of Sheba focused entirely on evaluating his capability and intellect.

She brought her most difficult geopolitical and philosophical questions to Solomon. When Solomon explained every single issue clearly, she was thoroughly impressed by his wisdom. She recognized his extraordinary competence immediately.

Solomon’s Wisdom Subdues the Queen of Sheba

The Queen of Sheba was a decisive ruler. Once she resolved to meet Solomon, she followed through completely.

She came to Jerusalem with a very large retinue—with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind. Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her. (1 Kings 10:2-3)

Laozi opened the Tao Te Ching with a phrase that has confused people for centuries: "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao." But Solomon, in Ecclesiastes, made the truth plain and straightforward. If a person can explain a principle clearly, it demonstrates real mastery. If a speaker leaves the audience completely confused, can you truly call him a teacher?

I have often seen churches invite famous speakers. After the sermon, the audience applauds enthusiastically, yet I am left puzzled because the message lacked logical clarity. Thinking others understood, I would ask someone, "Did you follow that? Could you explain it to me?" And they would reply, "I didn't understand it either." That is absurd. If you did not understand, why were you applauding?

The world operates on a strange fallacy: people often assume that whatever is incomprehensible must be profound. Making a speech confusing is easy—anyone can babble incoherently. The real skill lies in clarity.

Whether in Bible study or preaching, my objective is always total clarity. When my late mother was alive, she told me, "Son, I cannot follow what other preachers say, but when you speak, I understand it immediately." That gave me great satisfaction. Why? Because the core truth was made clear and actionable.

When Solomon spoke, there was no ambiguity. Not a single point was left unexplained.

When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed. (1 Kings 10:4-5)

The Queen of Sheba was entirely convinced by what she observed. She had finally met a leader whose competence exceeded her expectations.

She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard." (1 Kings 10:6-7)

Solomon’s wisdom, order, and majesty completely reshaped her perspective.

"How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.” (1 Kings 10:8-9)

Make no mistake: she did not say these things out of superficial flattery. She spoke out of deep respect for Solomon’s intellect and governance. She was thoroughly impressed by his leadership.

Solomon, recognizing her sharp intellect, treated her with the highest honor. The scripture notes that Solomon granted the Queen of Sheba every request she made. What kind of relationship produces such mutual respect? It is a meeting of minds—a profound alignment of respect and appreciation between two highly capable rulers.

The Queen of Sheba’s Gifts to Solomon

Solomon was a king of immense stature; you could not dismiss him with small change or polite tips.

And she gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. Never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. (1 Kings 10:10)

Do you realize that Ethiopia was a land uniquely endowed with rich spices, highly prized throughout the ancient world? The treasures the Queen of Sheba brought to Solomon included tons of gold, hauled by the cartload and carried by caravans of camels. Ask yourself: what kind of ruler commands such vast reserves of gold? This alone proves that the Queen of Sheba was no ordinary figure, but an exceptionally capable and formidable leader.

Let me tell you this: whenever you see an individual who genuinely hungers for wisdom, you are looking at someone in the mold of Solomon or the Queen of Sheba. Such people are extraordinary. Consider the Book of *Proverbs*—it places wisdom right at the start. Why? Because wisdom is fundamental; without it, a person simply cannot navigate life effectively. The Queen of Sheba brought an unprecedented quantity of spices to Solomon. She went all out and made a massive investment, but the outcome was well worth it—she obtained precisely what she sought.

## Solomon Granted Everything the Queen of Sheba Asked

**"King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for, besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country." (1 Kings 10:13)**

I venture to say that what Solomon gave the Queen of Sheba far exceeded the value of what she brought him. Do you know what she was truly seeking?

**"Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness." (1 Kings 10:9)**

Are these the words of an average person? Absolutely not. Only someone with a deep, profound understanding of God could make such a statement. What do you suppose she was after? Gold? What would be the point of that? While this detail belongs to historical tradition rather than verified scripture, legend has it that someone discovered an artifact in Ethiopia identical to the Biblical description: the Ark of the Covenant.

Solomon had his master craftsmen construct an exact replica of the Ark of the Covenant from the Temple and presented it to the Queen of Sheba. She possessed an incredible eye for true value. That was three thousand years ago. If a nation could preserve such a treasure down to the present day, its value would be beyond measure.

The Queen of Sheba brought the Ark back to Ethiopia, a move that led her people to faith and set them on the path of divine blessing. I suspect she also requested a copy of the *Pentateuch* (the Five Books of Moses), knowing that true wisdom comes solely from knowing the Word of God. 

Did Solomon also present her with his writings and songs? Almost certainly, including the *Song of Songs*. The remarkable strength of the Queen of Sheba lay in her pursuit of the ultimate truth. Recognizing that Solomon’s wisdom came from God, she hungered for that same wisdom—which is found in God's Word.

While your hunger for God's Word may exceed that of many others, I am still not fully satisfied. Wisdom is paramount. Too often, I hear brothers and sisters go on and on about worldly trivialities without uttering a single word from God. How foolish can one be? Their minds are entirely consumed by worldly matters.

In our church, after the main service, we often continue with prayer. A certain sister once behaved in a very telltale manner: the moment prayer began, she asked me to pray for her job. Pray for your job? Is your career so monumental? What you actually need is prayer for wisdom. With a brain the size of a walnut and a heart no bigger than a peanut, any task handed to you causes immense stress. Without wisdom, how do you expect to solve your problems?

We must learn from the Queen of Sheba. Solomon respected her precisely because she possessed an insatiable appetite for wisdom. Consequently, Solomon denied her nothing. When we earnestly seek wisdom, God looks down from His throne and delights in finding a person of real value. What God fears most is human ignorance.

God loves it when people seek wisdom; Solomon loved it as well. When a person asks for wisdom, God is willing to grant everything else alongside it. The Queen of Sheba brought 120 talents of gold to Solomon; do you think he sent her back with less? Surely he gave her far more—easily worth 480 talents of gold.

We must make it our priority to seek wisdom. Once you possess wisdom, your capability changes entirely. It is said that if you tell a Japanese businessman, "You are very rich," he might look at you with annoyance. But if you tell him, "You possess great wisdom and knowledge," he feels respected. Do you understand the difference? We, on the other hand, love hearing that we are rich, simply because we have not yet elevated ourselves above the primitive mindset of worshiping wealth.

## Solomon’s Wealth and Wisdom Surpassed All Kings of the Earth

**"The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents, not including the revenues brought in by merchants and traders and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the territories. King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of gold went into each shield. He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold; three minas of gold went into each shield. The king put them in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. Then the king made a great throne covered with ivory and overlaid with fine gold. The throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. On both sides of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of them. Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any other kingdom. All King Solomon’s goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon’s days. The king had a fleet of trading ships at sea along with the ships of Hiram. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons.**

**King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift—articles of silver and gold, robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules." (1 Kings 10:14-25)**

Reading this text, do you see the immense scale of Solomon’s global reputation? Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in wealth and wisdom. Rulers from everywhere sought an audience with him to hear his teaching.

Solomon ran annual sessions, but his audience was not made up of corporate executives. They were kings. He was running a masterclass for monarchs, not CEOs. Consider the tuition fees involved. If you come to Singapore for a master's degree, it costs a substantial sum; a two-week executive tour costs thousands. Do you think Solomon charged standard university fees? He gave these lectures personally. Rulers came from all over to hear him speak. I sometimes wonder why so few people come to hear me preach! Yet, Solomon’s experience fulfilled a clear spiritual reality: God will make your name great.

How is such a reputation established? Through wisdom. If you want Solomon-like wisdom, reorder your priorities: make wisdom your primary pursuit. Seeking other things first inevitably leads to tragedy. 

Even if you were given a trillion-dollar Fortune 500 corporation, could you actually manage it? Without wisdom, you cannot. If someone laid the corporate ledger of a Fortune 500 company before you, your head would burst like a balloon; you wouldn't be able to decipher it. Therefore, we must seek wisdom from God first.

## Solomon’s Chariots and Horses

**"Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem." (1 Kings 10:26)**

Solomon’s military force represented the peak of power in that era. Under his leadership, Israel became a global superpower, built entirely on the foundation of his wisdom.

What does wisdom look like in practice? Consider how some brothers and sisters actively seek out distress—they get offended by a passing comment or upset over a dismissive look. That is sheer small-mindedness. Should we not expand our capacity and acquire Solomon-like wisdom?

I feel this deeply: I want us to gain divine wisdom together. I want our brothers and sisters to possess the most advanced spiritual weaponry, becoming a powerful army of the Lord that can advance, capture strongholds, and continually release those who are captive and oppressed. All of this requires wisdom from God.

Recently, I had a strong impression regarding a sister’s aunt who was suffering immensely. Moved by compassion, I kept her in mind, leading her in prayer and binding the demon operating behind her pain. She later messaged me to say her aunt had improved significantly. I replied simply: "You must all learn to discern what is human and what is demonic."

When a person is under demonic oppression, their behavior does not fully represent who they are. My greatest tactical advantage is discernment: the moment I interact with someone, I instantly recognize whether I am dealing with the person or a demon. If it is a demon, I command it in the name of Jesus Christ to retreat and leave. I operate with sharp discernment; no demon can fool me or use human speech to wound me.

Setting the captive free and liberating the oppressed is my core calling and professional domain; my spiritual warfare capability is at the highest level—a 9th Dan black belt. Anyone confronting me needs to be near my level, or they had better step aside. I told this sister: learn to discern between human actions and demonic manipulation. If you mistake demonic utterances for the person's own words and reprimand them, you only push them deeper into demonic bondage.

## Conclusion

**"Wisdom is the supreme thing; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding." (Proverbs 4:7)**

God is the embodiment of wisdom, and His Word is wisdom itself. Consider this carefully: are we truly wise individuals? Never assume that holding an academic degree equates to possessing wisdom. Millions of university graduates enter the workforce every year, but how many possess actual wisdom? Many are impractical, glued to their smartphones day and night until their physical health degrades. They are effectively useless.

Some time ago, an elderly sister in her nineties was near the end of her life. Her eighty-year-old brother traveled from the countryside to see her one last time, carrying heavy bags on his back. Accompanying him was his fifty-year-old son, who walked empty-handed. When asked why he wasn't helping his elderly father carry the load, the son claimed, "I have high blood pressure; I can't carry anything." That is complete incompetence.

Some people are like a device that requires two hours of charging for five minutes of battery life. They constantly require maintenance. Why? Because they lack the high processing power that wisdom provides.

I want our brothers and sisters to break free from foolishness. Formal education does not equal wisdom. We must earnestly hunger for wisdom, emulating Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. 

May God grant us the highest wisdom. God bless you all!

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