"All the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had
put in his heart."--_1 Kings 10:24._
KING Solomon was the greatest king in wisdom and riches who ever lived.
He had an ivory throne with golden lions standing on the steps, and
a beautiful house lined with sweet cedar-wood. He sent ships which
brought home gold and silver, and apes and peacocks; and it was said
that gold was as common as silver generally is, and silver as common as
stones!
All people honored him, and the Queen of Sheba came from her far-off
country to see him, because of the fame of his greatness. And when she
saw him she was quite overcome, and said that all she heard was not
half so grand and glorious as what she saw. Very happy, she said, were
the people who stood round him and heard the words of his wisdom.
We have the words of his wisdom in the Book of Proverbs in the Bible,
for his wisdom came from God. And though we shall never see his purple
robes or his gold and silver, do you know what our blessed Saviour
said?--"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil
not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in
all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
[Illustration: THE QUEEN OF SHEBA VISITING SOLOMON.--1 Kings 10:6-10.]
The least little flower, if you look well into it, is more beautiful
than anything King Solomon ever wore, for God made it; and he could
only put things together that were made already.