Nov 13
30
J. C. Philpot’s Daily Portions
“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:32
I have thought sometimes of the sweet figure of Solomon, as a type of Christ, in his royal liberality to the queen of Sheba. We read of him that he “gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty.” So our Royal Benefactor gives more to the sons of men than is in their heart to ask for. And what he gives, he gives freely, out of his royal bounty. As freely as the rain drops from the sky; as freely as the sun casts forth his glorious beams and ripens the fruits of the field; as freely as the wind courses over the earth; as freely as the dew drops upon the morning grass; so free are the gifts of God to his Church and people.
Indeed, in giving Christ, God gave everything. The Apostle declares, he “has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” We must never look upon spiritual blessings as broken fragments of the love of God, mere shreds and patches, scattered crumbs, waifs and strays, like floating pieces of some shipwrecked vessel; but we must look on the blessings of the gospel as all stored up in Christ our covenant Head. Whatever is given, is given out of Christ, in whom it has pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell; and it is by virtue of union to him, and out of his fullness, that all these blessings are received.
How can we lift up our thoughts–how raise up our hearts–adequately to conceive of the gift of God’s only-begotten Son–his eternal Son–the Son of the Father in truth and love–given out of the bosom of God that he might become incarnate, suffer, bleed, and die; and by a suffering life and meritorious death offer a sacrifice acceptable to God, a sacrifice whereby the sins of God’s people were forever put away?
The grand source of all the admiration and adoration and the eternal blessedness of the saints, will be the holy enjoyment of the ‘mystery of an incarnate God’. The incarnation of the second Person in the glorious Trinity–the eternal Son of the eternal Father–his taking human nature into union with his own divine Person–will be the mystery that will ravish the hearts and fill the lips of God’s saints with an endless theme of admiration and joy through the countless ages of eternity.
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The Glorious Hope!
“The hope which is laid up for you in Heaven.” Colossians 1:5
Hope only has reference to the future — it has nothing to do with the past and the present. Faith looks backward as well as forward — but hope fixes its glance exclusively upon things to come. And the objects with which it deals are “good things to come,” or things which are supposed to possess such a character.
We say supposed, for many objects for which men have hoped, and which they have anxiously longed for, have turned out, when possessed, to be far less valuable and attractive than they once appeared to be. Distance, in innumerable instances, lends enchantment to the view.
It is so frequently with natural objects; much of the fascination with which they seem to be invested when remotely viewed, disappear when they are more closely examined. “To all those who are conversant,” it has been strikingly observed, “in the scenery of external nature, it is evident that an object to be seen to the greatest advantage, must be placed at a certain distance from the eye of the observer. The poor man’s hut, though all within is raggedness and disorder, and all around it is full of the most disgusting spectacles — yet, if seen at a sufficient distance, may appear to be an enchanting cottage. The field where the thistle grows, and the face of which is deformed by the wild exuberance of pernicious weeds — may delight the eye of a distant spectator by the loveliness of its verdure. That lake whose waters are corrupted, and whose banks poison the air by their marshy exhalations — may charm the eye of an enthusiast who views it from an adjoining eminence, and dwells with rapture on the quietness of its surface and on the beauty of its outline, its sweet border fringed with the mirthful coloring of nature, and on which Spring lavishes its finest ornaments.
Yet all is the effect of distance — it softens the harsh and disgusting features of every object. What is detestable and ordinary — it can dress in the most romantic attractions. Distance can transform the country hamlet into a paradise of beauty, in spite of the abominations that are at every door, and the angry brawlings of the men and women who occupy it! You see the smoke rising in fantastic wreaths through the pure air, and the village spire peeping from among the thick verdure of the trees which embosom it. The imagination of our sentimentalist swells with pleasure, and completes the harmony of the picture.”
Now it is cheering to know that to the Christian’s hope, such reflections are altogether inapplicable. Although its object is distant, in a “land that is very far off,” yet what is enchanting in the distance will not lose its enchantment when its borders are reached, and its blessedness is actually realized. The feelings of the saints in Heaven will, doubtless, be very similar to those of the Eastern Queen on her visit to the most magnificent of Israel’s monarchs. Accustomed as she was, to the most pompous and imposing scenes — yet what she then saw, cast all the splendor with which she had been previously familiar, into the shadows; and with befitting candor she acknowledged that the scepticism with which she had listened to the accounts which had been brought to her, was not only removed — but that the descriptions had fallen far short of the reality, “When the queen of Sheba realized how very wise Solomon was, and when she saw the palace he had built, she was overwhelmed. She was also amazed at the food on his tables, the organization of his officials and their splendid clothing, the cup-bearers, and the burnt offerings Solomon made at the Temple of the Lord. She exclaimed to the king: Everything I heard in my country about your achievements and wisdom is true! I didn’t believe what was said until I arrived here and saw it with my own eyes! In fact, I had not heard the half of it! Your wisdom and prosperity are far beyond what I was told!” 1 Kings 10:4-7
An ancient emperor, when he had attained certain conquests which had been for years the summit of his ambition, might cry out, “Is this all?” But never will the Christian conqueror, after having been overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of His testimony, when admitted into the everlasting kingdom to receive that recompense of reward, in prospect of which he bore the toils of combat and the labor of the way — never will he be tempted to join in such an exclamation. As God more than fulfills the wishes of His people here, doing for them exceeding abundantly above all they ask or think — so will he immeasurably and inconceivably transcend their loftiest expectations hereafter! John MacDuff.
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Solomon And The Queen of Sheba
1 Kings 10:1-10
Or, Christ and His Servants, 1Ki 10:1-10
A greater than Solomon is here (Mat 12:42). We have perhaps a picture here of the glory that shall yet characterise the “Greater Solomon” and His servants in the age to come (Isaiah 60:1-6). What brought the Queen of Sheba to behold the wisdom and glory of Solomon has brought many a humbler one to behold the greater glory of Jesus, viz., “the hearing of faith.” We might consider-
I. What She Heard. “She heard of his fame.”
1. THE FAME OF HIS RICHES. “Silver was nothing accounted in his days” (1Ki 10:21). But what are the riches of Christ? (Eph 3:8; Col 2:9).
2. THE FAME OF HIS WISDOM. This was the wisdom that cometh from above (1Ki 3:12). Many seek after wisdom (1Ki 10:24) who reject Christ, the wisdom of God (1Co 1:24-30; Jam 1:5).
3. THE FAME OF HIS POWER. Concerning the Name of the Lord. If Solomon’s intimacy with God made him great, what must we say of Him who was “God manifest in the flesh?” (Php 2:9).
II. What She Did. She did not make light of it, like those in Mat 22:5. Nor postpone it like Felix (Act 24:25).
1. SHE CAME TO HIM. This was much better than merely thinking about him. When the prodigal came to himself he came to his Father (Joh 6:37).
2. SHE COMMUNED WITH HIM. “She told him all that was in her heart” (1Ki 10:2), and the king hid nothing from her (1Ki 10:3). A full confession brings fullness of blessing (Psa 32:5-7). Oh, the joy of telling Jesus! Cast thy burden on the Lord (Mat 14:12).
III. What She Saw.
1. SHE SAW HIS WISDOM. Having come to Christ, the wisdom of God in the scheme of redemption has greatly amazed us (Eph 1:4-8).
2. SHE SAW HIS HOUSE. The Church of Christ as an house fitly framed together is the next marvel (Eph 2:19-22).
3. SHE SAW HIS TABLE. The great and liberal provision God has made in Christ for His own (2Co 9:8).
4. SHE SAW HIS ASCENT. (Probably the arched viaduct that led from his house to the Temple.) The ascent of the “Greater than Solomon” was much more glorious (Act 1:9).
5. SHE SAW HIS SERVANTS. (a) Their position– “Sitting” (Luke 10:39). (b) Their privilege- “Continually with thee hearing thy wisdom” (1Ki 10:8; Joh 6:45). (c) Their pleasure-“Happy are these, thy servants” (1Ki 10:8; Psa 100:2; Rom 5:11).
IV. What Followed. The results were manifest-
1. SHE WAS HUMBLED. “There was no more spirit, in her.” Seeing the Lord means a downfall (Act 9:4; Rev 1:17).
2. SHE CONFESSED. “It was a true report.” Those who come to Jesus will be forced to acknowledge the truth of the Gospel.
3. SHE PRAISED. “Blessed be the Lord.” This is the result of a satisfied soul (Psa 103:1-5).
4. SHE GAVE. “She gave the king gold” (1Ki 10:10) “Yield yourselves unto God” (Rom 12:1-2). James Smith