1 Kings 10:1-13, 2 Chronicles 9:1-12, 1 Kings 4:1-19, 4:29-34, Proverbs 1:1-33

10:1 ... the queen of Sheba ... came to test [Solomon] with hard questions.  I like her already!! 


And Solomon answered her questions - none of them were too hard for him. I wonder what those questions were and why we didn't see them or get the answers. 


Ben-Hur was one of Solomon's 12 12 district governors who supplied the palace with provisions one month a year. Is this the same Ben-Hur that the movie was based on? I haven't seen it so I don't know. 


4:29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.  It is rare to meet someone with all 3 - wouldn't it be amazing to have a conversation with him! He wrote over 3000 proverbs, but we only have a select few. 


Speaking of Proverbs - we start that book today.  It opens with the purpose behind them ...

1:2-6 for attaining wisdom and discipline; 

for understanding words of insight; 

for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, 

doing what is right and just and fair; 

for giving prudence to the simple, 

knowledge and discretion to the young--  

let the wise listen and add to their learning, 

and let the discerning get guidance-- 

for understanding proverbs and parables, 

the sayings and riddles of the wise.

They are for all ages. All knowledge levels. Everyone can benefit from studying the Proverbs and learning from them.  Solomon wastes no time with warnings - he starts right off with telling his sons to be careful - not to follow others into sin. Essentially - not to give into negative peer pressure. 

There is then a warning about rejecting wisdom - rejecting the fear of the LORD. Here are two version of v32. How often are we overconfident? Or don't really care? Or even don't listen? 

1:32 For the aimless wandering of the thoughtless will kill them, 

and the smug overconfidence of fools will destroy them; (CJB) 

1:32 Fools will die because they refuse to listen; 

they will be destroyed because they do not care. (NCV)