The description of King Solomon’s servants is an outstanding feature in the account of the queen of Sheba’s visit to personally discover the greatness of his kingdom. Besides noticing the vast wealth and the unequaled wisdom that Solomon possessed, the queen noticed something else about this great king and his kingdom. What she saw greatly moved her to the point that the Scriptures state “there was no more spirit in her” (v.5). Today we might say that it “took her breath away.” Five things are cited about the king’s servants. She observed the food they ate, the dignity they displayed, the service they rendered, the clothing they wore, and the nearness they enjoyed. These characteristics were noticed by the queen of Sheba who had made the long journey to check out the validity of the claims made about Solomon. As such, the traits of these servants and their service to their king speak clearly of the same qualities that should be exhibited by those who know and love the One who first loved us (1 John. 4:19).
The Food on His Table
The first thing listed in her observances was the food that Solomon provided for his servants. They were well-fed by this wealthy king. He met their practical needs from his vast store which kept his servants strong and fit, enabling them to fulfill their duties for him. Solomon was not like other kings who selfishly hoarded their resources for their own purposes. Instead, he provided for his people just as our Savior does for us through His precious Word. He keeps His people fit and strong by abundantly providing for them from His vast store of spiritual resources. He furnishes a table in the wilderness for us and prepares that table to sustain us in the presence of our enemies (Ps. 23:5). Like Jeremiah, we can also proclaim, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart…” (Jer. 15:16). When we feed upon the Word of God, its promises give us strength for the day, power for the journey and spiritual energy in the King’s service. When Jonathan, King Saul’s son needed strength, he dipped his staff into honey that he had found on the pathway and his countenance brightened as a result. God’s Word is sweeter than the honeycomb (Ps. 19:10), strengthens our steps for the battle and brightens our countenance in our walk with Him. He brings us to His banqueting table and His banner over us is love (Song. 2:4).
The Seating of His Servants
The next thing she noticed was the seating of the servants. What this means exactly we cannot be sure, but it seems to indicate a certain decorum that prevailed in their service for the king. If that was indeed the case, it speaks of the grace and dignity that is displayed by those who are dedicated in their service for Christ, who adorn the doctrine of God with their behavior and demeanor. Was it the way in which they sat in the presence of their king? It is hard to say, but one thing is certain: it caught her attention. May we who know Christ serve Him with the same grace and dignity that Solomon’s servants served him! Years ago, when Ronald Reagan was running for president, the college administration where I attended invited him to hold a campaign rally on our campus. The press was there; the secret service was there; and the major news outlets were all there. To say the least, it was an “event.” Seeing the witnessing opportunity clearly at hand, the entire student body in unison – some 2000 students in all – robustly sang all stanzas of the hymn “Wonderful Grace of Jesus” (complete with all the parts). Needless to say, it was a memorable moment, a dignified testimony by Christ’s servants who desired to represent Him well to their visitors.
The Service of His Waiters
Closely aligned with the seating of the servants was the service of Solomon’s waiters. If their seating reflected their dignity, then their service seems to have reflected their diligence. With a great king like Solomon who provided well for those under his rule, it could only mean that those same servants were all too eager to please their king. Like Ittai, the Gittite in the days of David, these servants would most likely testify as he did “…As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be” (2 Sam. 15:21). May that be said of all those who name the name of Christ. We no longer live for ourselves but for Him who died for us and rose again (2 Cor. 5:15). “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Consequently, we serve Him and do those things which are well-pleasing in His sight (Heb. 13:20-21). Paul exhorts in Rom. 12:11 to be, “not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.” We are His servants – His bondservants – forever indebted to our Lord.
Their Apparel
The clothing of these servants also caught her attention.The clothes they wore showed the respect that they had for their king. This is yet another way in which God’s people can adorn the doctrine of God and glorify the King they serve. Let this truth be an open rebuke to all those who, involved in public ministry, fail to honor the King whom they serve by the way in which they dress. Let us think first of how best we can honor Him rather than of how comfortable or casual we can be. This goes for women as well as for men.
His Cupbearers
The final thing cited in this text that caught the queen of Sheba’s attention was his cupbearers. What was it that she saw? Perhaps it was the manner in which they also served or the dignity that they possessed. Maybe it was as simple as enjoying the proximity that they had to the king whom they served. Christians also enjoy proximity to their Lord. We have access as Romans 5:2, Ephesians 2:18 and 3:12 declare. We can come “boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). As Andrew Bonar put it in his timeless hymn, A Mind at Perfect Peace With God: “So near, so very near to God, I cannot nearer be; for in the person of His Son I am as near as He.” Today, we confidently have continual access to our God. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13).
Perhaps there were many more things that the Queen of Sheba observed in her epic journey but what we read in this account is plenty for the believer to emulate so that we may honor Christ, whom we delight to serve.