Wednesday • 9/6/2023 •
Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week After Pentecost (Proper 17)

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 38; 1 Kings 9:24–10:13; James 3:1–12; Mark 15:1–11

For comments on James 3:1–12, see the DDD for 11/17/2020, Tuesday of Proper 28, Year Two https://tinyurl.com/ysn7n6rn

This morning’s Canticles are: following the OT reading, Canticle 11 (“The Third Song of Isaiah,” Isaiah 60:1-3,11a,14c,18-19, BCP, p. 87); following the Epistle reading, Canticle 16 (“The Song of Zechariah,” Luke 1:68-79, BCP, p. 92)

Welcome to Daily Office Devotions, where every Monday through Friday we ask how God might direct our lives from that day’s Scripture readings, as given in the Book of Common Prayer. I’m Reggie Kidd, and I’m grateful to be with you. This Wednesday in the Season After Pentecost our readings come from Proper 17 of Year 1 in the Daily Office Lectionary.

Solomon’s reign represents a high point in Israel’s worship and therefore of Israel’s history, as we’ve seen in Solomon’s building and dedication of the temple. But the life Israel enjoyed under God’s care was not intended just for Israel. Yahweh told Abraham that he was to be a blessing to the nations (Genesis 12). Today’s reading shows how that promise reaches a certain fulfillment in Solomon’s day. 

Image: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston , Domenico Veneziano,The Meeting of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, ca. 1473. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

“Now when the queen of Sheba (probably modern Yemen) heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions” (1 Kings 10:1 NASB). The result of her inquiries and of her survey of Solomon's accomplishments, bounty, and worship is that she confesses Yahweh for herself: “Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the LORD loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness” (1 Kings 10:9). 

A companion piece to this portion of Scripture is Psalm 72. This psalm’s heading suggests it comes from Solomon himself. If so, Psalm 72 is an elegant expression of his aspiration: to be the locus of Yahweh’s benevolent rule over humankind. Justice prevails under wise administration. Rulers from around the globe (Seba to the south, Tarshish to the west) bring their tribute, just as the queen of Sheba has. And through his anointed king, Yahweh reigns over the whole earth. 

The actuality of Solomon’s reign, of course, falls short. The rest of 1 Kings 10 describes an amassing of wealth, and specifically of horses, that directly violates limits that the law of Moses had laid out (compare 1 Kings 10:14–17, with Deuteronomy 17:16–17b). And beginning with tomorrow’s reading in 1 Kings 11, we will see how Solomon’s love for Yahweh becomes diluted by his love for the various gods of his many wives (with 1 Kings 11, compare Deuteronomy 17:17a). Disaster will befall the nation: first division, then alien invasion and exile. 

Jesus and the prophets’ messianic vision. But the brief glimpse of Israel living into its calling to be a holy nation and a people of God’s treasured and special possession, defined by love of God and of neighbor, gives the prophets a vision of a true and final realization of that to which Solomon aspired. Messiah, a better son of David, will come, and he will rule a New Jerusalem with the faithfulness and righteousness that eluded Solomon … because God has promised that it will be so: 

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness
    from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
(Isaiah 9:6–7; and see also 45:14; 60:6–7)

Jesus himself recalls the visit of the queen of Sheba: “she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!” (Matthew 12:42). In Jesus, says the apostle Paul, are embodied and made available to us “wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). The fulfillment in Jesus of all that is good in Solomon is captured nowhere better than in “Jesus Shall Reign,” Isaac Watts’s (1674–1748) Christ-centered adaptation of Psalm 72:

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun does its successive journeys run,
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore, till moons shall wax and wane no more.

To him shall endless prayer be made, and praises throng to crown his head.
His name like sweet perfume shall rise with every morning sacrifice.

People and realms of every tongue dwell on his love with sweetest song,
And infant voices shall proclaim their early blessings on his name

Blessings abound where’er he reigns: the prisoners leap to lose their chains,
The weary find eternal rest, and all who suffer want are blest.

Let every creature rise and bring honors peculiar to our King,
Angels descend with songs again, and earth repeat the loud Amen!

Be blessed this day, 

Reggie Kidd+