Context No. 3190 of 4322 · 2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 9:9-21: in context

9She gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great abundance, and precious stones. There was never before such spice as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. 10The servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, also brought algum trees and precious stones. 11The king used algum tree wood to make terraces for the LORD’s house and for the king’s house, and harps and stringed instruments for the singers. There were none like these seen before in the land of Judah. 12King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, more than that which she had brought to the king. So she turned and went to her own land, she and her servants. 13Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold, 14in addition to that which the traders and merchants brought. All the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon. 15King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold. Six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one large shield. 16He made three hundred shields of beaten gold. Three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. 17Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold. 18There were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and armrests on either side by the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests. 19Twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps. There was nothing like it made in any other kingdom. 20All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. Silver was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon. 21For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with Huram’s servants. Once every three years, the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

The queen of Sheba's gifts pour in, gold, spices, precious stones, and the account piles up the scale of Solomon's glory: gold from Ophir, shields of beaten gold, an ivory throne overlaid with pure gold, every drinking vessel of gold, so that silver was not even considered valuable in his days, and ships bringing back gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

The sheer scale of Solomon's glory is staggering, gold everywhere, an ivory-and-gold throne, silver counted as nothing. Chronicles presents it as the fruit of God's blessing on the king who asked for wisdom rather than riches and received both. And yet there is a shadow over it. This dazzling wealth, the gold, the accumulation, the ships, will become part of Solomon's undoing as his heart is slowly drawn away. Blessing on this scale is a test as much as a gift; the very abundance God gave would, unless a faithful heart kept it in check, become a snare. Glory and wealth are not evil, but they are dangerous to a heart not kept close to God.

When God blesses me with abundance, do I hold it as both a gift and a test, keeping my heart close to him, rather than letting the abundance draw me away?

Sources

2 Chronicles 9:20: "Silver was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon."
1 Kings 3:13: "I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor."
Deuteronomy 8:14: "Then your heart might be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God."