The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 111

because. thoro is nothing in the motives and methods brought into play in the effective short history on tho page but what wo readily sympathize with. These even a<ld interest to tho m11in subject. The instances of the action of fame in unfavourable matter may perhaps seem to preponderate; but perhaps, also, this may rather seem to be the case than really be so. Notice- !. SOME GENERAL FACTS CHARACTERIZING THE ACTION OF FAME. 1. It is infarn..e to travel the longest distances. 2. It travels at no appreciable expense. 3. The greater distan~ absolutely lend..,s generally the greater bulk. 4. The travel is swift, silent, and, 11ery difficult to traclc. 16. It may serve great and useful ends, as in the present instance and in the greater instance involved in the history of the Wise Men of the East. 6: Tl1efame of a person or of some exploit travels and spreads in obedience to whnt seem to be almost principles in human nature-the love to hear and to tell in proportion to the novelty and the strikingness for any reason of the tidings in question. !J. THE PARTICULAR FAOTB THAT CHARACTERIZED THIS INSTANCE OF FAME. 1. It was the fame of wisdom. The picture suggested to our mental vision is most interest- ing and most unusual. For a moment the Solomon of Scripture is the Socrates of Greece. For great stress is laid on the queen's communing with Solomon of the things in her heart, and questioning him on them. The wonders of human life individually and of human history may have been debated. The casuistry of those days may have been very real and perplexing, even though to our day it should seem triflincr and 0 simple. It is emphatically said that the queen laid herself out to prove Solomou with hard questions. 2. The fame was also that of knowledge and what we might call learn- ing. Elsewhere we read of Solomon's knowledge of natural history, and of bis amazing command by memory of proverbs. 3. It was the fame of wealth, splendour, magnifi- cence; and these not lavished altogether upon himself. 4 . .And not least, it was the fame of one on whom rested supereminently the blessing of the Lord his God. The queen, by whatsoever means, and these a.re not altogether hard to imagine, bad learnt of the delight that God took in Solomon and his throne and bis people, inextricably and prophetically one. Whether she knew more or less, much or but very, very little, of the relation of earth to heaven, of the dependence of man on God, and of the practice of a reasonable, intelligent, and acceptable worship of him, it is evident that she recognized and rejoiced in the fa.et that she had come to see a man on whom the Spirit of God rested. Ill. THE OHABACTER, AT LEAST IN SOME FEATURES OF IT, ON WHICH THE FAME OJI' SOLOMON TOOK BUCH EFFECT. 1. The Queen of Sheba was one of those who have an ea'r to hear. This does not mean an ear to bear necessarily everything. It does not mean an ear to hear the loudest sound or the nearest sound. It does mean an ear opened to hear the most important sounds, though they may be very distant, or very high, or from deepest depth. It means a discerning, instinctively selecting, discriminating ear. 2. She had an earnestly inquiring disposition. Suggestions are often the best of thoughts, as sketches are often the best of pictures, and as seeds have all growth, flower, fruit, concealed in them. We can follow here the birth from a suggestion of thought, resolve, patient, long expectation, faith in her journey's reward, and all the :final realiza- tion vouchsafed to her enterprise. How many sounds enter the ear which might well waken us I How many suggestions proffer activity for the powers and fruit for the life within us, and fall like chilled flowers, withered fruit-settings, because of the barren nature, the absolute uninquiringness of our disposition! The best seed asks soil. and good soil ; the highest thoughts ask prepared minds; and the purest truth, pure .:.ca.ris. 3. The queen was willing to expend labour, to endure fatigue, to exercise lon_q patience, in order to satiefy herself as to the trustworthiness and the very facts of the fame of Solomon. Labour, fatigue, and patience were all worthily encountered. The object was worth them, even though it were no greater and higher than it was. It was far greater and biaher than the objects which often exert far greater attraction for men, when for them~ being things destitute of any heavenward aspec~ whatsoever, they will rise up early, go to rest late, and eat the bread of sorrow contmually. 4. When the queen had seen and heard Solomon, and had satisfied herself of all, she feels no envy, seeks no points of detraction, suspects no elements of weakness, but gives to all the disp~ay her heartiest, most unaffected praise and congratulation. She can make the prosperity and blessedness of others joy and matter of tha.n.k.sgiving for her own heart. She can 112 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [err. rx. 1-31.