Sunday, February 1, 2009
“The Half was not told”
I Kings 10: 1 – 10
One of the most intriguing stories that combine our Afro-Centric history with a story of love is the meeting and conversation between King Solomon and The Queen of Sheba.
This story reminds me that “Black History is our History” and that the half was not told.
Some might say I know its Black History month given the work of W.E. B. Dubois, Carter G. Woodson, John Hope Franklin, Benjamin Quarles, Lerome Bennett, and V.P. Franklin.
However, how does Cupid get into all of this, in our Men’s League Meeting yesterday. I reminded the men in the midst of Black History month don’t forget about Valentine’s Day – love still makes the world go round.
I wanted them to know that if you forget, you’ll be just like that the commercial where a lady has a new floor cleaner, and you hear a knock at the door with a delivery man bringing flowers and in the corner of the screen standing behind a tree you see the old mop, and you hear the words singing.
Baby comes back.
Baby comes back you can blame it all on me,
I was wrong, and I just can't live without you”
This story combines history and mystery.
Black History is our history, and the half was not told.
You are introduced to King Solomon at the height of his fame. He is carrying out the vision of God and the dream of his father, David, built the Temple and placed the Ark of the Covenant in the inner sanctum: this was a fine temple and Solomon used the highest quality of materials to build it: cedar, gold, ivory; the finest craftsmen, exquisite details.
His building program didn’t stop there within a span of twenty years he not only built the Temple; Solomon also built a house for himself that was grander and larger than the Temple.
He had a throne made of ivory covered with gold, all of this cups and plates and eating utensils where gold. This was a fine palace.
Solomon’s fame has spread throughout the entire known world.
He was wealthy. He was wise. And he had wives.
Some 700 of them; he used marriage as a diplomacy tactic. To prevent fighting with a neighboring enemy, he would marry their King’s daughter. For example, he married Pharaoh’s daughter of Egypt. It could be said that he was the practical originator of the term we use to hear in the sixties, “make love, not war.”
The Queen of Sheba was drawn by these stories. She wanted to meet this King, who was wise and who was wealthy.
The Queen wasn’t looking of a mate; she could carry her own weight.
She had her own caravan, band of servants and scouts. She brought gold and spices.
Maybe we should tell our sons and daughters, not to hook up until you can stand up!
You must be careful that as you read this text you are not led to believe that the Queen just walks off the street and into the Palace to meet with the King.
No, Solomon’s State Department had already vetted the Queen of Sheba. His security service had seen her from afar. Do you believe that some strange caravan could travel to the walled City of Jerusalem without scrutiny?
You can’t be a King and not know when a Queen is coming.
The Queen prepared herself to meet the King. She bathed in the finest oils and perfumes. Her hair was combed. Her scalp was massaged. Her fingernails and toenails were manicured. She was prepared to meet the King.
However, the King was also prepared to meet the Queen. His gold was polished. His finest robes were laid out for him. His crown was shined.
His fingers were jeweled. His inner chamber was cleaned, and the finest aromas were in the air.
A King was getting ready to meet a Queen.
It is interesting to note that when our history is taught it begins with the Middle Passage. The emphasis is placed upon the fact that we were once slaves and the story is all about our struggle for freedom.
Little is really known about the great civilizations that were founded by Africans from which we are descendants. That’s one of the reasons we are so proud of President Barack Obama because sitting in the special seating with him on Inauguration Day was his grandmother from Africa illustrating to all that we are proud people with a rich legacy.
Our story is greater than slavery, Jim Crow, Civil Rights. Our story is a world story of African people who built Pyramids, traveled across the seas, traded in gold and precious stones, maintained rich libraries and academies, astrologers, mathematicians and medical practitioners.
We are descendants of Kings and Queens.
Solomon and Sheba finally meet, and the Queen begins to ask questions. Solomon’s wisdom is a gift from God. He can answer her questions and share his insight with her. She was amazed. She was astounded. So much so that after a little while, after seeing the palace, witnessing the fine décor, looking at the servants and attendants, sensing his power and righteousness.
2 Chronicles 9 tell us that she had no more spirit in her.
The reason why the Queen of Sheba was overwhelmed by the conversation of King Solomon was that he was not talking “snake talk.”
“Snake talk is the type of conversation that Eve had with the serpent in the Garden of Eden. Snake talk is the type of conversation that does not elevate you into the presence of God, but takes you away from his presence.
Snake talk does not enlighten you. Snake talk demeans you.
“Evil communications does corrupt good manners.” – snake talk.
Solomon demonstrates a mastery of language such that he could talk about love in a way that was not only sensuous but serious.
He understood love at a deeper level than the Queen had ever encountered before. Here was a man of wealth and wisdom, power and presence; but also sensitive to feel the nuances of male and female relationship because of his relationship to God.
The Queen after hearing all of this, seeing all of this, after her spirit had gone out of her; all she could say was that now that I have seen you, now that I have heard you and been in your presence – the half was not told.
That’s the Black story. That’s our story. The half was not told.
We need to tell our own story. We need to manifest the power of love in our own lives. If we do, all will know that we are great people and that Black History is our history, and the half was not told.
Let me give you my three points:
The half was not told because the story is not:
1) Material – what one has.
The half was not told because the story is not:
2) Ephemeral – short term thing, action – short duration.
Queen of Sheba had heard about the legendary story of the two harlots that laid claim to one child. They both said it was their child. Solomon says cut the child in two and give one half to each of the women. One woman says no it is not my child it is her child. The other woman says cut the child in two. Solomon gives the child to the woman who expresses the concern about the child’s welfare.
The reason why she said that the half was not told was because the real story was:
3) Spiritual – eternal relationship with God
Solomon communicated love in the language about his God.
“I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. As the apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my beloved among the sons.”
Solomon understands love neither as the eros – the erotic; nor as and philos – philosophy – the love of wisdom.
Solomon had reached a deeper understanding of love – he understood the agape – the perfect love of God. Hold it now!
You would have thought that Sheba after experiencing the richness of Solomon’s palace, the depth of his understanding, the passion he had for God – she would have stayed there and said – you are my boo!
However, The Queen of Sheba didn’t stay there.
She left transformed by the power of Solomon’s love for God.
Let me close, what is clear to me is that if we really love God?
The half of the story cannot be about what God gives us: clothes, food, some resources, houses, and cars - that’s material.
The half of the story cannot be about the acts of grace and mercy that he bestows upon us – that’s the ephemeral.
If the half is to be told, our story must be about the spiritual.
The faith that he had in the midst of trial.
The power to press on in the midst of difficulties.
The strength of conviction to stand in the midst of a storm.
The ability to pray your way through life knowing the God holds the future in his hands.
Knowing that you can come to the altar of God’s care because earth has no sorry that heaven cannot heal.
Our story must be spiritual so that when you look at all around the world, we can see his loving care,
And tho’ your heart grows weary you will never despair.
A spiritual walk that affirms he is leading to thro’ all the stormy blast and the day of his appearing will come at last.
Our spiritual walk should tell us that God lives.
That he walks with you and talks with you along life’s narrow way.
If you ask me how I know he lives.
I can’t validate it by the material things I have.
I can’t justify it by the ephemeral experiences I have had.
If you ask me how I know he lives.
I can only tell you about the spirit of the living God.
That is sweet.
That falls fresh.
And is available to you and to you.
