I was watching Alladin with the kids the other day and what surprised me, besides the fact that I knew all the words, and not just the ones in the songs…  seriously, I’m a geek.  I knew more words, in fact, than my children did.  I could practically recite the whole movie!  But what hit me was how that movie paints a beautifully accurate picture of King Solomon.

King Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived.  When God appeared to the newly appointed king asking what he wanted, Solomon didn’t ask for fame, riches, for his enemies to be wiped out or to live forever.  Instead, he asked for wisdom.

“Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”   1 Kings 3:9

And because Solomon was not selfish, because he loved the Lord and wanted to do right by Him, the Lord was pleased and not only gave Solomon what he asked, but blessed him abundantly as well.

“I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.”   1 Kings 3:13

I recently did a study on the Queen of Sheba.  Her story is found in 1 Kings 10.  The queen had heard marvelous stories of Solomon; the wisdom God bestowed, the temple and kingdom he built, as well as his riches and fame and wanted to test and see for herself if what she had heard was indeed true.

She was blown away.

Not only by Solomon’s wisdom; for she I’m sure was armed with difficult riddle-like questions to test him with and he effortlessly explained and answered each one, but she witnessed personally the prosperity and happiness oozing from his kingdom and people.

[Cue: Alladin]

I can only guess that you don’t have the extensive library of Disney lyrics dancing randomly in your head as I do.  Which is tragic, I will pray for you.  So to be of service I will list some of the lyrics from the Prince Ali song so you can see where I’m going:

Prince Ali:

He’s got seventy-five golden camels
Purple peacocks
He’s got fifty-three
When it comes to exotic-type mammals
Has he got a zoo?
I’m telling you, it’s a world-class menagerie

Like Ali, Solomon had countless and unique animals;

“…apes, and peacocks …horses, and mules …[and even more] horses imported from Egypt” 1 Kings 10:22, 25, 28

Prince Ali! Handsome is he, Ali Ababwa
That physique! How can I speak
Weak at the knee
Well, get on out in that square
Adjust your veil and prepare
To gawk and gravel and stare at Prince Ali!

Knowing his father David, Solomon had to have been quite hansom and like Ali, he certainly had a way with the ladies;

“King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women”   1 Kings 11:1

He’s got ninety-five white Persian monkeys
And to view them he charges no fee
He’s got slaves, he’s got servants and flunkies
They bow to his whim love serving him
They’re just lousy with loyalty to Ali! Prince Ali!

Solomon, like Ali, had wealth beyond measure and loyal, well treated subjects and servants;

“Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, besides that which came from the explorers … merchants … kings of the west and … governors of the land … trading ships used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory … All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold… Every one of them brought his present, articles of silver and gold, garments, myrrh, spices …chariots and horsemen …silver as common in Jerusalem as stone”   1 Kings 10:14-15, 21-22, 25-27

“Happy are your men! Happy are your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!”   1 Kings 10:8

With sixty elephants, llamas galore
With his bears and lions
A brass band and more
With his forty fakirs, his cooks, his bakers
His birds that warble on key
Make way for prince Ali!

A wonderful picture of a prince turned king!

“Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.”   1 Kings 10:23

What I like most of King Solomon’s story is the impact he had for God’s kingdom.  The Queen of Sheba was surely no follower of the God of Israel, as Solomon was.  Sheba was a pagan nation, and she the wealthy ruler of it.  She had the world at her fingertips, anything she wanted at the snap of her fingers, but what she wanted most was to experience this God whom she heard stories about.  To see for herself the wisdom He bestowed upon Solomon.

She was willing to travel thousands of difficult and dangerous miles to experience it, and when she did there was no question; this God was real, He was powerful, and she wanted to be part of it.

“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

Do people see God through you?

Are they drawn to Him because of the things He is doing in your life?

Live your life in such a way that people take notice.  Show them you are different because of the God living inside you.  Share the amazing love, incredible goodness and many facets of God.

He is alive and doing amazing things.  Make Him famous!!