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| Volume 20 Number 12 December 2018 | Page 10 |
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| Volume 20 Number 12 December 2018 | Page 10 |
Mark McWhorter
In Matthew 12:42, we read, “The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.” We know that the Queen of the South is the Queen of Sheba. We read about her coming to Solomon in 1 Kings 10. There, we read in verse one, “And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions.” We are not given this queen’s name. All we know is that she was from the southwest part of Arabia and that she was very wealthy. The historian Josephus wrote that she was very interested in philosophy and logic.
The queen was not just interested in the riches that Solomon had. She was not just interested in hearing him talk about all the animals in the world. We are told he could do that (1 Kings 4:33). She was not just interested in hearing him speak proverbs. We are told he gave 3,000 of those (1 Kings 4:32). The queen came to test Solomon’s spiritual wisdom. She was interested to see if what he had was from the God Jehovah that the Israelites claimed led them.
After she had questioned him in every way she could think, she admitted that indeed Solomon was wiser than she had even heard. She admitted that his acts were greater than she had been told. She also admitted that his wealth was greater than she had imagined. She, then, in verse 9 blessed “the Lord thy God.” She admitted that Solomon’s Jehovah was God and had set Solomon on the throne to “do judgment and justice.”
Jesus is the person speaking in Matthew 12:42. He told the scribes and Pharisees that they would be judged at the Judgment by the Queen of Sheba. What did He mean by that? He was saying that the Queen was willing to travel a great distance to listen to and to prove to herself that Jehovah was Solomon’s God. When she observed Solomon’s actions and his wisdom, which Solomon stated came from Jehovah, she willingly admitted that Jehovah was God. She believed what she saw and heard. Yet, the scribes and Pharisees refused to believe that what they saw Jesus do and speak was from Jehovah God. The Queen of Sheba believed Solomon. Solomon was only a man. The scribes and Pharisees refused to believe Jesus, though, Jesus was (and is) God.
Do not be like the scribes and Pharisees. Be like the Queen of the South. Listen to the Word of God, the Bible. Believe the words of the Bible. Then, obey the words of the Bible. If any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.
The Ought Factor
Donald R. Fox
For the second time during my life, I received a notice for Jury Duty. Some twenty years ago, the first time I had this duty, I was not picked. The trial was a lawsuit involving an accident. If my memory is okay, it was concerning an automobile accident. The lawyers asked if anyone had a question concerning the upcoming trial. I asked if there was any alcohol involved in this accident. The lawyer responded, “Why do you ask?” I said that I had strong views concerning the use of alcohol. I was not picked! I felt that to be fair, I should ask this question, since it was not brought up during the exchanges with those of us who were called to be jurors.
Now that I am very close to 83-years-old, I wonder whether I will be picked or released from this duty. I know I am not as sharp as I used to be. Sometimes, I have trouble remembering names, and my oral explaining is more difficult than it was years ago. With that said, I have a very good understanding of what is right or wrong. Let’s call one’s understanding of what is right or wrong, the ought factor. “Ought” could be defined as something you should do. Further it is “used to indicate duty or correctness, typically when criticizing someone’s actions as they ought to respect the law.”
“It is not what a lawyer tells me I may do; but what humanity, reason and justice tell me I ought to do.” (Edmund Burke, 1729-1797)
There Is a God-Given
Universal
Code of Ethics and Morals
Sadly, many of the masses do not accept the biblical teaching of a code of ethics. For those of us who are Christians and accept the Bible as the Word of God and respect its authority, we are blessed when we practice that which is right. Currently, we live in a terrible, godless era. Who would deny the facts of a worldwide, sinful time?
But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. (1 Peter 3:14-17 KJV)
From man’s creation ethics and morals have been an important part of his personal and social life. One of the strongest evidences for God from within man is his ought factor, which causes man to ask thoughtful questions about what he should or should not do. (Waldron)
Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. (Ecclesiastes 7:29)
The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. (Isaiah 24:5)
Works Cited
Waldron, Jim E. “Introduction.” Is There a Universal Code Of Ethics?” Winona: J.C. Choate Publications, 1982.