Solomon was a type of Christ. Yet, as the types of the Old Testament were only shadowy representations of the reality which they represented, so, too, Solomon, notwithstanding his great glory and wisdom and riches and honour is only a shadowy representation of the One whom he typified — for behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
To the unbelieving generation amidst which Christ’s lot was cast during the days of His humiliation, Christ would give no sign — though they desired a sign — but the sign of the prophet Jonas. To that generation He said: “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.” As Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so the Son of Man was to be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Because that generation repented not, the men of Nineveh who repented at the preaching of Jonas would rise up to condemn them, because a greater than Jonas was here. In a similar way would the queen of the south condemn the generation of Christ’s day, for she had come from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
What a revelation of the splendour and glory of Solomon’s Court awaited the Queen of Sheba when she came to Jerusalem on hearing of the fame of Solomon. She was well rewarded for her visit. She communed with Solomon of all that was in her heart and he answered all her questions. When she saw all his glory there was no more spirit in her and she had to confess that it was a true report that she had heard in her own land. Her acknowledgement was: “Howbeit, I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes have seen it: and behold the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.”
Yet after all, the eyes of the Queen of Sheba beheld only the glory of an earthly Solomon and her ears heard only the words of an earthly king.
When we turn, on the other hand, to Christ, who sits King upon His throne for evermore, we have to say, Behold, a greater than Solomon is here. The heavenly splendour and glory and wisdom of Zion’s King exceeds that of Solomon as the heavens are above the earth. The kingship to which he had been exalted adorned Solomon; Christ adorned the Kingship to which He had been set apart. Solomon’s glory was extrinsic glory; that of Christ was intrinsic, divine glory. As King of Israel Solomon possessed earthly regal glory; as King of Zion Christ possessed mediatorial kingly glory. Truly a greater than Solomon is here. Not only in personal glory but also in attendant glory does Zion’s King exceed the glory of Solomon. If the Queen of Sheba had no spirit left in her when she visited the court of Solomon, what would be true of her if she visited the Court of the King of Zion. Who can tell but that in returning to her own land the glory of the greater than Solomon began to dawn upon her mind? She, too, like the Ethiopian eunuch who made a journey to Jerusalem at a later date, may have come to know the One whom the Father has set as King upon His holy hill of Zion, the One who is glorious in the eyes of His people because He was wounded for their transgressions and bruised for their iniquities. If by faith she came to view that glorious One she would then have to say, Behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
What was the message to the generation of Christ’s day, and what is the message conveyed in these words of the Saviour to our own day? Is it not a message spelling out the certainty of eternal judgment to all who will not bow before Zion’s King. All will be without excuse in the day of judgment who have not submitted themselves to Him. How slow poor sinners are to recognise His claims and render Him His due. Yet how certain it is that in the end of the day Christ will vindicate His right to the submission of all men unto Him.