There's nobody like him

was born into wealth and luxury to the most beloved king David

was born in an animal stall, and wrapped in filthy rags by poor
and unknown parents

dwelt in a palace built by the Craftsmen of Tyre from the great
cedars of Lebanon, finished with gold and bronze from floor to
ceiling

a poor carpenter who had no place to lay his head

dined with Kings and Queens and had fellowship with the
greatest and most influential people in the world

dined with prostitutes and publicans and had fellowship with
fishermen and servants

wore a robe and crown

wore the dusty clothes of a peasant, the only robe these people
would ever see him wear was placed on him by cruel mockers,
the only crown to adorn his head would be a crown of thorns
driven into his flesh

died old and comfortable in a splendid palace, no doubt upon
silk pillows surrounded by important and influential folks

was to die, tortured and humiliated upon a rugged cross, hung
by his hands and feet, no pillow for his head, no comfort to be
found, surrounded by thieves and cruel Roman soldiers

was buried in Jerusalem with his fathers among kings

would be buried in a borrowed tomb, with strangers and
guarded by soldiers



	Intro: Have you ever met someone that left such an impression on you that you went away from the meeting thinking, “There’s nobody else like that in all the world”? Such meetings don’t take place every day. Perhaps you met someone famous that impressed you greatly, maybe it was a teacher or some great scholar, maybe it was a preacher you heard for the first time and were awed by the clear and articulate way that he preached the gospel to you. Whatever the case, we don’t meet these “one of a kind” people every day… On one occasion, a very rich and powerful woman had such a meeting. This was especially rare for her I would think, since she had surely met such great people in her position that it would be very hard to impress her. However this meeting was one that impressed here beyond all others. Read I Kings 10:1-13 The Queen of Sheba met someone on this occasion that surely sent her away proclaiming “There’s nobody else like him.” Lesson: What was it about Solomon that left the Queen with such an impression? It had partly to do with what she’d heard about him back in her own country. I understand that the land of Sheba was some 1200 miles away from Jerusalem. Yet Solomon’s reputation was made known even in this far away place without the internet, the television, a telephone, a telegraph, or even a newspaper! Perhaps the sailors that came into the Queen's territory spread the great stories of Solomon and his kingdom to this faraway place, but however she had heard, the first thing that impressed the Queen about Solomon was: I. His Grand Reputation A. She Had Heard Of His Wealth* (v. 7) - She heard of the great riches that had been amassed in the kingdom of Solomon - 1 Kings 9:28 - And they went to Ophir, and acquired four hundred and twenty talents of gold from there, and brought it to King Solomon (420 talents = 31,500 lbs. = $2,419,200,000), See also 1 Kings 10:14-15 (50,000 lbs. worth $38,361,600,000!). Solomon's wealth can only be described as mind-boggling! B. She Had Heard Of His Works* - (v. 6) - She heard of the great kingdom he had built, 1 Kings 5-9. She heard of the Temple he had constructed for his God. She heard of the great palace he had built for himself. She had heard of the workmen from foreign lands and alliances with the kings around him that added to the greatness of his kingdom. C. She Had Heard Of His Wisdom* - v6-7 - read 1 Kings 4:29-34 - She had heard of his intellect and that he could answer the toughest questions. This queen came to Solomon because she had problems that her own power and wealth and wisdom could not solve. She came because there were questions for which her gods did not have the answers. She came because she needed help and had heard that Solomon was the one who could help.. and that he did (v 1-3) D. She Had Heard Of His Worship* - (v. 1) – The fame of Solomon was intertwined with Solomon’s God. Notice in verse 1 "concerning the name of the Lord." what impressed her more than his position, more than his power, more than his prosperity and more than his prestige, was his relationship with his God. When she learned that Solomon's God was the One responsible for his glory, she wanted to know more! She wanted to know about this connection he had with God. She was interested in meeting the God of Solomon! He had the reputation of a Godly man. Solomon’s reputation did not fully prepare her for what was in store, the second thing that left her in awe were: II. THE RICHES OF THIS KING A. She Saw His Possessions* - v. 4, 13 - She saw his house and his wealth. He gave her tremendous wealth before she returned to her own country. B. She Saw His Provisions* - v. 5 - The meat of his table refers to the massive amount of food required to feed those who ate from his table on a daily basis, 1 Kings 4:22-23. C. She Saw His People* - v. 5 - She watched his servants as they ministered to him. She noticed how they sat in his presence listening to his voice. She noticed how others hastily carried out his wishes. She was amazed because they were actually happy to be his servants! Who had happy servants? D. She Saw His Piety- v. 5 - She surely watched Solomon as he entered the Temple of God. History notes that Solomon had a covered walkway connecting his palace with the House of God. She watched him worship and saw the sacrifices he made to His God and she was amazed, see 1 Kings 8:63; 1 Kings 9:25 for examples of his worship. His Reputation and his riches were a great wonder to the Queen, but it was the reality of who Solomon was that perhaps impressed her the most. III. THE REALITY OF THIS KING* A. Her Personal Discovery - Her trip to Jerusalem led her to some personal conclusions that she couldn’t have formed on the reports of others 1. He Was Wealthier Than She Had Heard - She got more from him than she gave him. 2. He Was Far Wiser Than She Had Heard - He was able to answer every one of her inquiries, v. 1, 3. 3. He Was More Wonderful Than She Had Heard - She concluded that she hadn't even heard the half of his glory and greatness! B. Her Profound Declaration - She had some things to say to Solomon about what she saw. 1. Regarding His Servants - She commented on the happy nature of his servants! Servants are never happy! Solomon's were! 2. Regarding His Lord - She commented on the greatness of Solomon's Lord! She crooned about His goodness and she bragged on His love. She was convinced that there was nobody like Solomon and nobody like His God! There is nobody else like him! Was surely the refrain that she used when others asked her about King Solomon. He had a great reputation, the most riches, the most power, the most wisdom, there was no one like him… ...Like him, NO!… but there is One we must speak of who is GREATER than him! Mt 12:42 "The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here." Greater than Solomon? This guy? Surely these were the thoughts of the crowd who heard Jesus make this statement... After all: Despite all this, Jesus IS indeed the greater of the two. He is greater in his posessions: Psalms 24:1 The earth [is] the LORD's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. He is greater in his provisions: Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. He is greater in his people: Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself [His] own special people, zealous for good works. Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. He is greater in his piety: Hebrews 7:26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; Solomon’s Wealth cannot compare… for all the riches of heaven and earth are held by Jesus Solomon’s wisdom cannot compare, Solomon was only wise because of the words that God implanted in him… Jesus IS the word! (John 1) Solomon’s worship cannot compare! Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice! Solomon’s works cannot compare! Solomon built a temple, but without Jesus nothing would have been made that has been made! Surely we can say, there is no one else like HIM! The queen of Sheba heard of Solomon, came to Solomon, and went away with great riches. Today you have heard of one greater than Solomon, in fact, "There's NOBODY else like Him!"… Come to Him today and you can go away rejoicing, having received the greatest gift of all… salvation and the promise of eternal life in heaven…Solomon's kingdom was nothing compared to the Kingdom of Jesus! We cannot become a part of Solomon’s kingdom today, but Jesus welcomes us into His! What are you waiting for? Come today. (If you are simply reading this for your own personal study, disregard the following note :-) *Note: As a visual, you may want to write something like, "The greatness of Solomon" on your chalk board or dry-erase board if you have one, and list each of these points under it... i.e. write: Wealth, Wisdom, Worship, Works, Possessions, Provisions, People, and Piety on the board as you go through these points... then, when you get to comparing Jesus' greatness, go back to the board to strengthen the fact that Jesus outdoes Solomon in EVERY aspect... you may even want to wipe out Solomon's name in your heading and replace it with Jesus!