Contemplative Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 9:7-8 (New Living Translation)

7 How happy your people must be! What a privilege for your officials to stand here day after day, listening to your wisdom! 8 Praise the Lord your God, who delights in you and has placed you on the throne as king to rule for him. Because God loves Israel and desires this kingdom to last forever, he has made you king over them so you can rule with justice and righteousness.

These are the words of the Queen of Sheba. She came to King Solomon in Jerusalem to see his riches and how a person could rule such a kingdom. At the time, the kingdom was large, had a big population, a big army, and the city was one of the richest in the world.

And what did the Queen of Sheba note in her summary speech? Justice and righteousness. Instead of all the things that meant and still mean power in the world, she noted justice and righteousness.

Solomon’s rule was just. Equal treatment of all administered justly. Solomon was righteous in that he was right in the eyes of Jehovah God the creator.

What is the gross national product? Where is the stock market? How big is the viewership of the NFL? How many ships are in our Navy?

Who cares? Are we just and righteous.

Sure, those are big political questions. Let’s bring it down to me. Instead of my bank balance and retirement savings and resale value of my house, am I just and righteous? Simple question with difficult answers. At least the answers are difficult if I make them to be.

Please God, help me to be just and righteous all the time with everyone in every situation. Help me in my unbelief.