The Queen
“Never again did anyone bring such an abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.”
When I was a little girl, my dad and I had a bathtime routine. He would wrap a towel over my head, pull it around my shoulders like a cape, and call me the queen of Sheba. I’d giggle and run wildly towards my bedroom to put my jammies on. As for the queen of Sheba, I never knew much about her. Years later when I starting walking with Jesus, I was a little afraid to learn about her - fearing that she would turn out to be a nefarious character of the scriptures. But she’s not. At all.
The Queen of Sheba was known for her goodness, and some bible scholars even think she may have been the bride referenced in the Song of Songs. Now, I don’t want to dive into the theological ramifications of that assertion, but let’s just go with it for a moment. If that’s true, my dad spent my childhood validating and speaking out my worth, my goodness, and my loveliness without even knowing it - just by calling me the Queen of Sheba after bathtime. And that thought moves me to tears because...
I long to hear that I am good, that I am lovely, that I am wanted.
We all want that. We want to be loved. The affection I share with my dad and my family looks different now than when I was little. My family, while wonderful, loves differently than I do. I like to hug and talk about feelings and touch and exchange compliments, but that’s not their style. It’s work for me to love them and for them to love me. It’s work for us to love each other. But it’s not work for God.
Sisters, my family might not always treat me like the Queen of Sheba or love me the way that I want them to, but that’s okay because there is One who loves me perfectly. I have a God who loves me better than anyone else can. He loves to hear all about my feelings and to be close. He loves to invite me into His heart and come into mine. I am His Queen of Sheba - always wanted, always loved, always delighted in, always desired, always enough. And that’s the love that counts.
Father,
Thank You for loving us so perfectly. Thank You for treating us like a Queens even when we don’t deserve it.
Help us to be like the Queen of Sheba and to bestow honor and affection on You, our King. Help us to lean on You for love and care and affection before anyone else. Teach us how to choose Your validation before all others.
God, we love You - You know we do. Help us to stand in Your love above all. Amen.