A QUEEN, A CITY and THE DAY of JUDGMENT -- Monday:
"The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them . . . The men of Nineveh shall rise up in the judgment with this generation . . ." (Luke 11:31-32)
The day of judgment will be a day of vindication for God, glory for Christ, honor for the saints, and condemnation of the wicked. Every aspect of it will confirm that the word, works, and judgment of God are right. No charge of injustice will be leveled at God. No child of God will be reproached, and no child of the devil will be honored. I suspect the day of judgment will last for some time–possibly as long as the history of the world.
In this text, Jesus points out some aspects of "the judgment" that are not generally known. We know from Apostolic writings that the saints will be involved in the act of judging itself–judging both men and angels (1 Cor 6:1-3). Jesus informs us, however, that others will also be involved in the Divine courtroom. There will be judges that will rise from previous generations, who excelled in their day with much fewer advantages than the generations following them. Their judgment will confirm before an assembled universe the greatness of what was offered in Christ. It will also attest to the righteousness of God in condemning those who did not avail themselves of His great salvation.
The "queen of the south" refers to the queen of Sheba, a political dignitary living during the time of Solomon. Some believe she came from Ethiopia, while others affirm she was from Arabia. From either area, it was a considerable distance for her to come "to Jerusalem," as Scripture affirms she did, "with a very great caravan--with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones" (1 Kgs 10:2-3). Jesus said she came "to hear the wisdom of Solomon." She came at personal inconvenience, great gifts, and attentiveness. She saw the value of one greater than herself, and came to investigate the reports, finding them to be not even "the half" of the wisdom and success Solomon had. This woman will "rise up in the judgment" and condemn those who heard of the Lord Jesus and His great salvation, yet did nothing about it. He is "greater than Solomon," and worthy of more inconvenience, more gifts, and a more fervent quest. When unusual things from God are made accessible to people, they will be held in account for not availing themselves of them.
"The men of Nineveh" are also unique in Divine history. Although exceedingly wicked men, possessing no godly heritage or valid religious training, and not in covenant relation with God, they "repented at the preaching of Jonah." They did not have extended exposure to his preaching. Jonah did not come to Nineveh and set up a lengthy ministry. The message he brought was not a call to repent, and contained not one word of hope. It was "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" (Jonah 3:4). Eight words of doom. An announcement of judgment. Jonah apparently walked from one end of the city to the other preaching these words. It took three days to walk across Nineveh, so that is probably how long Jonah preached (Jonah 3:3). The result–Nineveh, to a man, repented! They even involved their animals in the contrition (3:7-8). They will rise up in the day of judgment and condemned those who refused to repent at the sound of the Gospel!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to perceive those to whom You have granted unusual wisdom, and to extent myself to be around them.