Metaphysical meaning of Sheba2 (mbd)
Sheba2, she'-bå (Heb.)--rest; repose; stability; equilibrium; reintegration; return to an original state; restoration; redemption.
a Son of Raamah, descended from Ham (Gen. 10:7). b Son of Joktan, descended from Shem (Gen. 10:28). c Son of Jokshan and grandson of Abraham by Keturah (Gen. 25:3). d A city of Simeon (Josh. 19:2). e Son of Bichri, a Benjamite. This Sheba was a base fellow who revolted from David (II Sam. 20:1-22). f The country of Sheba, or Seba, whence the queen of Sheba came to prove Solomon with hard questions (I Kings 10:1). g A man of Gad (I Chron. 5:13).
Meta. Sheba pertains to wholeness or fullness on some plane of existence (return to an original state, rest, repose, equilibrium, reintegration, restoration). Whether or not this thought of wholeness, of bringing to fullness and stabilization, belongs to the inner or outer man, to good or to seeming ill, depends on who the persons in the Bible named Sheba were, and on their history. Those who were of Israel and were constructive in their activities would refer to higher and more spiritual thoughts than those who were descended from Ham and from others who were not of Israel.
The queen of Sheba indicates the ruling intuitive intelligence of the whole consciousness pertaining to that part of being which has to do with nature. We are to understand that Solomon, in meeting and entertaining the queen of Sheba, had to meet and impart to his body consciousness an intuitive wisdom that it had not previously possessed.
Solomon, in the wisdom of Spirit, comes in touch with his unillumined natural being, the queen of Sheba. When the illumination from Spirit is first received we are for a time so absorbed in it and in its revelations that we are almost wholly unconscious of our body; but a thought is formed in us that presides over that domain called the body substance. Its outer aspect is termed flesh, blood, and bone, but the real substance is mental, and when we have been illuminated by Spirit the body will come to us in its true light and ask for our higher wisdom; it will bring to us many presents, or valuable substances.
The queen of Sheba "came to prove him with hard questions." "She communed with him of all that was in her heart." Here is indicated the questioning tendency of the natural side of being. There is implanted in the substance side of our consciousness a degree of intelligence, but it is not the source of wisdom; hence it is not a safe guide for man. This is illustrated in the Eden allegory by the serpent, symbolic of the sensuous intelligence that pervades nature.
The sense consciousness constantly asks an explanation of the riddle of phenomena. Those who do not seek the Solomon within themselves are constantly seeking without for answers to their many questions as to the origin and character of material things. Never can these questions be answered satisfactorily except by the supreme wisdom of that state of mind which is, in the Bible, named Solomon. Matter has no real substance; it is the result of a darkened state of consciousness and it passes away when the light is turned on. Therefore all matter will disappear when man enters into the real substance of Being. Within the corruptible forms of flesh are real life and imperishable flesh. This inner life is represented by the camels and the imperishable flesh is represented by the spices that the queen brought to Solomon. The substance idea rejoices when it sees or perceives the Truth of Spirit. We thus see the importance of spiritualizing the body consciousness by declaring for it the wisdom of the Lord.
Whenever a question is presented about the character of matter and the many points pertaining to the overcoming of physical decay, we may know that the queen of Sheba has come and is seeking to prove our spiritual wisdom with some of her "hard questions."
Solomon (wisdom) recognizes that the body consciousness is his own unillumined being, which needs the light. Therefore nothing is withheld, but every questioning of the queen of Sheba, the power that rules over this part of being, is fully answered.
It is a spiritual law that when the natural forces of being express the desire to learn the way of Spirit, and are willing to pay the price for it, the desire and the willingness are in themselves full compensation; therefore the gifts are returned with abundant increase. This law is set forth in II Chronicles 9:12: "And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, besides that which she had brought unto the king."
The queen of Sheba (ruler over the natural plane) was able to take back to her kingdom the knowledge that there is a higher understanding or a brighter light that, when laid hold of by the body consciousness, will transmute and lift that consciousness to incorruptible spiritual substance. This is the beginning of the process by which the mortal puts on immortality.
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Preceding Entry: Sheba
Following Entry: Shebaniah
