I Kings 10:9-11:27

Hook

We stand today in a moment that feels vast, a landscape of shimmering gold and shadowed turning. The mood is one of awe mixed with a gentle melancholy, a recognition of both magnificent creation and inevitable fading. The text from I Kings, recounting the visit of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon and the subsequent unraveling of his reign, offers us a profound musical tool: a melody of discerning gratitude and honest acceptance. This musical prayer will help us navigate the complexities of abundance and the subtle shifts that lead to sorrow.

Text Snapshot

"The report I heard in my own land about you and your wisdom was true. But I did not believe the reports until I came and saw with my own eyes that not even the half had been told me; your wisdom and wealth surpass the reports that I heard. How fortunate are your people and how fortunate are these your courtiers, who are always in attendance on you and can hear your wisdom! Praised be the ETERNAL your God, who delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel. It is because of GOD’s everlasting love for Israel that you were made king—to administer justice and righteousness.”

Later, a different note: “In his old age, his wives turned away Solomon’s heart after other gods, and he was not as wholeheartedly devoted to the ETERNAL his God as his father David had been. Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Phoenicians, and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. Solomon did what was displeasing to GOD and did not remain loyal to GOD like his father David.”

The imagery here is rich: the "shimmering gold," the "precious stones," the "fare of his table," the "seating of his courtiers" all paint a picture of unparalleled splendor. Then, the subtle shift, the "turned away heart," the following of "other gods," the "abominations." These are not just historical events; they are echoes within our own human experience, the moments when our deepest devotion can falter, when the allure of the temporary overshadows the enduring.

Close Reading

This passage offers us two powerful insights into the regulation of our inner landscape, particularly when faced with the vastness of experience, from overwhelming success to profound disappointment.

Insight 1: The Resonance of Genuine Acknowledgment

The Queen of Sheba's encounter with Solomon is a masterclass in discerning what is worthy of praise. Her initial pronouncements are not mere flattery; they are a deep acknowledgment of the divine presence she perceives through Solomon's wisdom and prosperity. "Praised be the ETERNAL your God, who delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel. It is because of GOD’s everlasting love for Israel that you were made king—to administer justice and righteousness.”

This is more than just saying "good job." It's about recognizing the source. The commentaries highlight this: Malbim states, "The meaning of the verse is that because of God's love for Israel, He desired you to give you to them, to sit on the throne of Israel, meaning that through God's love for Israel, He gave them a good provider like you, who will do justice and righteousness." Metzudat David echoes this, "Because of God's love for Israel, He called your name upon them as king, to do justice and righteousness according to the breadth of your wisdom."

What this teaches us about emotion regulation is the power of anchoring our experience to its source, especially in moments of joy or accomplishment. When we attribute our good fortune, our wisdom, our capacity for good, not solely to ourselves, but to a larger, benevolent force—whether we call it God, the Universe, or the inherent goodness of existence—we create a more stable foundation for our emotions. This prevents the dizzying inflation that can come with success, and instead fosters a grounded gratitude. It’s like tuning an instrument: when the strings are properly tensioned to a fundamental note, the music that emerges is harmonious and resilient.

When we can consciously say, "This good thing is here because of a deeper love, a larger wisdom," we are less likely to be shattered when that good thing inevitably changes or fades. This acknowledgment acts as a gentle mooring, preventing our emotional vessel from being tossed about by the unpredictable tides of fortune. It cultivates a sense of awe that is not possessive, but appreciative. In the face of abundance, this prayerful acknowledgment of the divine source helps us to remain present, to savor the gift without becoming attached to its permanence, and to be truly joyful for the people around us who also benefit from this goodness.

Insight 2: The Weight of Gradual Erosion

The second part of the text presents a stark contrast: Solomon's decline. This is not a sudden fall, but a gradual erosion. "In his old age, his wives turned away Solomon’s heart after other gods." The commentaries note the insidious nature of this shift. Steinsaltz reminds us that "May the Lord your God be blessed, who favored you, to place you on the throne of Israel, in the Lord’s love of Israel forever, and He appointed you as king over them, to perform justice and righteousness." This is the ideal, the divine intention. But the reality is a slow turning away, a compromise that begins subtly and gathers momentum.

The text states, "Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Phoenicians, and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. Solomon did what was displeasing to GOD and did not remain loyal to GOD like his father David." This isn't a dramatic rejection of God, but a slow drift. It's the accumulation of small compromises, the allure of foreign deities that represent different desires, different comforts, different ways of being. It's the seductive whisper of "what if," the gradual compromise of one's core values for the sake of ease or companionship.

This is a crucial lesson in emotion regulation because it highlights the danger of neglecting the subtle shifts within ourselves. We often only notice the distress when it becomes overwhelming – a full-blown crisis. But the seeds of that crisis are often sown in seemingly minor moments of compromise. Solomon's turning away was not a singular event but a process. His wives, "foreign women... from the nations of which GOD had said to the Israelites, 'None of you shall join them and none of them shall join you... lest they turn your heart away to follow their gods.'" The warning was explicit, yet Solomon clung to and loved them.

The emotional regulation lesson here is about vigilance, not in a harsh, self-punishing way, but in a gentle, attentive way. It's about noticing when our attention, our devotion, our energy begins to drift towards things that don't align with our deepest values, even if they offer temporary solace or pleasure. It's about recognizing the "abominations" in our own lives – those subtle deviations from our core truth that, over time, can lead to a profound sense of disconnection and sorrow. This requires a willingness to be honest with ourselves, to feel the pang of longing for what we've drifted from, and to make the conscious choice to reorient ourselves. The music of this moment is not a lament for what is lost, but a quiet, determined hum of returning, a melody of recommitment.

Melody Cue

Imagine a niggun, a wordless melody, that begins with a slow, rising phrase, like the Queen of Sheba's awe. It’s a simple, open-hearted sound, perhaps a gentle hum on an "Ah" or "Oh." As it progresses, it might introduce a slightly more complex, yearning interval, reflecting the "hard questions" and the depth of Solomon's wisdom. This part is grounded, resonant.

Then, as the text shifts to Solomon's decline, the melody takes on a more repetitive, circular quality. It doesn't plummet into despair, but rather it circles, like a thought caught in a loop. It might use a shorter, descending phrase that repeats, a gentle sigh. The overall feeling is not one of sharp pain, but of a quiet, persistent sadness, a sense of something precious being slowly, almost imperceptibly, lost. It’s a melody that holds both the beauty of what was and the ache of what is becoming.

Practice

Let us spend the next sixty seconds in a prayerful attunement. Find a comfortable posture, whether sitting or standing. Close your eyes gently, or soften your gaze.

(Begin 60-second timer)

Take a deep breath in, and as you exhale, allow yourself to sink into this moment.

Now, let us begin with the Queen of Sheba's experience. Imagine the shimmering gold, the exotic spices, the profound wisdom. As you breathe in, silently intone the first part of our imagined niggun – a simple, rising, open sound. Perhaps on a gentle "Ahhh." Feel the sense of wonder, of awe, of genuine appreciation for goodness.

(Hum or silently intone a simple, rising phrase for 15 seconds)

Now, let us turn to the second part of the passage, the subtle turning away, the gradual drift. As you breathe in, silently intone the more circular, repetitive phrase. Perhaps a gentle, descending two or three-note pattern that repeats. Feel the quiet ache, the awareness of compromise, the longing for deeper alignment. Hold this feeling with tenderness, without judgment.

(Hum or silently intone a gentle, repetitive phrase for 30 seconds)

As we come to the end of this practice, take another deep breath. As you exhale, release any tension. Allow the melodies to settle within you. Remember that both the awe and the ache are part of the human journey, and music can be a faithful companion through it all.

(End 60-second timer)

Takeaway

The story of Solomon, from his dazzling peak to his eventual faltering, offers us a profound lens through which to view our own emotional lives. It teaches us that true wisdom involves not only the capacity to receive and celebrate abundance, but also the tender awareness to notice when our hearts begin to stray, even in the smallest ways. Music, in its ability to hold both the grand pronouncements of gratitude and the quiet sighs of longing, becomes our sanctuary. It allows us to pray through the vastness of our experience, acknowledging the divine hand in our blessings and gently guiding ourselves back to wholeness when we find ourselves adrift. Let the melodies of Scripture be our guide, helping us to sing our way through every season of the soul.