A blurb on the radio invited listeners to ring in and report the song that annoyed them most. To some suggestions, I readily agreed. But then someone mentioned that classic and much-loved Scottish ballad, by those talented troubadour twins, the Proclaimers – ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 miles)’. The audacity! Well I would walk 500 miles, and I would walk 500 more, just to be the man who walks a thousand miles to protest at the door.

Admittedly the lyrics sound like the actions of a love-sick puppy, but there was once a case in real life of someone who did, and with all the rigour and hardship involved in making such a demanding journey. The Book tells the story of the Queen of Sheba (ancient Saudi Arabia) who travelled ‘a thousand miles’ – 1,323 miles to be exact – to Jerusalem, just to see and hear the wisdom of King Solomon. And for her effort she was handsomely rewarded.

The Book tells a related story from the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry. He was grieved by the lack of right-response to his kingdom-preaching in certain towns, and cited the Queen’s example. She walked a thousand miles to hear Solomon. And they wouldn’t bother crossing the street to hear the wisdom of someone greater. And so he said, that lady will, at the end of the world, give her witness against those who ignored the King. And no highland trill would fill the air to sweeten her grave Amen.