Burunche’s Blog

1 Kings 7:48 – 51 “Solomon also made all the furnishings for the house of the LORD: the golden altar;

the golden table on which was placed the Bread of the Presence; the lampstands of pure gold in front of the inner sanctuary, five on the right side and five on the left; the gold flowers, lamps, and tongs; the pure gold basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, ladles, and censers; and the gold hinges for the doors of the inner temple (that is, the Most Holy Place) as well as for the doors of the main hall of the temple. So, all the work that King Solomon had performed for the house of the LORD was completed.

Then Solomon brought in the items his father David had dedicated—the silver, the gold, and the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of the house of the LORD.”

After the long recitation of all the bronze items in the temple, the gold items almost seem like an afterthought, until we look more closely at the details. All the items used in the Most Holy Place were of pure gold as God ordered Moses on Mount Sinai. But then even the doors of the main hall of the temple and the hinges for the doors of the Most Holy Place were also made of gold. The outer part of the temple was adorned with bronze, but the Most Holy Place was adorned with gold. In addition, the temple also contained a treasury of silver, gold and furnishings collected by Solomon’s father King David.

Where did the plans for the temple come from? Did these plans originate with Solomon, or did David discuss them with Solomon before he died? David wanted to build a temple to the Lord; however, God told him that since he, David, was a man of war, it would be his son Solomon, a man of peace, who would build the temple. But the dreams may well have started with David. Perhaps it was David’s passion for the Lord that drove Solomon to decorate the temple as lavishly as possible, even to having gold hinges on the main doors to the Holy Place.

APPLICATION: We read these descriptions and marvel at the wealth that was lavished on this temple. How much of our treasures are we willing to give to God? How passionately do we love God? If God asks us to give up those things most precious to us, will we do so, or will we try to negotiate?

In an earlier age, West Africa was known as “The White Man’s Graveyard.” Missionaries embarking for West Arica would pack their belongings in their coffins, assuming that sooner or later they would need those coffins. Several years ago, I attended a Christian Medical and Dental Association meeting where certain physicians described their experiences of deliberately moving into inner city slums to minister to those around them. Foregoing comfortable suburban lifestyles, these men and women and their families courageously settled in places as medically underserved as most remote parts of Africa and Asia.

God’s calling is different for each of us; God does not make cookie cutter Christians. But in the end, either we will say “Thy will be done” to God or God will say “Thy will be done to us,” and leave us to our own devices. An old hymn says, “All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give. I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live. I surrender all. I surrender all. All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.”

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to be willing to surrender everything in our lives to You, knowing that You will do marvelous things if we follow Your leading. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Kings 7:13 – 47 “Now King Solomon sent to bring Huram from Tyre.  He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a craftsman in bronze. Huram had great skill, understanding, and knowledge for every kind of bronze work. So, he came to King Solomon and carried out all his work.

He cast two pillars of bronze, each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference. Each pillar was approximately 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference (8.2 meters high and 5.5 meters in circumference). He also made two capitals of cast bronze to set on top of the pillars, each capital five cubits high.

(5 cubits is approximately 7.5 feet or 2.3 meters.) For the capitals on top of the pillars he made a network of lattice, with wreaths of chainwork, seven for each capital. Likewise, he made the pillars with two rows of pomegranates around each grating to cover each capital atop the pillars. And the capitals atop the pillars in the portico were shaped like lilies, four cubits high. (4 cubits is approximately 6 feet or 1.8 meters) On the capitals of both pillars, just above the rounded projection next to the network, were the two hundred pomegranates in rows encircling each capital.

Thus, he set up the pillars at the portico of the temple. The pillar to the south he named Jachin, (He establishes) and the pillar to the north he named Boaz. (In Him is strength) And the tops of the pillars were shaped like lilies. So, the work of the pillars was completed.

The Molten Sea  

He also made the Sea of cast metal. It was circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim, five cubits in height, and thirty cubits in circumference. The Sea was approximately 15 feet from rim to rim, 7.5 feet in height, and 45 feet in circumference (4.6 meters from rim to rim, 2.3 meters in height, and 13.7 meters in circumference).   Below the rim, ornamental buds encircled it, ten per cubit all the way around the Sea, cast in two rows as a part of the Sea.

The Sea stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The Sea rested on them, with all their hindquarters toward the center. It was a handbreadth thick, (A handbreadth is approximately 2.9 inches or 7.4 centimeters) and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It could hold two thousand baths. (2,000 baths is approximately 11,600 gallons or 44,000 liters.)  

The Ten Bronze Stands

In addition, he made ten movable stands of bronze, each four cubits long, four cubits wide, and three cubits high.  

This was the design of the stands: They had side panels attached to uprights, and on the panels between the uprights were lions, oxen, and cherubim. On the uprights was a pedestal above, and below the lions and oxen were wreaths of beveled work. Each stand had four bronze wheels with bronze axles and a basin resting on four supports, with wreaths at each side. The opening to each stand inside the crown at the top was one cubit deep, with a round opening like the design of a pedestal, a cubit and a half wide. And around its opening were engravings, but the panels of the stands were square, not round. There were four wheels under the panels, and the axles of the wheels were attached to the stand; each wheel was a cubit and a half in diameter. The wheels were made like chariot wheels; their axles, rims, spokes, and hubs were all of cast metal.

Each stand had four handles, one for each corner, projecting from the stand. At the top of each stand was a circular band half a cubit high. The supports and panels were cast as a unit with the top of the stand.

He engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees on the surfaces of the supports and panels, wherever each had space, with wreaths all around. In this way he made the ten stands, each with the same casting, dimensions, and shape.

The Ten Bronze Basins He also made ten bronze basins, each holding forty baths (40 baths is approximately 232 gallons or 880 liters) and measuring four cubits across, one basin for each of the ten stands. He set five stands on the south side of the temple and five on the north, and he put the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner of the temple.

Completion of the Bronze Works Additionally, Huram made the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. So Huram finished all the work that he had undertaken for King Solomon in the house of the LORD: the two pillars; the two bowl-shaped capitals atop the pillars; the two sets of network covering both bowls of the capitals atop the pillars; the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of network (two rows of pomegranates for each network covering both the bowl-shaped capitals atop the pillars); the ten stands; the ten basins on the stands; the Sea; the twelve oxen underneath the Sea; and the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls.

All the articles that Huram made for King Solomon in the house of the LORD were made of burnished bronze. The king had them cast in clay molds in the plain of the Jordan between Succoth and Zarethan. Solomon left all these articles unweighed, because there were so many. The weight of the bronze could not be determined.”

Whew! By now, the temple is really beginning to glisten inside! Bronze is a slightly darker color than gold; however, all that bronze would mean that the temple would look amazing whenever light hit the columns, the sea, or the basins with their portable stands. No wonder that Huram had to cast all these things in clay molds in the plain of the Jordan.

There’s no doubt that Solomon’s temple was an incredible building with phenomenal features. The saddest part of this situation is that eventually, Israel and Judah both stopped worshiping the Lord and turned to demons instead. The Assyrians and the Babylonians raided Jerusalem, cutting the bronze into pieces and carrying it off.

APPLICATION: There is a Latin phrase sic transit gloria mundi, which means, “So passes the glory of the world.”  1 John 2:15 – 17 tells us, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father, but from the world. The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.” God is the only safe Person to trust. Politicians, religious leaders, heads of corporations, movie stars, sports heroes – all these people are fallible and will eventually disappoint you. Wealth can evaporate, and your health may fail suddenly without warning. As I am writing this, our hospital is in mourning for a young nurse, a beloved wife and mother of two small children, who suddenly dropped dead a few days ago.

When Solomon built this temple, there were probably people who assumed that it would stand forever. But only a few hundred years later, invading armies would tear the temple to pieces, looting the gold and silver and bronze, and carrying the spoils away. Eventually, Solomon realized that his wealth did not satisfy him and expressed his disillusionment in the Book of Ecclesiastes.

Where do you look for help? Psalm 46:1 says that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever – present help in times of trouble.” Put your trust in God! Your Heavenly Father will never disappoint you.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Help all who read these words to trust in You and rejoice in Your Love. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Kings 7:1 – 12 “Solomon, however, took thirteen years to complete the construction of his entire palace.

He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon a hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high, with four rows of cedar pillars supporting the cedar beams. (The house was approximately 150 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high (45.7 meters long, 22.9 meters wide, and 13.7 meters high).

The house was roofed with cedar above the beams that rested on the pillars—forty-five beams, fifteen per row.  There were three rows of high windows facing one another in three tiers. All the doorways had rectangular frames, with the openings facing one another in three tiers.

Solomon made his colonnade fifty cubits long and thirty cubits wide, with a portico in front of it and a canopy with pillars in front of the portico. (The colonnade was approximately 75 feet long and 45 feet wide (22.9 meters long and 13.7 meters wide).

In addition, he built a hall for the throne, the Hall of Justice, where he was to judge. It was paneled with cedar from floor to ceiling.

And the palace where Solomon would live, set further back, was of similar construction. He also made a palace like this hall for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had married.  All these buildings were constructed with costly stones, cut to size and trimmed with saws inside and out from the foundation to the eaves, and from the outside to the great courtyard. The foundations were laid with large, costly stones, some ten cubits long (15 feet) and some eight cubits long. (12 feet) Above these were high-grade stones, cut to size, and cedar beams.

The great courtyard was surrounded by three rows of dressed stone and a row of trimmed cedar beams, as were the inner courtyard and portico of the house of the LORD.”

We read these accounts and think, “Ho hum! Just another set of lists.” But these descriptions have been preserved for a reason. The cedar described here is the giant cedars of Lebanon, the image of which still appears on the Lebanese flag. These trees were enormous and their wood was highly prized. Many rich people might have a single room paneled in cedar, but Solomon was making colonnades and paneling rooms with cedar in the palace as well as the temple. King Hiram of Tyre had his men cutting huge numbers of cedars and floating them down the Mediterranean Sea to ports in Israel where they were off – loaded and brought to Jerusalem. Part of the timber work force was also from Israel, with thirty thousand men working in three – month shifts – ten thousand men at a time would work for one month in Lebanon, be home two months, and then return to Lebanon.

Notice that Solomon only used dressed stones, which meant that the stones were already carved to specification at the quarry and were then brought to Jerusalem to be set in place. This way Solomon didn’t have to put up with the nasty noise of stone masons chiseling stone.

APPLICATION: We work in a remote part of northeastern Ghana. Most of the patients who come to the mission hospital where we work are subsistence farmers who struggle from one rainy season to the next to grow enough food for their families. There are many times when we pay medical bills so that families will not use up their meager resources, only to starve later. We regularly see heart – breaking situations. Several years ago, the movie of Les Miserables came out while we were in the U.S. Some friends took us to the movie as a treat; however, I only made It through the first twenty minutes and then broke down sobbing and had to leave the theater. The movie is an excellent portrayal of Victor Hugo’s masterpiece and deserves all the awards that it has garnered. My problem was that I identified so closely with the very poor portrayed in the movie that I couldn’t stand to be entertained by their poverty.

Before I began working among very poor people, I could read the accounts of Solomon’s temple and his other buildings and simply marvel. But after years of experience, I now wonder what the average Israelite thought about the palaces Solomon built for Pharaoh’s daughter and for himself. Were the Israelites delighted, or did they wish that this magnificence had not come at such high a price? There’s no doubt that visiting dignitaries would be astounded when they saw the temple and the palaces employing such expensive materials. Perhaps the Israelites thought it was all worth it for the sake of national pride. But on the other hand, perhaps they didn’t. At any rate, who would dare to question King Solomon?

Wealth is one of the most difficult things for most people to handle. R. G. LeTourneau was a prolific inventor who developed innovative earth moving equipment. Le Tourneau was a dedicated Christian and made so much money that he donated 90% of his salary to various Christian endeavors and lived off the remaining 10%. Le Tourneau lived well but simply, never allowing his wealth to distract him from serving God. For many of us, we are far safer with modest means. Solomon is no exception, and we will later learn what happened to him as a result of all this wealth.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You and no after money. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Kings 6:1 – 38 “In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, in the month of Ziv, the second month of the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, he began to build the house of the LORD. (Ziv was the second month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of April and May.)

The house that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. (The house was approximately 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high (27.4 meters long, 9.1 meters wide, and 13.7 meters high). The portico at the front of the main hall of the temple was twenty cubits long, (20 cubits is approximately 30 feet or 9.1 meters) extending across the width of the temple and projecting out ten cubits in front of the temple. (10 cubits is approximately 15 feet or 4.6 meters.) He also had narrow windows framed high in the temple.

The Chambers

Against the walls of the temple and the inner sanctuary, Solomon built a chambered structure around the temple, in which he constructed the side rooms. The bottom floor was five cubits wide, the middle floor six cubits, and the third floor seven cubits. He also placed offset ledges around the outside of the temple, so that nothing would be inserted into its walls. The temple was constructed using finished stones cut at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any other iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.

 The entrance to the bottom floor was on the south side of the temple. A stairway led up to the middle level, and from there to the third floor.

 So, Solomon built the temple and finished it, roofing it with beams and planks of cedar. He built chambers all along the temple, each five cubits high and attached to the temple with beams of cedar.

God’s Promise to Solomon

Then the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying: “As for this temple you are building, if you walk in My statutes, carry out My ordinances, and keep all My commandments by walking in them, I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father David. And I will dwell among the Israelites and will not abandon My people Israel.”

The Temple’s Interior   

So, Solomon built the temple and finished it. He lined the interior walls with cedar paneling from the floor of the temple to the ceiling, and he covered the floor with cypress boards.

He partitioned off the twenty cubits at the rear of the temple with cedar boards from floor to ceiling to form within the temple an inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place. And the main hall in front of this room was forty cubits long.  (40 cubits is approximately 60 feet or 18.3 meters.)

The cedar paneling inside the temple was carved with gourds and open flowers. Everything was cedar; not a stone could be seen.

 Solomon also prepared the inner sanctuary within the temple to set the ark of the covenant of the LORD there. 20 The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar.  

So, Solomon overlaid the inside of the temple with pure gold, and he extended gold chains across the front of the inner sanctuary, which was overlaid with gold. So, he overlaid with gold the whole interior of the temple, until everything was completely finished. He also overlaid with gold the entire altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary.

The Cherubim

In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim, each ten cubits high, out of olive wood. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long, and the other wing was five cubits long as well. So, the full wingspan was ten cubits. The second cherub also measured ten cubits; both cherubim had the same size and shape, and the height of each cherub was ten cubits. (10 cubits is 15 feet or 4.6 meters.)

And he placed the cherubim inside the innermost room of the temple. Since their wings were spread out, the wing of the first cherub touched one wall, while the wing of the second cherub touched the other wall, and in the middle of the room their wingtips touched. He also overlaid the cherubim with gold. Then he carved the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer sanctuaries, with carved engravings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. And he overlaid the temple floor with gold in both the inner and outer sanctuaries.

The Doors

For the entrance to the inner sanctuary, Solomon constructed doors of olive wood with five-sided doorposts. The double doors were made of olive wood, and he carved into them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers and overlaid the cherubim and palm trees with hammered gold. In the same way he made four-sided doorposts of olive wood for the sanctuary entrance. The two doors were made of cypress wood, and each had two folding panels. He carved into them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold, hammered evenly over the carvings.

The Courtyard

Solomon built the inner courtyard with three rows of dressed stone and one row of trimmed cedar beams.

The foundation of the house of the LORD was laid in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, in the month of Ziv. In his eleventh year and eighth month, the month of Bul, the temple was finished in every detail and according to every specification. So, he built the temple in seven years. (Bul was the eighth month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of October and November.)

It’s difficult to split up this chapter because the descriptions flow from one area to the next. Overall, the temple is made with stones cut and dressed at the quarry and then moved from the mountains to Jerusalem so that there would be no sound of chisels and hammers at the work site. The sheer size of these stones is mind – boggling. According to one source, the smallest stones weight between 2 to 5 tons and the largest stone of them all – possibly the largest building stone in antiquity – is 13.6 meters long, 4.6 meters thick and 3.3 meters high, and is estimated to weigh 570 tons. The builders used dry construction – there is no cement between the stones. (https://www.jerusalem-insiders-guide.com/temple-of-jerusalem.html) These stones may have been dragged by oxen from the quarries.

One thing that has always puzzled me is why the width of the chambers increased from story to story rather than decreasing. It is possible that the thickness of the walls decreased slightly with each new story. That would allow for more space with less weight on the structures below.

Cedar and gold are used extensively throughout the temple. Both these items are luxury items that were generally used sparingly even in the homes of the very wealthy; however, Solomon lines rooms with cedar and then overlays them with gold, sparing no expense. Solomon actually inherited much of this gold from his father David.  

In the midst of this building frenzy, God steps in and speaks to Solomon. “Then the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying: “As for this temple you are building, if you walk in My statutes, carry out My ordinances, and keep all My commandments by walking in them, I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father David. And I will dwell among the Israelites and will not abandon My people Israel.” It would seem that God is less impressed with the glories of the new temple and far more concerned about heart attitudes. Sadly, Solomon appears to accept this warning but refuses to heed it.

APPLICATION: How much use are fancy buildings? Some people have coined a term for those insisting on building elaborate houses of worship; these people are said to possess an “edifice complex.” Through the centuries, building programs have caused problems. In modern times, building programs have sometimes resulted in church splits, leaving fewer people to bear the costs of ongoing construction. At the same time, the money spent on buildings could have done a great deal to relieve suffering in the areas immediately around the church.

When Jesus was speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well, he told her, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24) Most effective ministry takes place outside church buildings, not inside. One wonders how enthusiastically the ancient Israelites glorified God when they came to Solomon’s temple and realized the enormous wealth that had been spent on it. It is fascinating to note that at no point does the Bible indicate that God had any hand in the plans for the temple, apart from the general layout that was originally given to Moses for the tabernacle in the wilderness. Sadly, it is quite possible for people to get caught up in appearances and to fail to worship “in spirit and in truth.” This problem of heart attitude is exactly what God warned Solomon about.

Truly, our lives are to be places of worship. Our workplaces, our homes, and our places of recreation should be just as sacred to God as any church building. Worship is not something that you can turn off and on like a water faucet. We must check our hearts! Are we impressed with beautiful structures and programs, forgetting that they are worthless unless God shows up? May God help us!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to worship You in spirit and in truth. Help us to remember that You are not impressed by programs or structures but only by our hearts. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Kings 5:1 – 18 “1 Now when Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king in his father’s place, he sent envoys to Solomon; for Hiram had always been a friend of David.

 And Solomon relayed this message to Hiram:

 “As you are well aware, due to the wars waged on all sides against my father David, he could not build a house for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD had put his enemies under his feet.  But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or crisis.

So, behold, I plan to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God, according to what the LORD said to my father David: ‘I will put your son on your throne in your place, and he will build the house for My Name.’

Now therefore, order that cedars of Lebanon be cut down for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, for you know that there are none among us as skilled in logging as the Sidonians.”

When Hiram received Solomon’s message, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the LORD this day! He has given David a wise son over this great people!” Then Hiram sent a reply to Solomon, saying:

“I have received your message; I will do all you desire regarding the cedar and cypress timber. My servants will haul the logs from Lebanon to the Sea, and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you specify. There I will separate the logs, and you can take them away. And in exchange, you can meet my needs by providing my household with food.” So, Hiram provided Solomon with all the cedar and cypress timber he wanted, and year after year Solomon would provide Hiram with 20,000 cors of wheat as food for his household, as well as 20,000 baths of pure olive oil. (20,000 cors is approximately 124,800 bushels or 4.4 million liters (probably about 3,800 tons or 3,400 metric tons of wheat. 20,000 baths is approximately 116,000 gallons or 440,000 liters of olive oil).

And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.

 Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel. He sent them to Lebanon in monthly shifts of 10,000 men, so that they would spend one month in Lebanon and two months at home. And Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor.

Solomon had 70,000 porters and 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, not including his 3,300 foremen who supervised the workers. And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones. So, Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the construction of the temple.

When the Israelites rejected having God as their supreme ruler and demanded a king, Samuel warned them what would happen, and now those warnings are coming to pass. These warnings are delineated in 1 Samuel 8:10 – 18. “So, Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to his own chariots and horses, to run in front of his chariots.

He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, to make his weapons of war, and to equip his chariots.

 And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants. He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants. And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use.

He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”

Up until now, the Israelites have been enjoying the prosperity of Solomon’s regime; however, Solomon is embarking on ambitious construction projects that require lots of laborers. There is a labor force of 30,000 men going to Lebanon in one month shifts of 10,000 at a time. There are 70,000 porters and 80,000 stone cutters, plus 3,300 overseers. The total of these workers alone is 183,300. And Solomon is just getting started. Before Solomon is through, every bit of Samuel’s prophecies will come true. How do we know this? After Solomon dies and Rehoboam becomes king, the people come to him and beg for relief. 1 Kings 12:4 “Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you should lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.” True, Solomon accomplishes wonderful things during his reign and builds a magnificent temple, but all of these buildings come with a heavy cost for the average Israelite.

APPLICATION: In the Robert Heinlein novel The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Heinlein makes use of the phrase “TANSTAAFL.” This acronym stands for the saying “There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.” The characters in the novel who succeed in overcoming the enormous challenges they face have to learn this truth repeatedly. Nothing useful or outstanding has ever been achieved by wishing or talking; most achievements demand hard work and sacrifice. Now that Solomon is firmly entrenched as king, the Israelites are about to learn the truth of the phrase TANSTAAFL. There’s a lot of money flowing through the kingdom, and much of it is going directly to Solomon and those immediately under him.

It is always a mistake to trust in people rather than in God. So far, Israel has had Saul, David, and now Solomon as king. Each of these men accomplishes different things; however, life is not easy for the common people who must make these kingdoms function.

Where are you putting your trust? Recent events internationally have proven the truth that rulers such as presidents and prime ministers are not to be trusted. Currently, Russia has embarked on a war of conquest in Ukraine using the flimsiest of excuses, and the rest of the international community is letting this happen.

The writer of Psalm 121 got it right when he said, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. Behold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is the shade on your right hand. The sun will not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul. The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.”

TANSTAAFL! When you trust earthly rulers, the price they demand will be exorbitant. Trust the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, the Protector of Israel.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to trust in You rather than any earthly rulers. Thank You for being our Shield and our Protector. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Kings 4:20 – 34 “The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and they were eating and drinking and rejoicing. And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.

Solomon’s provisions for a single day were thirty cors of fine flour, (30 cors is approximately 187 bushels or 6,600 liters (probably about 5.5 tons or 5 metric tons of flour).  sixty cors of meal, 60 cors is approximately 375 bushels or 13,200 liters (probably about 11 tons or 10 metric tons of meal). ten fat oxen, twenty range oxen, and a hundred sheep, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened poultry. For Solomon had dominion over everything west of the Euphrates —over all the kingdoms from Tiphsah to Gaza—and he had peace on all sides. Throughout the days of Solomon, Judah and Israel dwelt securely from Dan to Beersheba, each man under his own vine and his own fig tree.

Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses. Each month the governors in turn provided food for King Solomon and all who came to his table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking. Each one also brought to the required place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and other horses.

 And God gave Solomon wisdom, exceedingly deep insight, and understanding beyond measure, like the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the men of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than all men—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and wiser than Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread throughout the surrounding nations.

Solomon composed three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke of trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing in the wall, and he taught about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish.

So, men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.”

Now we know just why Solomon had to have all that administrative staff. The challenges of providing logistics for this kingdom are staggering. Obviously, Solomon has a huge number of people living at the palace, as well as maintaining the army and all those horses and chariots. Some sources believe that Solomon may have controlled at least 60,000 square miles of territory. Part of that land might have included nations who were semi – autonomous but who still paid tribute to Solomon, leaving 34,000 square miles directly under Solomon’s control. At any rate, administering such a kingdom called for a great deal of organization.

One of the most comforting phrases in the Bible is the description of Israel in the days of Solomon. “Throughout the days of Solomon, Judah and Israel dwelt securely from Dan to Beersheba, each man under his own vine and his own fig tree.” Recently, we celebrated the anniversary of the landings on Normandy Beach known as D Day. If you are familiar with the music of that era, you realize that the situation described by this verse was the dream of most of those fighting on both sides. All that most people want is to have peace and to dwell securely in their own homes, enjoying the fruits of their labors. The mention of vines and fig trees would imply that the Israelites were enjoying small gardens with grapes and figs, not to mention other fruits as well. Today Israel produces wonderful fruit of all kinds.    

One worrisome thing is the large number of horses and chariots Solomon possessed. Later on, we learn that Solomon was also sending to Egypt for horses and trading in horses throughout the Middle East. In light of the instructions to the kings of Israel in Deuteronomy 17, was this expansion of the cavalry something God approved of or merely something that Solomon did on his own? Who knows? At any rate, Solomon became extremely rich.

God also kept his promise to Solomon concerning wisdom. In an era in which wise men were prized, Solomon stood out above all the rest. “He was wiser than all men—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and wiser than Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread throughout the surrounding nations.”  Although none of these men’s names mean anything to us today, they were famous at that time for their sagacity, and Solomon exceeded them all.

APPLICATION: God has always kept his promises, including his promises to Solomon. But should we be asking for the same things that Solomon did? Proverbs 29:7 – 9 says, “Two things I ask of You— do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread that is my portion. Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.”

Very few of us can actually handle wealth in a holy fashion. The temptation to indulge ourselves is too great for most of us. As we will learn later, Solomon was not immune to these temptations either.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to appreciate the blessings You have already given us and to trust You for Your provision for our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen. 

1 Kings 4:1 – 19 “So King Solomon ruled over Israel, and these were his chief officials: Azariah son of Zadok was the priest; Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, were secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder; Bnaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; Azariah son of Nathan was in charge of the governors; Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to the king; Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor.

Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel to provide food for the king and his household. Each one would arrange provisions for one month of the year, and these were their names: Ben-hur in the hill country of Ephraim; Ben-deker in Makaz, in Shaalbim, in Beth-shemesh, and in Elon-beth-hanan; Ben-hesed in Arubboth (Socoh and all the land of Hepher belonged to him); Ben-abinadab in Naphath-dor (Taphath, a daughter of Solomon, was his wife); Baana son of Ahilud in Taanach, in Megiddo, and in all of Beth-shean next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah and on past Jokmeam; Ben-geber in Ramoth-gilead (the villages of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead belonged to him, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan with its sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars); Ahinadab son of Iddo in Mahanaim; Ahimaaz in Naphtali (he had married Basemath, a daughter of Solomon); Baana son of Hushai in Asher and in Aloth; Jehoshaphat son of Paruah in Issachar; Shimei son of Ela in Benjamin; Geber son of Uri in the land of Gilead, including the territories of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan. There was also one governor in the land of Judah.“

Looking at these names, you might think, “Oh dear! Another list of incomprehensible names!” But look at what these people were doing. Secretaries, recorders, high priests, army commanders, heads of the governors, governors, an advisor to the king and the man in charge of forced labor. Each one of these men had massive responsibilities that increased as Solomon’s kingdom grew. Then there were the twelve governors responsible for supplying the palace, no mean feat in itself. Centuries later, we know about these men because God made sure that their names were preserved. These men performed excellently and God has recognized that fact.

Later on, we will read the descriptions of the responsibilities of these men, and those responsibilities were enormous. Before Solomon’s reign was over, his kingdom was one of the richest in the entire Middle East, and these were the men who made things possible. Without the efforts of these men, none of God’s promises would have come true for Solomon.

APPLICATION: So many times, we may feel that we are merely cogs in a machine. We get so caught up in the demands of our job that we fail to remember the big picture. There is a story about two stone masons who were working on small carvings in one of the medieval cathedrals. A passer – by asked the first mason, “What are you doing?” “I’m carving one small item that will be on the roof of this building. Once my carving is in place, nobody will ever see it,” the man grumbled. Then the passer – by asked the second man the same question. “I am helping build a place of worship to the glory of God,” the second mason answered. “But your carving will be in an obscure place,” the passer – by observed. “Yes, but God will see it!” answered the mason.

When we see these lists of names in the Bible, we should be encouraged. These men have done outstanding work, and God continues to honor them long after their work is over. God sees our efforts and knows our struggles. God knows the temptation to slack off and to do as little as possible when nobody is looking. God knows the times we have come to work when we were sick or when our family was in turmoil. And God knows the times we have put forth extra effort, even though it has cost us a great deal.

Take heart! Just as God has preserved the names and reputations of these men, God will also remember you. Your struggles have not been in vain and someday God will reward you.

Isaiah 43:2 – 3 tells us, ““Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.

 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place.”

Comfort yourself with the thought that God sees all your trials and all your hard work! You are precious to God, and He is with you, both now and forever!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help all those who read this to be encouraged and to trust that You are fully aware of their struggles and their needs. Help them to rely on You for their strength and inspiration. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

2 Kings 3:16 – 28 “At that time two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. One woman said, “Please, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth while she was in the house. On the third day after I gave birth, this woman also had a baby. We were alone, with no one in the house but the two of us. During the night this woman’s son died because she rolled over on him. So, she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I was asleep. She laid him in her bosom and put her dead son at my bosom. The next morning, when I got up to nurse my son, I discovered he was dead. But when I examined him, I realized that he was not the son I had borne.”

 “No,” said the other woman, “the living one is my son and the dead one is your son.”

But the first woman insisted, “No, the dead one is yours and the living one is mine.” So, they argued before the king.

Then the king replied, “This woman says, ‘My son is alive and yours is dead,’ but that woman says, ‘No, your son is dead and mine is alive.’”

The king continued, “Bring me a sword.” So, they brought him a sword, and the king declared, “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.”

Then the woman whose son was alive spoke to the king because she yearned with compassion for her son. “Please, my lord,” she said, “give her the living baby. Do not kill him!”

But the other woman said, “He will be neither mine nor yours. Cut him in two!”  Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. By no means should you kill him; she is his mother.”

When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.”

There is a phrase “a Solomon come to judgement,” and this story is the origin of that phrase. Until now, Solomon hasn’t done anything that a pagan king would not have done, apart from sacrificing to the Lord. But pagan kings will also sacrifice to their gods. In the handling of this incident, Solomon begins to demonstrate God’s gift of divine wisdom. Two prostitutes give birth 3 days apart, but one of them rolls over on her child at night as they sleep on a mat together. Realizing that she has smothered her child, this woman swiftly exchanges her dead baby for her colleague’s live one and lies down again. The other prostitute wakes and realizes that there is a dead baby lying next to her and that this baby is not hers. The two women come to Solomon, and Solomon settles the matter in a dramatic fashion by threatening to cut the baby in half. The mother of the dead baby agrees to this division; why should she care? But the actual mother of the child longs for the life of the child and is willing to give it up rather than see the child put to death.    

APPLICATION: This story seems so simple but it is really profound. God has given Solomon His wisdom. Without the wisdom of God, Solomon might have descended into a morass of arguments between the two women, culminating in a hair – pulling match right there in the throne room!

Which of us does not need divine wisdom? We are parents and workers, students and teachers. We may be supervisors or we may be in the ranks of those who are supervised. No matter our situation, we need the perfect wisdom that only God can give.

James 3:117 tells us, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” The name “Solomon” means “man of peace.” God gave Solomon wisdom so that he could truly be a man of peace. Today, let us ask God to give us His wisdom, so that we too will be able to become people of peace.

PRAYER: Father God, thank you for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help each of us to ask You for Your wisdom so that Your peace will pervade our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Kings 3:1 – 15 “Later, Solomon formed an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying his daughter. Solomon brought her to the City of David until he had finished building his palace and the house of the LORD, as well as the wall around Jerusalem.
The people, however, were still sacrificing on the high places because a house for the Name of the LORD had not yet been built. And Solomon loved the LORD and walked in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for it was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar there.
One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”
Solomon replied, “You have shown much loving devotion to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. And You have maintained this loving devotion by giving him a son to sit on his throne this very day. And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in. Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number.
Therefore, give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request. So, God said to him, “Since you have asked for this instead of requesting long life or wealth for yourself or death for your enemies—but you have asked for discernment to administer justice— behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has never been nor will ever be another like you.
Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal. So, if you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commandments, just as your father David did, I will prolong your days.”
Then Solomon awoke, and indeed it had been a dream. So, he returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he held a feast for all his servants.

Solomon is beginning his reign and trying to put things on a firm foundation. The first wife Solomon chooses is Pharaoh’s daughter. Many commentators believe that while this woman is not an Israelite, she likely becomes a proselyte, believing in the God of Israel. This marriage evidently takes place at a time when Egypt is not as strong as it was formerly, and Pharaoh is anxious to ally himself with a strong nation that controls several of the major trade routes. Solomon brings his new wife to Jerusalem.
At this point, Gibeon is still the primary site for sacrifices to the God of Israel. Solomon personally offers 1,000 burnt offerings on the altar at Gibeon. It is while Solomon is at Gibeon that God speaks to him one night.
God makes Solomon an incredible offer. “Ask, and I will give it to you!” Solomon makes a wonderful reply. “Solomon replied, “You have shown much loving devotion to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. And You have maintained this loving devotion by giving him a son to sit on his throne this very day. And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in. Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number.
Therefore, give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request. So, God said to him, “Since you have asked for this instead of requesting long life or wealth for yourself or death for your enemies—but you have asked for discernment to administer justice— behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has never been nor will ever be another like you.
Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal. So, if you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commandments, just as your father David did, I will prolong your days.”

APPLICATION: Solomon makes a very hopeful beginning, and God honors that. There is one small comment that niggles at our consciousness. “And Solomon loved the LORD and walked in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.” Was Solomon always sacrificing to the God of Israel, or was he also burning incense and sacrificing to other gods, even at this point? We don’t know. We do know that Solomon asks only for wisdom to rule properly, and this pleases God immensely. God makes fantastic promises to Solomon, assuring him of wisdom, riches, honor, and long life if he will walk in God’s ways and keep His statutes.

God keeps His promises, and here at the dawning of Solomon’s reign, everything is full of hope. Solomon has eliminated those who might have betrayed him and is making a great start with God. So far, Solomon only has taken one wife and is doing well.

What would we ask for if God made the same offer to us that He made to Solomon? Would we be as humble as Solomon, or would we ask for something baser and less worthy? We fail to realize that we can ask God for things. We have the same opportunity to ask God for wisdom that Solomon did. What are we doing with our divine opportunities? Are we asking for things that will glorify God or are we asking for something less?

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to thoroughly love You and worthily magnify Your Holy Name. Thank You for the privilege of prayer. Help us to pray for those things that will glorify You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Kings 1:28 – 46 “When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar.

It was reported to King Solomon: “Joab has fled to the tent of the LORD and is now beside the altar.”

So, Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down!”

And Benaiah entered the tent of the LORD and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’”

But Joab replied, “No, I will die here.”

So, Benaiah relayed the message to the king, saying, “This is how Joab answered me.”

And the king replied, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood that Joab shed. The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he killed with the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army. Their blood will come back upon the heads of Joab and his descendants forever; but for David, his descendants, his house, and his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD forever.”

So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up, struck down Joab, and killed him. He was buried at his own home in the wilderness. And the king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada in Joab’s place over the army, and he appointed Zadok the priest in Abiathar’s place.

Then the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else. On the day you go out and cross the Kidron Valley, know for sure that you will die; your blood will be on your own head.”

“The sentence is fair,” Shimei replied. “Your servant will do as my lord the king has spoken.” And Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time.

After three years, however, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath. And Shimei was told, “Look, your slaves are in Gath.” So Shimei saddled his donkey and set out to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves, and he brought them back from Gath.

When it was reported to Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned, the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the LORD and warn you, ‘On the day you leave and go elsewhere, know for sure that you will die’? And you told me, ‘The sentence is fair; I will comply.’ So why have you not kept your oath to the LORD and the command that I gave you?”

The king also said, “You know in your heart all the evil that you did to my father David. Therefore, the LORD will bring your evil back upon your head. But King Solomon will be blessed and David’s throne will remain secure before the LORD forever.”

Then the king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down, and he died. Thus, the kingdom was firmly established in the hand of Solomon.”

As King David was dying, he charged Solomon to eliminate Joab for having murdered two military commanders more righteous than he in his bid to maintain power. Joab supported Adonijah in his abortive bid to seize the throne; who knows what Joab might decide to do in the future? There are still many in the army who are loyal to Joab. When Joab seeks sanctuary in the temple, he assumes that he will be safe; however, Solomon sends Benaiah to kill Joab anyway. Remember that sanctuary can only be granted if someone who has shed blood has done so accidentally. There was nothing accidental about Joab’s murders of Abner and Amasa.  

Joab’s treachery of three men proved his undoing. Although initially, Joab was loyal to David, Joab’s loyalty was tested during the incident with Bathsheba when David ordered Joab to send Uriah to the hottest part of the battle. Joab betrayed three men: Abner, Amasa, and David. To remain commander of the military, Joab assassinated both Abner and Amasa. Joab supported Adonijah’s bid for the throne, ignoring the fact that David intended to make Solomon king. By murdering Abner and Amasa in peacetime, Joab brought blood – guilt on David. Not once did Joab ever display any signs of remorse over his actions; meanwhile, David repented of his sins with Bathsheba and Uriah.

Solomon handles Shimei very wisely, ordering him to build a house, to remain in Jerusalem, and not to cross the Kidron Valley. Were Shimei to cross the Kidron Valley east of Jerusalem and pass over the Mount of Olives, he would soon reach a major north – south route that would connect with the road to Gath. But when some of Shimei’s slaves escape to Gath, Shimei takes off after them, forgetting Solomon’s warning. Why can’t Shimei send someone else to collect the slaves? Perhaps Shimei feels that Solomon is not nearly as strong as his father David or perhaps Shimei thinks he will rush down to Gath, about 30 km. from Jerusalem, and return before Solomon hears about it. But Solomon learns about Shimei’s trip, and this is the excuse he needs to put Shimei to death.

APPLICATION: This part of Solomon’s story makes grim reading, but Solomon is a political realist. Now that the proven conspirators are out of the picture, Solomon can proceed to establish his kingdom. Abiathar, Joab, Adonijah, and Shimei all had one thing in common: they were double – minded. James 1:8 tells us that” a double – minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

While it is important to have colleagues who are intelligent and skillful, such colleagues are worthless if you cannot trust them. Trust is something that is easily destroyed and difficult to rebuild. If you have workers who are eager to learn, you can do a great deal with training. Before we had very many trained nurses at our mission hospital, we used ward assistants who were trained on the job. Those people were compassionate about their care and diligent, and our patients got excellent care. Many of those people have gone on to become nurses or even specialists such as physician assistants and nurse anesthetists, and they are still doing well.  

There are men in the kingdom whom Solomon can trust: Zadok, the high priest, and Benaiah, who now is military commander. As time goes on, Solomon will assemble others. But the One in whom Solomon will need to trust the most is the God who has chosen him to become king.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, please guide all leaders as they handle those under them. Help leaders to make wise decisions according to Your Word. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.