Christ in 2 Chronicles: Our Wise King

The book of 2 Chronicles begins with the reign of King Solomon, the building of the temple, and its dedication, and a visit from The Queen of Sheba.  This first section of the book, on which we will focus today, ends with King Solomon’s death in chapter 9.  The remainder of the book follows the kingdom of Judah under a series of good and evil kings, times of blessing and times of punishment, times of disobedience followed by times of repentance.  The time period covered is approximately 971 B.C. – 586 B.C.  It is a testimony to the longsuffering nature of God, as well as the holiness and justice of God. Sadly, it is also a testimony to the sinful nature of humankind and our tendency to stray away from God and to conform to the world around us.  We are reminded over, and over, and over again that God has a plan for His people, and that His plan needs to be followed without compromise.
 

·   Just as Solomon was king over God’s people, Jesus now reigns over God’s people.

“You showed so much kindness to my father David,” Solomon replied to God,“and you have made me king in his place. Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be fulfilled because you have made me king over a people as numerous as the earth’s dust.” (2 Chronicles 1:8-9)

He has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 19:16)

·   Solomon was renowned for his wisdom, as was Jesus.

God said to Solomon, “Since this is what you wish, and because you’ve asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I’ve made you king . . .  your request for wisdom and knowledge is granted.” (1 Chronicles 1:11, 12) 

The child grew up and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him. (Luke 2:40)

·   Solomon built the temple where the Spirit of God abided.  But Jesus Christ made us His temple, making it possible for His Spirit to abide within us.

Then a cloud filled the Lord’s temple. The priests were unable to carry out their duties on account of the cloud because the Lord’s glory filled God’s temple. (2 Chronicles 5:13-14)
 

Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and God’s Spirit lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16) 

·   The temple was designed by God and designated as the place for His people to make sacrifices and worship Him.  Jesus Christ established His church (not a building, but a fellowship of believers) and told us to meet together regularly to worship Him and to learn more about Him.

Then the Lord appeared to Solomon at night and said to him: I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place as my house of sacrifice . . . From now on my eyes will be open and my ears will pay attention to the prayers offered in this place, because I have chosen this temple and declared it holy so that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. (2 Chronicles 7:12, 15-16)

And let us consider each other carefully for the purpose of sparking love and good deeds. Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

·   King Solomon became famous all over the world.  The Queen of Sheba (Ethiopia) heard about his wisdom, his riches, and the glory of his kingdom, and she wanted to see it for herself.  When she did, she was amazed by what she saw and heard from Solomon’s own lips.  But Jesus Christ is so much greater than Solomon!

When the queen of Sheba heard reports about Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with riddles. Accompanying her was a huge entourage, with camels carrying spices, large amounts of gold, and precious stones. After she arrived, she told Solomon everything that was on her mind. Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for him to answer. When the queen of Sheba saw how wise Solomon was, the palace he had built, the food on his table, his servants’ quarters, the function and dress of his attendants, his cupbearers and their dress, and the entirely burned offerings he offered at the Lord’s temple, it took her breath away.  “The report I heard about your deeds and wisdom when I was still at home is true,” she said to the king. “I didn’t believe it until I came and saw it with my own eyes. In fact, the half of it wasn’t told to me! You have far more than I was told. Your people and these servants who continually serve you and get to listen to your wisdom are truly happy! Bless the Lord your God because he was pleased to put you on the throne as king for the Lord your God. Because your God loved Israel and wanted to establish them forever, he has made you their king to uphold justice and righteousness." (2 Chronicles 9:1-8) 

The queen of the South will be raised up by God at the judgment with this generation and condemn it because she came from a distant land to hear Solomon’s wisdom. And look, someone greater than Solomon is here. (Matthew 12:42)

So what do these parallels between Solomon and his temple and Jesus mean to you and to me today?  Is Jesus king of your life, or do you sit on your own throne?  Proverbs 9:10 tells us, “The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord; the knowledge of the holy one is understanding.”  Do you have such a reverence (fear) for God that He is able to instill His wisdom in you?  Have you allowed God’s Holy Spirit to abide in you, to fill every area of your life?  Do you worship God regularly with other Christ-followers?  Are you involved in Bible study and corporate worship, or do you make excuses, pretending to worship on the golf course, or on the lake, or in your garden?  Does your life and your demeanor cause people to ask what you have that they don’t?  Are people curious about your beliefs?  Are you ready to give an answer when people ask about your faith?  We are told in 1 Peter 3:15-16 to be prepared to give an answer when we are asked, always gently, with compassion and a tender heart:  “Instead, regard Christ as holy in your hearts. Whenever anyone asks you to speak of your hope, be ready to defend it. Yet do this with respectful humility, maintaining a good conscience.”  If we will be faithful in obedience to Him, others will be just as amazed at Christ’s love and the riches of His kingdom as the Queen of Sheba was at Solomon’s wisdom and riches.

My prayer this week is taken from Solomon’s prayer, 2 Chronicles 6:14:  “Lord God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on the earth. You keep the covenant and show loyalty to your servants who walk before you with all their heart. (Help me to walk before you with all my heart, give me wisdom, and help me to tell others about you.). Amen."

(All scripture is from  the Common English Bible)

Christ in 1 Chronicles: Judge of the Earth

The book of 1 Chronicles was written around 450 – 425 B.C., most probably by the prophet Ezra.  When we concluded our study of 2 Kings, we saw God’s people divided into two separate kingdoms.  Israel, the northern kingdom was overthrown by the Assyrians, and Judah, the southern kingdom, was taken into captivity by the Babylonians.  This book focuses on the southern kingdom of Judah, mentioning the northern kingdom of Israel only when the story of Judah is affected by it.

After 70 years of captivity, Ezra led a group of the exiled Jews back to Palestine in 458 B.C.  It was important for those Jewish people to know who they were, their history, and the promises God had made to them through their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  It was important for the people to understand the importance of their heritage, their racial purity, the laws concerning worship, and the instructions God gave regarding the building of the temple and the priesthood.

As a part of their lesson about their heritage, the first nine chapters of the book are dedicated to the genealogies of the tribes of Israel.  At first glance, and to someone reading this book for the first time, these genealogies may be tiresome and seem irrelevant.  But if you believe, as I do, that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17), then you will know that there is a reason for all these genealogies.  First of all, each tribe (descended from the sons of Jacob) had different responsibilities and had been given land grants for different parts of the Promised Land.  For example, the Levites were given the responsibility of the office of priests and were not given land.  It was important for the descendants, therefore, to know where they would settle once they got back to Palestine. Secondly, it was important for the people to see how God cared for them throughout their entire history, even before Abraham.  It was important that they learn about how God blessed their obedient ancestors and how He punished the disobedient ones.  It was also important that they understand that they were chosen by God to be His people, different from all the other peoples of the earth, precious to Him, and protected by Him.  And finally, it is important for us today, as Christians, because we know that we have been adopted into God’s family.  We know that the promises He made to Abraham, to Moses, and to David apply to us, as well.  We can see how God knew and cared about each person in all those genealogies, so we can trust that He knows us, too, and that He cares for us just as much as He did them. 

 

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? (Psalm 8:3-4)

That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel. (Ephesians 3:6)

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31)

The second part of 1 Chronicles repeats the story of the anointing of King David and of his reign, including his victories in war, his bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, his desire to build the temple, and his disobedience in taking a census of his kingdom.  It also includes his final instructions to Solomon and to the people, warning them to be obedient to all of God’s laws and to worship Him only.  This history lesson was also very important to the Jewish people as they returned to Palestine.  Their failure to keep God’s laws was what caused them to be taken captive for 70 years in Babylon, so it was of the highest importance that they not repeat their past failures.

 

We and the Jewish people were taught all these things in the books of 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings.  So why are these same lessons taught again here in 1 Chronicles, written about 100 years later?  Do you think that perhaps it is because the fundamental lessons about obedience versus disobedience and blessings versus punishment might need to be repeated often in order for them and for us to learn their importance?  Remember, the people of Judah had been held in captivity for 70 years, so during that time they were highly influenced by those people who had taken them captive.  That influence included their religious practices, the worship of idols and the failure to worship God.  The same lessons are important to us today.  We live in a world that is full of influences that are contrary to the worship of God.  In some parts of the world, the worship of the One True God can lead to persecution, even to the point of death.  In other parts of the world, even where the idea of freedom of religion is championed, the uninhibited, unrestrained worship of God can lead to ridicule, intimidation, marginalization, and disdain.  No matter where we are, no matter the political or social atmosphere, we are never to allow our surroundings to influence us to the point that we fail to worship God and God alone.

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart! . . . How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. (Psalm 119:1-2, 9-11)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)

We can see Christ in each section of 1 Chronicles.  In the genealogies, we see his lineage all the way back to Adam.  It was His genealogy that qualified Jesus Christ, the son of Mary and stepson of Joseph, to be The Messiah, the King of Kings, The Lion of the Tribe of Judah.  That is why His genealogy is repeated in the New Testament books of Matthew and Luke.

And I will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever; and his throne shall be established forever. (1 Chronicles 17:14)

The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up a righteous descendant from David’s line, and he will rule as a wise king. He will do what is just and right in the land. (Jeremiah 23:5)

It is also important that the genealogy of Jesus Christ be traced back all the way to Adam.  He was called The Son of Man, The Second Adam.  Although He was fully God, at the same time, He was fully man, fully tested as all mankind is tested, tempted at we are tempted, yet without sin.  For that reason, He is the only One who could fulfill the promise that God made to the deceiver, the serpent, in the Garden of Eden:

So the Lord God said to the serpent:  “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3:14-15)

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:14-15)

Christ is also foreshadowed in the sixteenth chapter of 1 Chronicles in David’s song of thanksgiving.  This is the song he wrote to celebrate the return of the Ark of the Covenant to the tabernacle.

Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth. (1 Chronicles 16:33)

But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (Romans 14:10)

So this week, as I pray for you and for myself, I will refer to David’s song of praise.  I hope you will join me as I pray:

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. . . Save us, O God of our salvation; Gather us together, and deliver us from (danger and harm), to give thanks to Your holy name, to triumph in Your praise. (1 Chronicles 16:34-35)

All scripture is from New King James Version.

Christ in 2 Kings: A Prophet, Mighty in Deed and Word

Just as we saw a huge transition between 2 Samuel and David’s reign as King and 1 Kings when Solomon became King, we also see a huge transition between 1 Kings and 2 Kings.  Because of Solomon’s excesses displayed in 1 Kings, he lost his throne, allowed God’s people to be led astray spiritually, all leading to the downfall of the once magnificent, powerful kingdom of Israel.  In the second section of 1 Kings we saw how the kingdom was divided between Judah and Israel, each with its own king.  We also saw that God sent the prophet, Elijah, to call King Ahab to repentance.  As we come to 2 Kings, we see the last days of God’s prophet, Elijah’s ministry and then we see him (in chapter 2) taken up to heaven in a whirlwind.  Then we see the prophet, Elisha, taking up where Elijah left off warning God’s people to return to Him.

• In Elijah, we can see a foreshadowing of John the Baptist.  Just as Elijah rebuked King Ahaziah, so John the Baptist warned King Herod to repent:
  
  Ahaziah fell out the window of his second-story room in Samaria and was hurt. He sent messengers, telling them, “Go to Ekron’s god Baal-zebub, and ask if I will recover from this injury.” But the Lord’s messenger said to Elijah from Tishbe, “Go, intercept the messengers of Samaria’s king, and ask them, ‘Is it because there’s no God in Israel that you are going to question Ekron’s god Baal-zebub?  This is what the Lord says: You will never get out of the bed you are lying in; you will die for sure!’” So Elijah set off. (2 Kings 1:2-4)
  
  
  Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Herod’s brother Philip. That’s because John told Herod, “It’s against the law for you to marry her.” (Matthew 14:3-4)

• And Elijah and John the Baptist were similar in appearance:
  
  Ahaziah said to them, “Describe the man who met you and said these things.” They said to him, “He wore clothes made of hair with a leather belt around his waist.” Ahaziah said, “That was Elijah from Tishbe.” (2 Kings 1:7-8)
  
  John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. (Matthew 3:4)
• But most importantly, Elijah’s ministry was an introduction to the greater ministry of Elisha, who was to be a foreshadowing of The Great Prophet, Jesus Christ.  When Elisha asked Elijah (in the reference below) for “twice your spirit,” it was a reference to the double portion of an inheritance that would fall to a father’s oldest son.  Compare that with the greater ministry of Jesus, the only begotten Son of God:
  When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “What do you want me to do for you before I’m taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Let me have twice your spirit”. . .  The group of prophets from Jericho saw him from a distance. They said, “Elijah’s spirit has settled on Elisha!” So they came out to meet him, bowing down before him. (2 Kings 2:9, 15)
  
  I baptize with water those of you who have changed your hearts and lives. The one who is coming after me is stronger than I am. I’m not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. . .  When Jesus was baptized, he immediately came up out of the water. Heaven was opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and resting on him. A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him.”  (Matthew 3:11, 16-17)

Elisha was a great prophet, but his ministry was only a taste, a foreshadowing of the ministry of Jesus Christ, The Great Prophet, Mighty in Deed and Word. 

• Both Elisha and Jesus performed miracles, evidencing God’s Spirit and power. They both multiplied small amounts of food in order to feed their followers:

A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God some bread from the early produce—twenty loaves of barley bread and fresh grain from his bag. Elisha said, “Give it to the people so they can eat.” His servant said, “How can I feed one hundred men with this?” Elisha said, “Give it to the people so they can eat! This is what the Lord says: ‘Eat and there will be leftovers.’”  So the servant gave the food to them. They ate and had leftovers, in agreement with the Lord’s word. (2 Kings 4:42-44)

That evening his disciples came and said to him, “This is an isolated place and it’s getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said to them, “There’s no need to send them away. You give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here except five loaves of bread and two fish.” He said, “Bring them here to me.” He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves of bread and the two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed them and broke the loaves apart and gave them to his disciples. Then the disciples gave them to the crowds. Everyone ate until they were full, and they filled twelve baskets with the leftovers.  About five thousand men plus women and children had eaten. (Matthew 14:15-21)

• Both Elisha and Jesus healed men with leprosy:

Naaman, a general for the king of Aram, was a great man and highly regarded by his master, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. This man was a mighty warrior, but he had a skin disease. . .  Naaman arrived with his horses and chariots. He stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent out a messenger who said, “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored and become clean”. . .  So Naaman went down and bathed in the Jordan seven times, just as the man of God had said. His skin was restored like that of a young boy, and he became clean. (2 Kings 5:1, 9-10, 14)

Now when Jesus had come down from the mountain, large crowds followed him. A man with a skin disease came, kneeled before him, and said, “Lord, if you want, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do want to. Become clean.” Instantly his skin disease was cleansed.  (Matthew 8:1-3)

• Both Elisha and Jesus exhibited power over death – Elisha raised the young son of the Shunamite woman, and Jesus raised Lazarus.  Both the boy and Lazarus were raised to die again eventually, but Jesus exhibited His ultimate power over death when He was resurrected to life eternal, the same resurrection He promises to His believers.

The child grew up. One day he ran to his father, who was with the harvest workers. 19 He said to his father, “Oh, my head! My head!” The father said to a young man, “Carry him to his mother.” So he picked up the boy and brought him to his mother. The boy sat on her lap until noon. Then he died. She went up and laid him down on the bed for the man of God. Then she went out and closed the door. She called her husband and said, “Send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys so that I can hurry to the man of God and come back”. . .  Elisha came into the house and saw the boy lying dead on his bed. He went in and closed the door behind the two of them. Then he prayed to the Lord. He got up on the bed and lay down on top of the child, putting his mouth on the boy’s mouth, his eyes on the boy’s eyes, his hands on the boy’s hands. And as he bent over him, the child’s skin grew warm. Then Elisha got down and paced back and forth in the house. Once again he got up on the bed and bent over the boy, at which point the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. (2 Kings 4:18-22, 32-35)

Jesus was deeply disturbed again when he came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone covered the entrance.  Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said, “Lord, the smell will be awful! He’s been dead four days.” Jesus replied, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you will see God’s glory?”  So they removed the stone.  Jesus looked up and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me.  I know you always hear me. I say this for the benefit of the crowd standing here so that they will believe that you sent me.” Having said this, Jesus shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  The dead man came out, his feet bound and his hands tied, and his face covered with a cloth.  Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.” (John 11:38-44)

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb. Look, there was a great earthquake, for an angel from the Lord came down from heaven. Coming to the stone, he rolled it away and sat on it. Now his face was like lightning and his clothes as white as snow. The guards were so terrified of him that they shook with fear and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He isn’t here, because he’s been raised from the dead, just as he said. Come, see the place where they laid him. (Matthew 28:1-6)

The prophets Elijah and Elisha came on the scene during a time of wickedness and rebellion against God and His law.  They came preparing the way for John the Baptist and The Messiah.  Jesus told us that He will come again, during a time of wickedness and rebellion against God and His law.  Every day we are confronted with evil, corruption, and wickedness.  But we know that God is victorious over all lawlessness, hurt, and heartache, and He will one day set up His perfect kingdom on earth.  

I hope that this week you will celebrate with me and with Christians all over the world the resurrection of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, The Messiah, the King of Kings, The Lord of Lords.  I hope that you will join me in anticipation of His coming again in victory over all the world, making the kingdoms of this world as His footstool.  Join me in this prayer, taken from the prayer of King Hezekiah, found in 2 Kings 19:15-16, 19:

“Lord God of Israel, you sit enthroned on the winged creatures. You alone are God over all the earth’s kingdoms. You made both heaven and earth. Lord, turn your ear this way and hear! So now, Lord our God, please save us from (the power of evil and wickedness)! Then all the earth’s kingdoms will know that you, Lord, are the only true God.”

(All scripture references are from the Common English Bible.)

Christ in 1 Kings: Prince of Peace

Oh, how quickly things can change.  When we left 2 Samuel, we saw King David on the throne of Israel.  He wanted his son, Solomon, to carry on in his attempt to live a life and rule over the kingdom in a manner that would honor God.  In the first chapter of 1 Kings, we see that Solomon did, indeed, take his father’s throne.  And chapter 3 of 1 Kings shows us how much Solomon loved God, obeyed Him, worshipped Him, and offered huge sacrifices to Him.  His only deviation from God’s laws in the beginning of his reign was that he worshipped, not in the tabernacle in the presence of God (he had not yet built the temple), but in the high places where Abraham had built altars.  In spite of this deviation from His plan, God was apparently pleased with Solomon, since He offered to give him anything he asked for.  Solomon was humble, admitted his inability to rule such a huge kingdom without God’s help, and asked God for wisdom.  God honored Solomon’s request.  In addition, God also gave him all the things he did not ask for that other, lesser men might have asked – riches and fame.  He also promised that He would give Solomon a very long life if he remained obedient to His laws and commands.

Now Solomon loved the Lord by walking in the laws of his father David, with the exception that he also sacrificed and burned incense at the shrines. The king went to the great shrine at Gibeon in order to sacrifice there. He used to offer a thousand entirely burned offerings on that altar. The Lord appeared to Solomon at Gibeon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask whatever you wish, and I’ll give it to you.” Solomon responded, “You showed so much kindness to your servant my father David when he walked before you in truth, righteousness, and with a heart true to you. You’ve kept this great loyalty and kindness for him and have now given him a son to sit on his throne. And now, Lord my God, you have made me, your servant, king in my father David’s place. But I’m young and inexperienced. I know next to nothing. But I’m here, your servant, in the middle of the people you have chosen, a large population that can’t be numbered or counted due to its vast size. Please give your servant a discerning mind in order to govern your people and to distinguish good from evil, because no one is able to govern this important people of yours without your help.” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request. God said to him, “Because you have asked for this instead of requesting long life, wealth, or victory over your enemies—asking for discernment so as to acquire good judgment—I will now do just what you said. Look, I hereby give you a wise and understanding mind. There has been no one like you before now, nor will there be anyone like you afterward. I now also give you what you didn’t ask for: wealth and fame. There won’t be a king like you as long as you live.  And if you walk in my ways and obey my laws and commands, just as your father David did, then I will give you a very long life.” (1 Kings 3:3-14, Common English Bible)

It is in these early years of Solomon’s life that we can see the foreshadowing of Christ:

·   Solomon became the successor to David’s throne, just as we are told that Christ will reign on the throne of David.

Then Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established. (1Kings 2:12, New King James Version)

On his robe and on his thigh was written the name: “King of kings and Lord of lords.” (Revelation 19:16, Good News Translation)

·   David introduced Solomon as King by having him ride to Gihon on a donkey, where he was hailed as King.  Jesus made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, where he was greeted with shouts of “Hosanna.”  (The donkeys indicated that these two kings were coming in peace, not as conquerors in a time of war.)

King David said, “Bring me Zadok the priest, the prophet Nathan, and Benaiah, Jehoiada’s son.” They came to the king, who said to them, “Take with you the servants of your masters. Put my son Solomon on my mule and bring him down to Gihon. There Zadok the priest and the prophet Nathan will anoint him king over Israel. Blow the ram’s horn and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’” (1 Kings 3:32-34, Common English Bible)

So the disciples went and did what Jesus had told them to do: they brought the donkey and the colt, threw their cloaks over them, and Jesus got on. A large crowd of people spread their cloaks on the road while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds walking in front of Jesus and those walking behind began to shout, “Praise to David's Son! God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise be to God!” (Matthew 21:6-9, Common English Bible)

·   Solomon ruled during a time a peace.  Jesus will rule over a time of peace that will never end.

He ruled over all the lands west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and over all the kings west of the Euphrates. He had peace on all sides. (1 Kings 4:24, Common English Bible)

A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called, “Wonderful Counselor,”  “Mighty God,” “Eternal Father,” “Prince of Peace.” His royal power will continue to grow; his kingdom will always be at peace. He will rule as King David's successor, basing his power on right and justice, from now until the end of time. The Lord Almighty is determined to do all this. (Isaiah 9:6-7, Good News Translation)

·   Solomon married the daughter of Pharaoh.  Although the Israelites were commanded not to marry outside the nation of Israel, apparently the daughter of Pharaoh had accepted the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to be her One True God, since we see no admonition against this marriage, and since it was during this time that Solomon’s kingdom flourished.  The bride of Christ, His church, includes Gentiles, those who have accepted and worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our One True God.

Solomon became the son-in-law of Pharaoh, Egypt’s king, when he married Pharaoh’s daughter. He brought her to David’s City until he finished building his royal palace, the Lord’s temple, and the wall around Jerusalem. (1 Kings 3:1, Common English Bible)

“Come!” say the Spirit and the Bride. Whoever hears, echo, “Come!” Is anyone thirsty? Come! All who will, come and drink, drink freely of the Water of Life! (Revelation 22:17, The Message)

·   Solomon is said to be the wealthiest man to ever have lived.  The taxes he raised each year equaled almost 40,000 pounds of pure gold.  But the wealth of Jesus Christ exceeds even that of Solomon!  His wealth does not come from taxing His people, but just the opposite.  He makes us joint heirs with Him.

The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold…  So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. (1 Kings 10:14, 23, New King James Version)

For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills or upon the mountains where thousands are. I know and am acquainted with all the birds of the mountains, and the wild animals of the field are Mine and are with Me, in My mind. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are Mine. (Psalm 50:10-12, Amplified Bible)

The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, says the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:8, Amplified Bible)

·   Solomon did not tolerate threats to his reign.  When he found out about those who made false claims to the throne, he had them killed.  God will not tolerate false claims to His throne.  Although He is longsuffering because it is not His will that any should perish, He is also a jealous God and will not tolerate anyone or anything that would take His place of honor and glory.

Adonijah, Haggith’s son, bragged about himself and said, “I’ll rule as king myself”. . . So King Solomon sent Benaiah, Jehoiada’s son. He attacked Adonijah, and Adonijah died. (1 Kings 1:5, 2:25, Common English Bible)

“You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;  you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God…” (Exodus 20:3-4, New King James Version)

For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For “He has put all things under His feet.” (1 Corinthians 15:15-27a, New King James Version)

·   God promised David that his son, Solomon, would build the temple of God.  The temple Solomon built was magnificent.  But Jesus told us that He is preparing a place for us.  The place Jesus is building will far exceed the glory of Solomon’s temple.  Solomon’s temple was eventually destroyed, but the place Jesus is preparing for us will never be destroyed.  It will last for eternity.

So Solomon built the temple and finished it. And he built the inside walls of the temple with cedar boards; from the floor of the temple to the ceiling he paneled the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the temple with planks of cypress. Then he built the twenty-cubit room at the rear of the temple, from floor to ceiling, with cedar boards; he built it inside as the inner sanctuary, as the Most Holy Place. And in front of it the temple sanctuary was forty cubits long. The inside of the temple was cedar, carved with ornamental buds and open flowers. All was cedar; there was no stone to be seen. And he prepared the inner sanctuary inside the temple, to set the ark of the covenant of the Lord there. The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid it with pure gold, and overlaid the altar of cedar. So Solomon overlaid the inside of the temple with pure gold. He stretched gold chains across the front of the inner sanctuary, and overlaid it with gold. The whole temple he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the temple; also he overlaid with gold the entire altar that was by the inner sanctuary. (1 Kings 6:14-22, New King James Version)

In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:2-3, New King James Version)

He showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. The city had God’s glory. Its brilliance was like a priceless jewel, like jasper that was as clear as crystal. The wall was built of jasper, and the city was pure gold, like pure glass. The city wall’s foundations were decorated with every kind of jewel. The first foundation was jasper, the second was sapphire, the third was chalcedony, and the fourth was emerald. The fifth was sardonyx, the sixth was carnelian, the seventh was chrysolite, and the eighth was beryl. The ninth was topaz, the tenth was chrysoprase, the eleventh was jacinth, and the twelfth was amethyst.  The twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was made from a single pearl. And the city’s main street was pure gold, as transparent as glass.  Night will be no more. They won’t need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will shine on them, and they will rule forever and always. (Revelation 21:10b-11, 18-21, 22:5, Common English Bible)

Although Solomon was a king of peace, a man of great wisdom, and set out to honor God, eventually Solomon became weak and complacent.  Solomon’s disobedience was three-fold (at least).  In Deuteronomy 17, Moses instructed that any future king of Israel should not acquire many horses, should not have many wives, and should not amass excessive riches.  Solomon’s disobedience led to his downfall and to the downfall of Israel as a world power.  After his 40-year reign, Israel became a divided kingdom.  Eventually, God’s people were overcome by the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Persians.  The second part of the book of 1 Kings, beginning in Chapter 12, tells us about Solomon’s downfall, his death, and the succession of good and evil kings that followed him in a divided kingdom.

God showed us, through Solomon, how important it is to seek wisdom, to live in obedience to God, and to look to Jesus, the true Son of David, our King of Kings, the Prince of Peace.  I hope you will worship Him today, tomorrow, and always.  And I hope you will pray this prayer of confession and repentance, based on the prayer of Solomon, inserting your name as indicated, just as I will.

“Lord God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.  Yet regard the prayer of Your servant, (insert your name here), and (my) supplication, O Lord my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which (I am) praying before You today: “When (I) sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with (me), and when (I) return to You with all (my) heart and with all (my) soul,  then hear in heaven Your dwelling place (my) prayer and (my) supplication, and maintain (my) cause, and forgive (me) who (has) sinned against You, and all (my) transgressions which (I) have transgressed against You; and grant (me) compassion.”   (1Kings 8:23, 28, 46a, 48a, 49-50a, New King James Version)