Solomon’s Glorious Reign

KEY VERSE: “King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.” —I Kings 10:23

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: I Kings 9:1-3; 10:1-7, 23, 24

DAVID HAD A very great desire to build a ‘house’ for the Lord, but was not permitted to do so, although he gathered much of the material for it. The construction of the Temple was under the jurisdiction of Solomon. It required seven years to complete the undertaking. When it was completed we are given an intimate look into Solomon’s heart of reverence for Jehovah and also of his great wisdom.

This is clearly revealed in his appraisal of the Temple as it stood in all its glory. With all the immense wealth that was represented in it, both of material and of labor, one less wise than Solomon might have reasoned that God would be under obligation to those who had built it for him, and would actually condescend to live in it. But Solomon knew better. He had a much higher appreciation of the great God of Israel than probably many of his day had attained.

Solomon’s prayer of dedication begins with I Kings 8:22. Beginning with verse 26, we quote: “Now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?”

Our lesson for today is, in part, the Lord’s reply to Solomon’s prayer of dedication. The Lord said to him, “I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.”—I Kings 9:3

Solomon’s wisdom was displayed in his organizational ability and in his peaceful foreign policy. I Kings 4 tells about his many ‘princes’ and ‘officers’, and their duties. The daily supply of food was furnished by “twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision.” (vs. 7) Each of these officers would thus have eleven months to plan and assemble the food supply for Solomon’s table for one month. Verse 29 reads, “God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the seashore.”

God gave Solomon ‘largeness of heart’, meaning that he had a desire to bless his subjects. He was hospitable and enjoyed having as many eat at his table as possible. Under his rulership, “Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.”—vs. 20

The typical nature of the kingdom of Israel continued under Solomon, for we read that he “sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father.” David was so well respected and honored as king that the nation gladly accepted the choice of Solomon as his successor, and “all Israel obeyed him. And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of King David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.”—I Chron. 29:19-24

Even more important, the Lord’s blessing was upon Solomon. The record is that “the Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.” (vs. 25) Jesus used the expression, “Solomon in all his glory.” (Luke 12:27) The Queen of Sheba, hearing of the wisdom, riches, and glory of Solomon, decided that she would journey to Israel and see for herself. Her report was that the half had not been told!—I Kings 10:1-13

Solomon’s peaceful rule foreshadowed the reign of Christ. We read concerning the period of his reign that “Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan [in the north] even to Beersheba [in the south].” (I Kings 4:25) The ‘vine and fig tree’ symbolism of security and prosperity is later used in the prophecy of Micah 4:1-4, outlining some of the blessings to reach all nations during the reign of Christ.

| Home Page | Table of Contents |