Lesson 22: Solomon Part 3

We saw in our last few studies that his kingdom was established and then we saw God bless him for his love and he was given wisdom, riches, and much more.

Tonight, we get to see tonight the hay days of king Solomon. We get to see where the blessings of God would not only take the Solomon but would also take the entire kingdom of Israel. We are actually going to cover 6 chapters tonight so obviously we are going to be skimming over all of it and looking at a couple of select verses as we go.

As we go through this we will be able to see the idea that Solomons kingdom gives a picture of what the

I. The Greatness of the Kingdom under Solomon - 4:1-34

A. The leadership

1. Him ministers vv.2-6

2. His Cabinet vv.7-19

Solomon had twelve cabinet members to aid in his reign (1 Ki. 4:7). Jesus will confer this upon his twelve disciples (Mt. 19:28).

B. His dominion vv.20-28

1. Philistia to Egypt

2. Tiphsah to Azzah

3. All kingdoms of Canaan

Solomon ruled “over all kingdoms” in the Holy Land area (1 Ki. 4:21), while Christ will rule over all kingdoms everywhere.

Revelation 11:15 AV

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

4. His servants and subjects were in submission

Solomon’s subjects served him as we will serve Christ 1 Ki. 4:21

Revelation 22:3 AV

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

5. There was peace in the kingdom

(1 Ki. 4:24), as Christ will usher in universal peace

Isaiah 2:2–4 AV

And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

6. The kingdom was safe

“every man under his vine”

I like how it says in v. 20 they were eating and drinking and making merry - emphasizing they were at peace. During Christ’s reign all will be safe

Jeremiah 23:6 AV

In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Micah 4:4 AV

But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.

C. His Influence vv.29-34

I think Solomon was great in this. He had many gifts. He used all of his gifts for the promotion of his kingdom and his people.

That is the responsibility of all of us. It doesn’t matter how many talents, abilities or gifts we have. What matters is whether or not we use our for God’s glory.

Solomon did that.

1. Excelling Wisdom

vv.29, 31-33

This included understanding.

We covered his wisdom in the last study but let me mention two things:

Wisdom is something to be sought after:

Proverbs 17:24 AV

Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

But also, it is another way he illustrates Christ and certainly in his new kingdom.

Isaiah 29:14 AV

Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

3. Largeness of Heart

He cared - cared for his people, he was willing to serve them and promote them.

But don’t mistake that his largeness of heart meant he was a push over or did not have requirements for people. He worked his people hard. He took care of them but worked them. No other king built like he did in his day.

Remember, he was the one that wrote most of the Proverbs that we read and study. They are full of wisdom about diligence, effort, strength and honor.

Solomon is certainly a type of Christ in this because Christ cares for yo more than anyone ever will.

Matthew 11:28–30 AV

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

1 Peter 5:7 AV

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

4. His renown

1 Kings 4:34 AV

And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.

I think there is something here we can learn from Solomon as well.

I don’t think he was ever pursuing his own promotion - certainly not early on. But he was

II. The Buildings

A. The Temple 5:1-6:38

1. The staging

We already have looked at in these studies the fact that David had a heart to build the temple, but was not allowed because he was bloody man.

But he did all that he could to prepare. He had the nation prepare for it as well as making his own contributions personally.

2. The construction

Again we see his wisdom in this as well.

Men were away from their homes for extended periods of times. So, to be more effective, he had them come for a month at a time to cut the lumber needed.

80,000 were working on the lumber. 70,000 were burden bearers including the hewing of the stones out of the quarry. There were also 3,600 foreman.

It was begun in May during Solomon’s fourth year and completed in November of his eleventh year, thus making a total of seven years (1 Ki. 6:38).

It was exactly twice the size of Moses’ tabernacle in length and width.

The floors and walls were made of stone covered with cedar and overlaid with gold (1 Ki. 6:16, 21, 22).

This is one of the most amazing things - it was built without the sound of hammer, axe, or any other tool (1 Ki. 6:7).

It had ten lampstands and ten tables of shewbread (1 Ki. 7:49), as opposed to one each in Moses’ tabernacle.

Solomon paid King Hiram of Tyre nearly a million bushels of wheat and some 840 gallons of pure olive oil for the timber alone from the forest of Lebanon to construct the Temple shell (5:8–11).

B. Solomon’s houses 7:1-12

Chapter 7-8

C. Dedication of the Temple - 8:1-9:9

1. A review

Solomon briefly reviews the historical circumstances which led up to this glad day (1 Ki. 8:12–21; 2 Chron. 6:1–11).

2. The supplication

(1 Ki. 8:22–53; 2 Chron. 6:12–42). Solomon prays that the influence of this beautiful Temple will extend itself in a threefold manner:

a. The temple’s and the individual

(1 Ki. 8:31, 32).

That sinners will be judged.

That the righteous will be justified.

b. The and the nation

That its sins might be forgiven (vs. 33–35).

That its land might be healed (vs. 36, 37).

That Israel might be preserved in while on foreign grounds (vs. 44–50).

An influence over other nations(vs. 41–43).

Look at 2 Chronicles 7.

3. God’s response

Look at 2 Chronicles 7:13-15.

2 Chronicles 7:1–3 AV

Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house. And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

but also we read i 2 Chron 7:13-15 we sum up God’s response.

2 Chronicles 7:13–14 AV

If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

E. The results of good leadership

1 Kings 8:66 AV

On the eighth day he sent the people away: and they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people.

III. The Testimony of a Queen - 10:1-9

Who was she

Not much more is known.

2 Chronicles 9 references this same account and then we see in Matthew 12 that she is called the queen of the South.

Queen of the South

Matthew 12:42 AV

The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

A. All her questions are answered

Not only satisfactorily but far above her expectations.

As a matter of fact everything was beyond her expectations.

B. What she had viewed

His wisdom

His house

The meals

The services

The ministers

The procession

C. Her reaction

No spirit left in her

1 Kings 10:5 AV

And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.

And there was a confirmation that she saw what the wisdom from God.

1 Kings 10:6 AV

And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.

D. The Result - She praised God

1 Kings 10:9 AV

Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.

IV. An Inventory of the kingdom’s gains vv.10-29

From Wilmingtons guide to the Bible comes this list.

He had amazing quantities of gold.

from Hiram he acquired three and a half million (9:14)

from his navy, 420 talents of gold (9:27, 28)

from the Queen of Sheba, three and a half million (10:10)

from yearly taxes and revenue, upwards of 20 million (10:14)

He owned 40,000 horses (4:26).

He owned 1400 chariots, each costing $400 apiece (10:26).

He commanded 12,000 cavalrymen (10:26).

He owned an extensive fleet of ships (1 Ki. 9:26–28; 10:22; 2 Chron. 8:17, 18).

He built a huge ivory throne and overlaid it with pure gold. It had six steps and a rounded back with arm rests. It was surrounded by twelve lions, two resting on each step (10:18–20).

He constructed an iron-smelting industry at Ezion-Geber (1 Ki. 9:17).

Next week we are going to see all of this means little, when you are in disobedience to God.