13 April

Bible in 365 Days

1 Kings 3-5

1 Kings 3

The first brief paragraph in this chapter reveals at once Solomon's strength and weakness. He was strong, for he loved the Lord and walked in the statutes of his father David. However, there was the other side of his nature, to which he yielded in undue measure, even at the beginning. His affinity with Pharaoh, and his marriage with his daughter, while politically astute, was a vital mistake from the standpoint of his relationship with God and the divine purposes. It is at once seen how he compromised in that he sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. The perils of mixed motives and a divided heart are terrible indeed.

Early in his reign, Jehovah appeared to him in a dream. With that appearance came Solomon's great opportunity, both to manifest himself, and to obtain the best. His choice was characterized by great wisdom, as it revealed his consciousness of personal incapacity for all the work devolving on him. God's answer to his request was full of gracious and oveewhelming kindness. He gave Solomon what he asked, and added the things he might have chosen, yet showed his wisdom in passing by.

Long life, wealth, and victory are all good when they come as bestowment from God. Should a man seek them from selfish motives rather than to fulfil the divine purpose, they would in all probability prove to be curses rather than blessings.

In this chapter Solomon's choice is followed by a beautiful picture in which he is seen exercising the gift for which he had asked and which God had granted to him.

1 Kings 4

Solomon set himself to a careful organization of his kingdom. The system of government as here set forth is characterized by order, and, indeed, is in many ways remarkable. The king was supreme in authority. He gathered around him, however, a company of officers of state, each having his own department, for which he was held responsible.

To express them in the language of today, we might say that they consisted of a high priest, two state secretaries, a national historian, and a commander-in-chief, two other priests, a chief of staff, a personal secretary, who, in this case, was also the king's friend, and a chancellor of the exchequer. Beyond this, were twelve appointed officers, each having his own district, in which he was the representative of the king. The principal duty of each officer was to gather provision for the king's household for one month in the year.

These were the days of the nation's greatest material prosperity. The people lived in merriment, and dwelt safely beneath their own vines and fig trees.

The chapter ends with a declaration of the remarkable learning of Solomon. He was a philosopher, as witness his three thousand proverbs, which are still preserved for us; and a poet of impassioned utterance, as the canticles reveal. Moreover, he was a naturalist, according to this record, being interested in and acquainted with trees, from the cedar to the hyssop, and also with life in all its higher developments.

1 Kings 5

Solomon turned his attention to building the Temple immediately after he had set his kingdom in order. The first movement in this direction was the treaty with Hiram, and sending relays of men to the forests and quarries to prepare the timber and the stones for the structure. This treaty with Hiram was the result of a legacy of friendship which David had bequeathed him.

It is evident that Solomon appreciated the real purpose of his coming to the throne as he declared that he purposed in his heart to build this dwelling place for God in accordance with the divine word spoken to his father. The time was now opportune, for the nation was at peace, Solomon's own description of conditions being very significant, "But now the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary, nor evil occurrence."

The greatness of the work thus undertaken is revealed by the final paragraph in the chapter, with its account of the enormous amount of labor employed.