CSSA 2-3-06 - THE GLORY OF SOLOMON'S REIGN — IT'S WEALTH AND FAME

181. THE GLORY OF SOLOMON'S REIGN — IT'S WEALTH AND FAME

"Because Yahweh loved Israel for ever, therefore made He thee King"

1 Kings 7; 9; 10; 2 Chronicles 8 and 9.

SOLOMON THE BUILDER. 1 Kings 7:1-12; 1 Kings 9:10-24.

In addition to the building of the glorious Temple of Yahweh, (as described in lesson 5), Solomon built his own magnificent private palace and the House of the Forest of Lebanon. He built "cities for his chariots and cities for his horsemen" (v.19) and store cities. He also built a palace for Pharaoh's daughter who was one of his wives (ch. 7:8; 9:24). He established royal gardens and gardens containing artificial lakes, flower beds and orchards (Eccl. 2:4-6).

Solomon's Judgment Hall was large and lofty, its walls lined with cedar, and housing a large canopied throne of ivory overlaid with gold and flanked by lions. Here Solomon handed down his royal judgments (1 Kings 7:11), prefiguring the greater splendour and solemnity of Christ, of whom it is said that he shall have "a great white throne" of judgment (Revelation 20:11).

Adjacent to the Hall of Judgment and linked with the great "House of the Forest of Lebanon" was the Hall of pillars where interviews of business or state receptions were held.

Rows of massive square cedar pillars supported the roof of the "House of the Forest of Lebanon" (1 Kings 7:1-5). On the paneled walls hung 500 shields of gold (1 Kings 10:16, 17) used for the ceremonial proces­sions of the King, the spectacle of which so impressed the visiting Queen of Sheba. Even the drinking vessels and plates, displayed in this splendid house, were of gold or of "pure gold". As for silver, "it was nothing ac­counted of in the days of Solomon"(v. 21). An even greater glory will characterize the splendour of the royal buildings in the age to come (see Isaiah 60:11, 13, 17).

SOLOMON THE MERCHANT. 1 Kings 10:21-29.

Solomon controlled the north-south caravan routes, and with the aid of the Phoenicians he built a fleet of ships based at Ezion-geber to carry his refined copper and other commerce. This fleet made the trip southward to Ethiopia, the Arabian Yemen and India once every three years, bringing back gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks (1 Kings 9:26; 10:22).

His keen business sense is seen in his becoming the agent through whom the Hittites and Aramaeans had to negotiate in order to buy horses from Kue (Cilicia) or chariots from Egypt (1 Kings 10:28, 29 R.S.V.). These and other enterprises made silver as common as stone and cedar as sycamore, in Jerusalem. Every year 666 talents of gold (reckoned to be over 3 tons) flowed into Solomon's treasury (1 Kings 10:14).

THE QUEEN OF SHEBA VISITS SOLOMON. 1 Kings 10:1-13; 2 Chronicles 9:1-12.

The fame of Solomon soon spread throughout the empires of the world, and in the area of Sheba it was reported to the Queen of this wise King reigning in Israel. As more and more details of the glory of his Kingdom came to her she became more desirous of visiting it to see for herself the Kingdom of Israel and to speak with King Solomon.

Sheba is the area of land at the south eastern end of the Arabian Penin­sula, a place that was noted for its spices. Archaeologists tell us that it was a wealthy kingdom with many great and glorious buildings.

The Queen of Sheba decided to ask many difficult questions of Solomon to test him and see if what she had heard was true. To her astonishment she found that Solomon could answer all her queries (1 Kings 10:1-3). Not only did she speak with Solomon, but she saw the Temple, visited the house of Solomon, saw the people who served him; and also noted Solomon's wise government of Israel and the magnificent way everything was done. The whole of what she saw left her "breathless" (v.5). After all this she told Solomon that she had not heard half of all the glory of the Kingdom. She went on to say, "Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. Blessed be Yahweh thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because Yahweh loved Israel for ever, therefore made He thee king, to do judgment and justice" (v.8-9).

The Queen of Sheba gave Solomon many costly presents of gold, precious stones and spices, and returned to her own country.

A GREATER THAN SOLOMON. Luke 11:31.

When Jesus was speaking to the people in his day he reminded them how that the Queen of Sheba came to hear the wisdom of Solomon and gave glory to Yahweh because of what she saw. So likewise Jesus, who is greater than Solomon, has spoken of the wisdom of God, and there will be Gentiles who will hear and listen to him. Also as the Queen of Sheba came with gifts to Solomon, so nations will do again in the future, when Jesus will establish a glorious Kingdom in Jerusalem, and the Gentiles will bring their wealth to him (cp. Psalm 72:10; Isaiah 60:9).

So Solomon and his reign foreshadow (or give us a picture in a small way) of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. This is shown in the following comparison:

LESSON FOR US:

The golden age of Israel's history was due in part to the thorough preparation of David and more especially to the blessings of Yahweh in approval of Solomon's unselfish request for wisdom and understanding. Under a powerful yet wise administrator the extensive kingdom was con­solidated. Peace at home and abroad was experienced by a happy and secure people. Gentiles were attracted to the worship of Yahweh, all of which are features of an even greater Kingdom, to be established by the Son of God.

But this glory was to be short-lived. Solomon was promised wonderful blessings, but if the king and his people forsook Yahweh's command­ments, He would severely punish them. Solomon's wealth, weapons and women caused his tragic decline.

We too are promised the blessings of the Father if we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:24-34). If we avoid getting caught up with the cares of this life by a humble devotion to God in every aspect of our daily lives, we can look forward in joyous expecta­tion to participating in the glorious Kingdom of the greater than Solomon. Therefore let us "remember now our Creator in the days of our youth," and "fear God and keep His commandments" (Eccles. 12:1, 13).

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"The Story of the Bible" (H.P. Mansfield)—Vol. 4, No. 7-9.

"The Visible Hand of God" (R. Roberts)—Chapter 24.

"The Ways of Providence" (R. Roberts)—Chapter 18.

"Biblical Archaeology" (G. Ernest Wright)—Chapter 8.

"The Companion Bible" Appendix 68.

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. Compare the glory of Solomon's reign with that of the reign of Christ
2. Who visited Solomon — and what did she say about Solomon and his kingdom?
3. How did Solomon's kingdom become so magnificent and wealthy?

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. Describe the visit of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon.

2. Describe the wealth and fame of Solomon's reign.