54. THE GLORY OF SOLOMON

"King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. "

Aim

To show how Solomon's fame spread throughout all countries and God was praised.

When Solomon asked God for wisdom, God promised not only wisdom but riches and honour as well, "so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days " (1 Kings 3:13). God was not slow in keeping His promise and before long all the world knew of Solo mon's fame.

1 Kings 4:20-34; 10

GOD BLESSES ISRAEL UNDER SOLOMON: 1 Kings 4:20-28; 10:16-29

When Solomon was king over Israel, the nation was at rest as God had promised (5:4). "Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree" (4:25). The people had multiplied "as the sand which is by the sea in multitude " (v 20). They were happy and content, for he ruled them wisely. Solomon's kingdom extended as far to the north as the River Euphrates and to the border of Egypt in the south. The surrounding nations were at peace with him and his fame spread far and wide, for Israel had become a mighty nation. Kings of other coun tries sent him presents € of gold and silver, of beautiful robes, of spices and horses (10:25). The men of Israel were busy too, constructing fine buildings according to his plans. He even built a great seaport and sent ships off to far countries, from which they brought back gold and silver, ivory, apes and peacocks (10:22). He built huge stables for the many horses and chariots that he brought from Egypt (10:26-29).

So Israel became wealthy and famous and more glorious than any other nation around her.

THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON: 1 Kings 4:29-34

At Gibeon God had promised to give Solomon wisdom, riches and honour. Everyone soon came to hear of his wisdom, for his wisdom ''ex celled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men'' (vv 30-31). God gave him wide knowledge of the things He had created. "He spake of trees from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl and of creeping things and of fishes" (v 33).

Solomon was a careful observer; he looked about him and took notice of all that he saw. He had wise words to say about what he ob served and these sayings were collected together and written in a book. We are told that "he spake three thousand proverbs and his songs were one thousand and five " (v 32). It was God who had given him this wisdom and He has kept many of these sayings on record for us in His Holy Word. We can read his words in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon, for they are recorded there so that we too might be wise.

So amazing was his God-given wisdom and knowledge that "there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom " (v 34).

THE VISIT OF THE QUEEN OF SHEBA: 1 Kings 10:1-13

About 2 000 kilometres south lay the kingdom of Sheba, a rich and prosperous country, famous for the many wonderful spices which were grown there. These famous spices were exported to countries far away by means of camel trains which passed through Israel. So it was that the Queen of Sheba came to hear reports of the glory of Israel and the amaz ing wisdom of the king. The stories were told so often that she could not resist going to find out for herself if what she kept hearing was really true. She thought she would put Solomon to the test with difficult ques tions. So she set off on the long journey to Jerusalem with a very great camel train bearing gifts fit for the king, gifts of "spices, and very much gold, and precious stones" (v 2).

She was most interested in what she had heard "concerning the name of Yahweh" (v 1), for it was quite clear that such wisdom came from God. When she put to him the hard questions she had prepared, he was able to give clear and wise answers to them all. God had hidden nothing from the king, for he could tell her all she wished to know. Then she was conducted on a tour of Jerusalem, to see the glorious Temple he had built for Yahweh, and his palace with its beautiful ivory throne of judgment (v 18), and all the other buildings he had constructed. She no ticed how contented the people were and how happily his servants at tended him. She admired the way his officers were dressed and was amazed at the abundance of food on his table. When she had viewed all these things, we are told that "there was no more spirit in her" (v 5) € it took her breath away! She could see that the reports she had heard could not possibly have described the splendour of it all.

"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. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually be fore thee, and that hear thy wisdom " (vv 6-8). Yet in all this she could tell that the glory had come from God and she praised the God of Israel. "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 9).

When she returned to her own land, Solomon let her take as a part ing gift "all her desire, whatsoever she asked" (v 13). So his fame and the fame of Yahweh, God of Israel, spread to all the ends of the world.

LESSON FOR US

God had blessed Solomon with riches, honour and wisdom as long as he obeyed Him and walked in His ways (1 Kings 9:4). He has prom ised, too, to bless all those who believe and obey His commandments. To such people who love Him, He has promised "glory, honour and peace, to every man that worketh good" (Romans 2:10). It is not hard to think of many ways in which God has blessed us. He has given us our daily food and clothes, loving homes, health and strength, and friends in the ecclesia. Most of all He has blessed us with a knowledge of the Truth. If we try hard to serve Him right up until Christ comes, then He will bless us with "eternal life " (Romans 2:7). That is the greatest blessing we can hope for.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

It is not hard to find in this lesson more ways in which the reign of Solomon was a type of the future reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. We can add the following points to our list:

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

1. What is meant by the quotation, "Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree "?

2. How far did Solomon s kingdom extend to the north and south?

3. What did Solomon buy from Egypt?

4. What presents did kings from other countries send him?

5. Where can we read some of Solomon s wise sayings?

6. Who came to test Solomon's wisdom with hard questions?

7. What did the Queen of Sheba think when she saw the glory of Solomon s kingdom for herself?

8. What did she notice about the people?

9. Whom did the Queen of Sheba praise when she heard Solomon € s wisdom and saw his glory?

10. What did Solomon give her as a parting gift?

Detailed Answers

2. Tell what it was like in Israel when Solomon was king.

3. (a) Why did the Queen of Sheba come to visit Solomon?

(b) What did she say when she had heard his wisdom and seen his glory?

Additional Answers

13. Tell five ways in which Solomon's reign is a type of the reign of Christ.