1 Kings 5:11–14

The friendship between Solomon and Hiram pictures a coming peace. In the millennium, Israel and the Gentile nations will be at peace. Gentiles will come to Israel's light and the wealth of the Gentiles will come to Israel (Isa. 60:3-5). God knew how to make Hiram friendly toward Solomon. He also knows how to turn the hearts of other Gentiles from hostility to friendship toward Israel, and He will do so in the latter days.

Of his own free will he had come to offer his services to Solomon's father, and his carpenters had built him a house (2 Sam. 5:11). The same willing spirit led him to send his servants to David's son because he had always loved his father (v. 1). How could the king of glory fail to welcome him, when he had always loved the king of grace?

"And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He promised him" (v. 12). He had received wisdom (1 Kings 2:6) to purify his kingdom by judgment. Then (1 Kings 3:12) he received it to judge rightly and so govern his people. Then (1 Kings 4:29) he received it to lead and teach the nations, the peoples, and the kings of the earth. Finally, he received wisdom to build the temple, the great work that was to mark his glorious reign.

Solomon pleaded that Israel was "so great." How could he carry the weight of guiding such a nation? Now compare two verses in 1 Kings 4. Verse 20 says, "Judah and Israel were as many as the sand by the sea." Verse 29 says, "God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore." Wisdom according to the need!

In the wilderness the Lord had chosen Bezalel of Judah and Oholiab of Dan for the work of the tabernacle (Ex. 35:30-35). Then the work of the tabernacle had fallen to the children of Israel alone. The people, entirely separated from the nations, could have no work in common with them. Under Solomon the scene changes: the nations are now reconciled, and they serve God together with His own people.

So Israel's God had Gentiles in mind, to share the blessing of His presence on earth among His people. "For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples" (Isa. 56:7). Just a hint, given in advance, of how large and wide God's grace is in this Gospel day.

The Lord could do without us, but He does not want to. He knows well that using us in His service gives joy to our hearts and blesses them. But we cannot do without Him. He is the one who gives life, food, strength, and growth… A man might own cedar and cypress trees and still die of hunger.

But the hope of gain made Tyre forget the brotherly covenant, and she handed the refugees over to cruel Edom. This is the prophet's charge against her (Amos 1:9). David and Hiram, king of Tyre, made a covenant. Solomon confirmed it, and Hiram called him "my brother."

We shall see later that Solomon, as the responsible king, was not content with what the Lord gave him. He later tried to increase it by himself and for himself, and he had to bear the consequences.

In 1 Kings 5, Solomon set out to begin the great work he had been called to — to build a house for the name of the LORD and a house for his kingdom. Then he raised a very large body of men from the people to cut the timber and shape the stone for the temple and for Solomon's palace. Of these 70,000 were carriers; 80,000 were quarry men and 3,600 overseers. In 1 Kings 5:13, we read of a levy of 30,000 men. We must count these as extra workmen, since Solomon sent them to Lebanon.

It was under Solomon that we see this remarkable combination of JEW and GENTILE in the work. In the same way it is CHRIST JESUS, risen and glorified, whom Solomon pictured, who builds the Temple of God. He has reconciled both Jew and Gentile to God in one body by the Cross, and He employs those who are His own, called out from both, in His service.

The labor force Solomon raised from Israel to send to Lebanon was large indeed: 30,000 men. Each man worked only one month out of three. Ten thousand went each month, then came home for two months. This was wise consideration for the laborers.

In verses 13-18 we watch the preparation work for the temple being organized. Solomon employs each man according to his own ability. His wisdom directs everything. His workers come to help Hiram's men with the wood for building, carrying loads and cutting stones out of the mountain.

There is good spiritual instruction for us in all this organization. God knows how to organize His work today without man's organization involved. The workers in the mountains of Lebanon used axes to cut down trees. They speak of evangelists sent by God to cut down the pride of men and so save them from their sins, so that they might be fit for use in His house. The logs were then put into the water. This pictures the faith that every convert must exercise. The logs may seem heavy enough to sink, but they do not: they float.

They clearly resented this forced labor. "Your father," they afterwards said to Rehoboam, "made our yoke grievous." They spoke of it, too, as a "heavy" yoke (1 Kings 12:4). There is no certain evidence that this was really so. Their labor was for the glory and security of the kingdom, and everyone was supposed to share in its prosperity. It is possible, though, that they were put to work on what served only for self-indulgence. When men leave the right way, as Solomon did, they soon become oppressive. That would give some ground for their discontent.

They said Solomon had made their yoke heavy. How sad a comment on the character of Solomon! He was a king of great wealth. But wealthy rulers nearly always use harsh means to increase their wealth instead of using it to ease the hardships of the people.