1 Kings 5:12

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.