1 Kings 5:7

Hiram rejoiced greatly when he heard the words of Solomon. He considered himself honoured to be able by his service to contribute to the glory of the God of Israel. This Gentile king said, "Blessed be the LORD this day." He looks on the Lord, the God of Solomon, as his God. He thanks Him for giving David a son to reign over His people. Love for David, the rejected king, leads his soul to value the king of glory, to value God Himself, and to value the people of God.

In Solomon's day Tyre had not yet taken on the pride that Isaiah and especially Ezekiel condemned, a pride that went so far as to make a god of human intelligence. Hiram, the friend of David, still ruled this people. 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 Samuel 5:11). The same willing spirit led him to send his servants to David's son because he had always loved his father. How could he fail to be welcomed by the king of glory when he had always loved the king of grace?

There were no snags whatever in this arrangement. All was done in thorough concord. Hiram rejoiced greatly at Solomon's message. He showed no envy, but joy that the Lord had given a wise king to rule over Israel.

The fruit of a rejoicing heart is entire devotion to the service of Christ. "I am ready to do all you desire" (v. 8). And after all, what is Hiram's service in comparison to that which Solomon does for him? Sometimes what we do for the Lord looks like something. The cedars of Lebanon and all the effort to transport them were no little thing. But Solomon uses many other materials to build the temple besides Hiram's cedars and cypresses. The great costly stones and the gold overlaying everything mattered more to the foundation and the glory of the building than the products of Lebanon. Still, Solomon grants Hiram's desire because Hiram grants his, and Hiram's desire is food for his household... The Lord could do without us, but He does not want to. He knows well that using us in His service brings joy and blessing to our hearts. But we cannot do without Him. It is He who gives life, nourishment, strength, and growth.

His throne is established, and the glory of the son of David abounds. The Gentiles now are at Solomon's disposal — the king of Tyre stands for the world and its desirable things. The Gentiles give themselves gladly to carrying out the plans of the king of Israel, and to his service in building the house of the Lord.

The Gentile has the privilege of a small share in building that house. He does not have the readiness and free giving of an Israelite, but he has a place there — and we may say a blessed place. And a more blessed place is yet to come. For that house is to be a house of prayer for all nations (Mark 11:17). The presence of king Hiram's labourers may have prompted the psalmist's prophecy that the people of Tyre would be there with a gift (Psalm 45:12)... The Gentile's place was subordinate, but participating in Israel's blessedness.