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This was a more technical chapter, reporting Solomon’s
communication with King Hiram from Tyre requesting assistance in supplying
building materials and a gifted contractor for the building of the Temple and
eventually his own palace. I noticed a
lot of I’s in his letter: “I
will build … I will give … but he
also rightly acknowledged God: “Our God
is greater than all gods. But no one can
really build a house for our
God. Not even the highest of heavens can
hold Him.”
Hiram seemed to have a good grasp of how God fit in with all
of this, despite the fact that he wasn’t an Israelite. He was perhaps influenced by his friendship
with Solomon’s father, David: “Solomon,
because the Lord loves His people, He
chose you to be their king. Praise
the Lord, the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth! He has given King David a wise son, one with
wisdom and understanding, who will build a temple for the Lord and a palace for
himself.”
Solomon counted the foreigners in Israel – likely the
descendants of the defeated Canaanites and possibly the foreigners who’d traveled
with the Israelites from Egypt – who would be used as slave labor to build the
two buildings. God had decreed that the Israelites were not to be counted, but not the foreigners. His father David had erred in counting the
people.
Solomon made a large commitment of grain, oil, and wine to
trade for the lumber Hiram would supply.
What is surprising is the actual size of the building itself versus the
number of years it took to build it and the staggering cost of the materials.
Father, I too seek wisdom and discernment from You. Help me to be wise in the use of Your
resources and enable me to help others with them rather than focusing on myself.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
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