Impressive Details, But...

 

I Kings 7:23 Then he made the sea of cast metal. It was round, ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference. 24 Under its brim were gourds, for ten cubits, compassing the sea all around. The gourds were in two rows, cast with it when it was cast. 25 It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The sea was set on them, and all their rear parts were inward. 26 Its thickness was a handbreadth, and its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily. It held two thousand baths.

As we look at all the details of the temple built by Solomon and its furnishings, we are indeed impressed by their detail and glory.  It may go unnoticed that the chapter begins with the building of Solomon's palace, as if it may have been an interruption or distraction in the completing of the temple. He did indeed complete the temple with all its furnishings and do it will.  But what Solomon sitting comfortably in his palace before God's house was complete? Where his priorities already starting to shift? Have we become distracted?

Wall-to-Wall Angels

I Kings 6:23 In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olivewood, each ten cubits high. 24 Five cubits was the length of one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the length of the other wing of the cherub; it was ten cubits from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other. 25 The other cherub also measured ten cubits; both cherubim had the same measure and the same form. 26 The height of one cherub was ten cubits, and so was that of the other cherub. 27 He put the cherubim in the innermost part of the house. And the wings of the cherubim were spread out so that a wing of one touched the one wall, and a wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; their other wings touched each other in the middle of the house. 28 And he overlaid the cherubim with gold.

Now that Solomon had his kingdom firmly established, he set out to do the first priority passed down to him by his father David: build the temple. Before he started, God reminded him that the temple was not a magical house, but a reminder of His presence watching over them. It was part of His call to obedience. Though hardly anyone would see it, this picture of the two "wall-to-wall" cherubim was overwhelming. There were also cherubim in the walls outside the inner sanctuary. God is with us everywhere: to protect, to guide, to encourage us.  

Abundance

 

I Kings 4:25 And Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan even to Beersheba, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, all the days of Solomon. 26 Solomon also had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen. 27 And those officers supplied provisions for King Solomon, and for all who came to King Solomon's table, each one in his month. They let nothing be lacking. 28 Barley also and straw for the horses and swift steeds they brought to the place where it was required, each according to his duty. 29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, 30 so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.

Abundance. That is the word to describe the reign of Solomon over Israel. Preceding this passage, the chapter describes the abundance of good leaders, extensive territories, and daily provisions found in his kingdom.  There was a sense of security and stability that filled the air and impressed everyone. But the most impressive possession was the wisdom given by God.  If Solomon would have valued that above all the others, it would have served him and the kingdom well. What do you value?

Wisdom to Do Justice

I Kings 3:23 Then the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son that is alive, and your son is dead’; and the other says, ‘No; but your son is dead, and my son is the living one.’” 24 And the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So a sword was brought before the king. 25 And the king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other.” 26 Then the woman whose son was alive said to the king, because her heart yearned for her son, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means put him to death.” But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him.” 27 Then the king answered and said, “Give the living child to the first woman, and by no means put him to death; she is his mother.” 28 And all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice.

We have already seen that Solomon started off seeking to arrange his leadership with mercy and justice. What he immediately learned was that it would take wisdom beyond his own.  Looking back, it may seem obvious to us to pull a stunt like he did to draw out the true mother of the child, but if we are honest, rare is the person who would think to do so on his own.  The final statement here is telling: Solomon did not want to be wise to show himself off; his motive was to do justice. May we seek wisdom to do the same.

Justice and Mercy

 

I Kings 2:26 And to Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go to Anathoth, to your estate, for you deserve death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you carried the ark of the Lord God before David my father, and because you shared in all my father's affliction.” 27 So Solomon expelled Abiathar from being priest to the Lord, thus fulfilling the word of the Lord that he had spoken concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

As much as David set in order and stabilized as many things as possible in passing off the scene and passing on the baton to Solomon, there was a lot that still needed to be made right. Those in office had not been completely faithful to the king and changes needed to be made.  These involved the priest (above), the general (the paragraph following), his advisors, and even family members.  With each one Solomon sought to maintain a balance of justice and mercy, and each change was made accordingly.  What relationships do you need to "set in order", and what principles of justice and mercy apply to each?

Keeping Things Clear

I Kings 1:24 And Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne’? 25 For he has gone down this day and has sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king's sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26 But me, your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he has not invited. 27 Has this thing been brought about by my lord the king and you have not told your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

As the account of II Samuel concluded, David had done much to prepare for his transition out as king: wrapping up his military responsibilities, remembering those who had supported him, and confirming those who surrounded him. What he had not made clear was who was to succeed him.  With several sons to choose from, with different mothers and perspectives, this clouded the issue. As some were vying for power, this needed to be addressed, and those whom David had appointed as his inner circle confronted him about the problem.  David goes on to make it clear that Solomon was to be crowned, but the delay in doing so made the transition less calm than it could have been.  Communication is key. Keep things clear.

Not to Be Forgotten

II Samuel 23:24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 Shammah of Harod, Elika of Harod, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, 27 Abiezer of Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah, 29 Heleb the son of Baanah of Netophah, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the people of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah of Pirathon, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, 31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Bahurim, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai of Maacah, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 Hezro of Carmel, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.

After singing his song of praise to God for blessing his life, David began to remember the people who had so valiantly served with him, beginning with his three mighty men and all their victories.  But he did not leave out one of this thirty-seven faithful men. This is not a list we would ever memorize or even work on spelling and pronouncing them correctly, but they were important to David and to God. Their faithfulness was consistent and overwhelming to David. Of whom can you say the same in your life? Who can say it of you?