1 Kings 4:20

1 Kings 4:20 says, Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.  The nation of Israel, which included both Israel and Judah, had grown so large it was like the sand of the sea in number and was at peace, eating, drinking and making merry.  Matthew Henry says this typifies the kingdom of God that we become a part of through putting our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-one adds, And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.  The kingdom of Israel was large, and the people brought Solomon presents and served him all the days of his life.  As Christians, we should bring gifts to God and serve Him all the days of our lives.  Of course, until we first give ourselves to Him by faith in Jesus Christ, we cannot become a part of His vast, everlasting kingdom and nothing we bring to Him until we do will matter.  Verse twenty-two continues, And Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,  Verse twenty-three concludes, Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl.  Solomon provided amble food for those who were part of his staff or served in his court, which was evidently quite large.  Matthew Henry says that the bread would have fed at least three-thousand people.  Spiritually, God will always make abundant provisions for His people.  Verse twenty-four states, For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.  Solomon had not only established a large kingdom, but he had established one that was at peace with those around him.  God has already established His kingdom, and when Jesus Christ returns those who are His followers will live at peace forever.  Verse twenty-five adds, And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.  All the people of Judah and Israel lived in peace and prosperity on their own individual land within the kingdom.  Of course, all the people in God's kingdom will never be divided into two groups, but we will all be united.  Verse twenty-six continues, And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.  Solomon had a vast army of chariots and horsemen.  God has a vast army of angels that can easily defeat any of His enemies when He sends them to do so and we never need to worry about being defeated spiritually.  Verse twenty-seven says, And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon’s table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing.  Solomon always had ample food at his table, not only for himself but for those there with him as well.  As already stated, God will always provide amply for the needs of His people.  Verse twenty-eight adds, Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge.  Solomon’s horses and camels were also fed amply.  Verse thirty-five continues, And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. Solomon had asked God for wisdom, and God gave it to him.  When we speak of the wisdom of Solomon, we need to acknowledge that his wisdom was a gift from God.  If we want true wisdom, we must look to God to give it to us.  Verse thirty states,  And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.  Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of the rulers of the countries around him because it came from God.  God will still give His people greater wisdom than those around them as long as they look to Him for wisdom.  Verse thirty-one adds, For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.  Once again we are told that Solomon’s wisdom was greater than all those around him, and God's wisdom will always be greater than that of all others.  Verse thirty-two continues,  And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.  We are told of the vast number of proverbs and songs that Solomon wrote, but we don't have all of them.  Likewise, we will never totally know all of the great wisdom of God, but we know enough to put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord and that is what really matters.  Verse thirty-three states, And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.  Solomon spoke wisely about many everyday things, just as God's wisdom should lead us to an understanding of this world and how He expects us to live in it.  Verse thirty-four adds, And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.  Other kings came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and people today need to come to God from everywhere and every position in life to hear the wisdom of God.  We as Christians should be witnessing so they will hear about it and come to hear it for themselves.