2 Chronicles 8:1

2 Chronicles 8:1 says, And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the Lord, and his own house,  In the twenty years after Solomon had built the temple and the house for the king, he had also continued to build up the nation of Israel during the time of peace.  He did not sit idly by but stayed busy in doing good works, even if he was mainly noted for his wisdom.  We cannot just sit idly by when we complete one task for God but need to be continually at work for him.  Verse two adds, That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.  Solomon had been having the cities that had been restored to him by Huram rebuilt and the people of Israel were living there.  As stated, the kingdom of Israel was being built up thorough rebuilding projects, and we need to rebuild the church if it falls into disrepair today.  Verse three continues, And Solomon went to Hamathzobah, and prevailed against it.  Solomon was also defeating other people who were close to Israel.  We aren't called on to defeat other people militarily, unless they go to war against us, but we do need to be expanding God's kingdom by spreading the gospel.  Verse four states, And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath.  We are then told that Solomon had Tadmor built in the wilderness, as well as other store cities.  Again, he was busy fortifying Israel in the time of peace.  We may never be at peace with the world, but we do need to fortify ourselves with God's word as we live our lives.  If we have free time, there is no better way to spend it than using it to grow in our Christian life.  Verse five adds, Also he built Bethhoron the upper, and Bethhoron the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars;  There is a continuation of the listing of the cities Solomon had built and the fact that they were walled cities.  Verse six continues, And Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion.  Solomon had many cities built in Israel and Lebanon, and he built them for different purposes, all having to do with being ready for war.  We are wise if we use times of peace and prosperity to build up the kingdom of God.  Verse seven says, As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which were not of Israel,  Verse eight adds, But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, them did Solomon make to pay tribute until this day.  Those who were not people of Israel who were left alive when their land was taken were forced to pay tribute to Solomon  We cannot expect to conquer other people to have them pay tribute to God, but we must give willingly to Him and share the gospel, and if they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, then they too should willingly contribute to getting God's work done.  Verse nine continues, But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and horsemen.  The people of Israel didn't do any work as servants but were men of war.  We need to be prepared to fight those who oppose God, but our main calling is to reach out to them with the gospel.  Verse ten concludes, And these were the chief of king Solomon's officers, even two hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people.  Solomon had his military organized, and we as the army of God need to be organized today, and God will call thoe who are to be in charge.