1 Kings 6:1

1 Kings 6:1 says, And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.  It had been four-hundred and eighty years since the people of Israel had been set free from Egypt, during the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, that the building of the Temple began.  A lot of time had passed since God had delivered them from Egypt, but Solomon hadn't waited long to start building the Temple.  We should never wait long before starting to do what God has called us to do.  Verse two adds, And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits.  We are told the size of the Temple, the house of God.  Matthew Henry points out that this was about twice the size of the Tabernacle, since the size of the nation of Israel had grown.  Verse three continues, And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house.  Next, we are told of the size of the porch of the Temple.  Verse four states, And for the house he made windows of narrow lights.  The Temple had narrow windows for light.  Matthew Henry says they were broad within and narrow without, which meant that we should look inward at ourselves more than outward at others.  Verse five adds, And against the wall of the house he built chambers round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple and of the oracle: and he made chambers round about:  Solomon had chambers made in the walls for use of the priests, according to Matthew Henry.  Church buildings today should be functional and not just for show.  Verse six adds, The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad: for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house.  There were three chambers, which were not attached to the walls of the Temple, which Matthew Henry says could have weakened it.  Verse seven adds, And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.  The stones for building the Temple were precut so that no tool was needed to make them fit together.  When Jesus Christ destroyed the Temple, or died for our sins, He brought us salvation if we choose to accept it, and it is perfect.  We cannot reshape salvation to make it conform to our desires.  Verse eight continues, The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber, and out of the middle into the third.  There was a door and a winding staircase to access the middle chamber which was on the right side of the Temple and you entered the third fom it.  Verse nine states, So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar.  When the Temple walls had been completed, Solomon had them covered with cedar.  Verse ten adds, And then he built chambers against all the house, five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.  The chambers were also covered with cedar. I believe this would have been more to enhance the look of the Temple than to add to its strength.  I also believe that we today need to be careful that we don't become more concerned about the look of church buildings than we are about their function.

1 Kings 5:10

1 Kings 5:10 says, So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.  Hiram fulfilled his promise to Solomon by providing him with all the the cedar and fir trees he desired, just as we should fulfill our promises to other people.  Verse eleven adds, And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.  Solomon also fulfilled his promise to Hiram, providing him with wheat and oil every year.  Verse twelve continues, And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.  As pro4mised also, God gave Solomon wisdom and he lived at peace with Hiram because they had a treaty between them.  If we want wisdom, we must look to God for it.  Also, we should do our best to live at peace with those around us as long as we don't have too disobey God's laws to do so.  Verse thirteen states,  And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.  Solomon raised a levy, or more accurately drafted thirty-thousand men.  Verse fourteen adds, And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy.  These men were sent to Lebanon in shifts to help with the cutting of the trees and were under the supervision of Adoniram.   We don't get drafted to do God's work, but we should willing do whatever He calls us to do.  There will always be others to share in the work.  Verse fifteen continues, And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;  There were seventy=thousand who carried the logs and eighty thousand that cut them.  Matthew Henry says these were captives and not Israelites which is why we were earlier told about the thirty-thousand who were Israelites.  Of course,  we have no captives to do God's work today, so we as Christians must be willing to do the hard work ourselves and not just the easier tasks.  Verse sixteen says, Beside the chief of Solomon’s officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.  There were also thirty-three hundred men who supervised the work.  We need God's work to be done orderly, so we should always expect Him to place people in positions to oversee it, and if we are not a part of that supervisory group, we should do what they request.  Verse seventeen adds, And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.  In addition to the trees, Solomon had great stones brought to lay the foundation of the Temple.  We need to build our life, the temple of the Holy Spirit, on the rock, our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse eighteen concludes, And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house. Hiram and Solomon’s men worked together to get things ready to build the Temple, and we as Christians should work together today to build God's church.  This is not a building but the people who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.  Also, had there not been peace at this time, Solomon wouldn't have been able to supply the needed workers.  If Christians are a war with one another, we cannot effectively do the work of God. 

1 Kings 5:1

1 Kings 5:1 says, And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.  Hiram, who was king of Tyre add had loved David, heard that Solomon had been anointed king in David’s place and sent his servants to him.  When we hear that Jesus Christ has been anointed king forever, we need to come to Him personally.  We cannot send anyone else for us.   Verse two adds, And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,  Verse three continues, Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.  David asked Hiram if he knew of David's desire to build God a house, or temple, but had been denied the right to do so because of all the wars he had fought.  We may have a desire to do something for God and God deny us the right to do so, but if it is something that God wants, He will call someone else to do it.  Verse four states, But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.  Solomon then told Hiram that unlike David, who was constantly at war, that God have given him peace all around.  We as Christians may always be at war with the world, but through faith in Jesus Christ we already have everlasting peace spiritually.  Verse five adds, And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.  Solomon said he now proposed to build a house dedicated to the name of God, as God had told David his father would happen.  We really aren't told that Solomon ever asked God about this, and we should never make decisions concerning God based on what other people say without talking to Him.  This is just a point to ponder, but did God really want a physical temple, or was He referring to Jesus Christ, a descendant of David, Who referred to Himself as the Temple?  We are told that God does not dwell in temples made by man, so did He really want one or did He simply allow one to be built?  Verse six continues, Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.  Solomon  then ssid he commanded Hiram, who was also a king but evidently inferior to Solomon's kingship according to Matthew Henry, to supply him with cedars of Lebanon to build the Temple from.  Solomon also said that he would provide people to help, but that the people of Israel were not as skilled in cutting timber as the Sidonians were.  We are called to help establish God's kingdom today, but Jesus Christ is the Master Craftsman.  We must look to Him for guidance.  Verse seven declares, And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.  When Hiram heard what Solomon  had to say, he didn't get resentful at Solomon's attitude, but rejoiced greatly and said that God should be blessed for giving David such a wise son. When Jesus Christ calls us to do a work for Him, we should never be resentful,  but should rejoice that the Heavenly Father gave us such a wise Son to follow.  Verse eight adds, And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.  Hiram sent word to Solomon that he would do as Solomon had asked and provide both cedar and fir lumber to build the Temple.  All we can do is give God what He asks of us if we are followers of Christ.  We are to use what He blesses us with to do His work.  Verse nine adds, My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.  Hiram said he would float the wood down to Solomon, and asked that Solomon provide food for his household.  Solomon should not have expected Hiram to provide everything with no cost to Solomon himself.  Likewise, when doing God's work today, if we need help, I believe that He will provide it, but we must still be willing to give to paying the cost of the work.  Jesus Christ gave His life for us, which was the ultimate cost for our salvation, so we should be willing to give our life to Him for His work to be done in the world today, and we can be certain that He will supply our needs.

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. 

1 Kings 4:7

1 Kings 4:7 says, And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision. The next several verses simply tell us of the twelve people that Solomon placed in various positions of authority in his kingdom, to provide food for his household, each for a month during the year.  The responsibility was spread out, just as the responsibility for doing God's work should be today..  Verse eight adds, And these are their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim:  The twelve are listed by name and the region they represented.  All the people of Israel were expected to support the king as he ruled over them.  Verse nine continues, The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Bethshemesh, and Elonbethhanan: Verse ten states, The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher:   Verse eleven adds,1Ki4:11 The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife:  Verse twelve continues, Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam:  Verse thirteen says, The son of Geber, in Ramothgilead; to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls and brasen bars:  Verse fourteen adds, Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim:  Verse fifteen continues, Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife:  Ahimaaz became Solomon's son-in-law.  Verse sixteen states, Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth: Verse seventeen adds, Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar:   Verse eighteen continues, Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:  Verse nineteen concludes,  Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer which was in the land.  These were the twelve men appointed over the different areas that were provide for the kings needs.  We have followers of Christ throughout the world today, and we should be working together to provide for the work of God.

1 Kings 4:1

1 Kings 4:1 says, So king Solomon was king over all Israel. Solomon was now established as king over all Israel.   Jesus Christ should likewise be accepted as King of all who have accepted Him as their Savior, and as long a we allow Him to be Lord of our life He will be.  Still, just as the people of Israel often argued about who was king, we as Christians too often argue about Who is  King or Lord of our life.  We let petty disputes or minor theological differences divide us.  We need to be united in Christ.  Verse two adds, And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest,  The next few verses tell us  who Solomon had in positions of power under him, starting with Azariah the son of Zadok the priest as a prince, or a person in power under Solomon.  This would have been more of a governmental position than a church one, and we need to do our best to ensure that. Christians are in places of service in the government today.  Verse three continues,  Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder.  These were administrative personnel, and I believe that in the government and the church today, we need the people that God has called serving in all the positions, especially in the church.  I also believe that too often God calls someone and they refuse to answer His call.  Verse four states, And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:  As Christians, we need people that God has chosen in positions of leadership today, beginning with the pastor in the church from a spiritual perspective I believe.  Verse five adds, And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king’s friend:  Then we have those who were in positions of authority over Solomon's army.  Since we call ourselves a Christian nation, it would be wonderful if all the people in the government were Christians, but we have now stated that morality doesn't really matter in our governmental leaders.  I personally believe this is wrong.  Verse six continues, And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.  Solomon had people in charge of his household and the tribute, or taxes we might say today.  In the church collectively and the individual congregations as well, we need God's people in charge of His house, including the tithes and offerings.   I believe God expects His house and His people to be organized and unified in serving Him.

1 Kings 3:16

1 Kings 3:16 says, Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.  Two women who were said to be harlots came to Solomon.  Matthew Henry points out that they came before Solomon themselves, without a lawyer, even though they were women and likely never were married.  When we come before God on judgment day, we either come alone or with Jesus Christ as our Advocate.  Verse seventeen adds, And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.  One of the women said she lived in a house with the other woman and had given birth to a child.  Matthew Henry said they lived in a public house and not one that belonged to either.  Since in that day and age, women had little standing and needed a husband or father to represent them, and they seemed to have neither.  We, male or female, need someone to represent us before God, and Jesus Christ is the only One Who can.  Verse eighteen continues, And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.  The woman said that while they were alone I the house that three days later the other woman had a baby.  This would have further indicated that they had no one to help them.  As Christians, we should never be that much without help if we need it and should do our best to make sure that no one else is either, no matter their status in the world.  Verse nineteen states, And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it.  The woman complained by saying that the second woman's child died the night he was born because the woman had lain down on top of him.  She was basically blaming the woman for the child's death and we may find that others place the blame on us if they find themselves in a bad situation, even if we aren't responsible.  Of course, what she was saying may have been true, just as at times we may be responsible for the bad things happening in our lives.  Verse twenty adds, And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.  She then said that at midnight, the other woman took her son and left the dead child with her.  Verse twenty-one continues, And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.  She then said the next morning when she was going to nurse her child, she discovered that the child was dead but that it wasn't her child.  I have to wonder about how she slept through all of this.  Of course, we still aren't told if she was the real mother or not.  Matthew Henry points out this was a difficult case, because there was no one close enough to the women who could help distinguish whose child it was.  Sometimes, we may not find an easy answer to difficult situations in life because no one knows who is telling the truth.  Verse twenty-two concludes, And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.  The other woman said the first one was lying and the child was hers, and they began to argue.  Only one could be telling the truth.  People will still lie to get what they want today.  Verse twenty-three declares, Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.  Solomon pointed out that they were both making the same claim so it would be impossible to tell who was telling the truth.  Sometimes today when there are no facts to help determine the truth, it is nearly impossible to decide who is lying and who is telling the truth.  Verse twenty-four continues, And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.  Verse twenty-five says, And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.  Solomon asked for a sword and proposed cutting the child in half and giving half to each woman.  This would have certainly settled the dispute, but it wouldn't have settled the matter of who the child really belonged to.  We need to pray that we never settle disputes between people without really finding out the truth.  Verse twenty-six adds, Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.  One of the women, and we aren't told which one, out of love for her son, told Solomon to give the child to the other woman but not to harm him.  She would have rather give up her child than have him harmed.  This is the type love that we need from mothers and also fathers today.  The other woman said, no, divide the child.  She had just been given what she claimed to want, the child, but she really had no interest in the child.  She seemingly just didn't want the other woman to have her son.  Some people really don't want what we have, but they just don't want us to have it.  Verse twenty-seven continues, Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.  When we first read of Solomon's proposal, we might have thought that he hadn't gained much wisdom from God, but we now see that he had.  He knew that the real mother would not agree to have the child killed, so he knew that the one willing to give him up so that he would live was the real mother.  At times, we may have to act out of love in a situation and wait for God to bring about the best outcome, even if it seems that it is going to cost us.  Solomon said give the boy to the one who was willing to give him up, because she was the mother.  If we are willing to give up our claim in certain situations because the outcome would cost too much if we didn't, we need to put our faith in God bringing about the best result ultimately and simply let it go.   Verse twenty-eight concludes, And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.  When the people of Israel heard what Solomon had done, they feared him, because they saw that the wisdom of God was in him.  This would seem to be a strange reason to fear anyone, unless we are doing something wrong.  We need to pray that we will be known for having the wisdom of God in us, and we should never fear those who do,