February 3, 2022

1 Kings 4 (HCSB)
1 King Solomon ruled over Israel, 2 and these were his officials: Azariah son of Zadok, priest; 3 Elihoreph and Ahijah the sons of Shisha, secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud, court historian; 4 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, in charge of the army; Zadok and Abiathar, priests; 5 Azariah son of Nathan, in charge of the deputies; Zabud son of Nathan, a priest and adviser to the king; 6 Ahishar, in charge of the palace; and Adoniram son of Abda, in charge of forced labor. 7 Solomon had 12 deputies for all Israel. They provided food for the king and his household; each one made provision for one month out of the year. 8 These were their names: Ben-hur, in the hill country of Ephraim; 9 Ben-deker, in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elon-beth-hanan; 10 Ben-hesed, in Arubboth (he had Socoh and the whole land of Hepher); 11 Ben-abinadab, in all Naphath-dor (Taphath daughter of Solomon was his wife); 12 Baana son of Ahilud, in Taanach, Megiddo, and all Beth-shean which is beside Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, as far as the other side of Jokmeam; 13 Ben-geber, in Ramoth-gilead (he had the villages of Jair son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, and he had the region of Argob, which is in  Bashan, 60 great cities with walls and bronze bars); 14 Ahinadab son of Iddo, in Mahanaim; 15 Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he also had married a daughter of Solomon—Basemath); 16 Baana son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth; 17 Jehoshaphat son of Paruah, in Issachar; 18 Shimei son of Ela, in Benjamin; 19 Geber son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan. There was one deputy in the land of Judah. 20 Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea; they were eating, drinking, and rejoicing. 21 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines and as far as the border of Egypt. They offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. 22 Solomon’s provisions for one day were 150 bushels of fine flour and 300 bushels of meal, 23 10 fattened oxen, 20 range oxen, and 100 sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and pen-fed poultry, 24 for he had dominion over everything west of the Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza and over all the kings west of the Euphrates. He had peace on all his surrounding borders. 25 Throughout Solomon’s reign, Judah and Israel lived in safety from Dan to Beer-sheba, each man under his own vine and his own fig tree. 26 Solomon had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen. 27 Each of those deputies for a month in turn provided food for King Solomon and for everyone who came to King Solomon’s table. They neglected nothing. 28 Each man brought the barley and the straw for the chariot teams and the other horses to the required place according to his assignment. 29 God gave Solomon wisdom, very great insight, and understanding as vast as the sand on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 He was wiser than anyone —wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, sons of Mahol. His reputation extended to all the surrounding nations. 32 Solomon composed 3,000 proverbs, and his songs numbered 1,005. 33 He described trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing out of the wall. He also taught about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish. 34 People came from everywhere, sent by every king on earth who had heard of his wisdom, to listen to Solomon’s wisdom.

Christine Mullins - In this chapter, we see Solomon’s wisdom at work.  God gave him the ability to discern how to govern.  Often in our lives, we say “if you want it done right, you have to do it yourself”.  However, God did not intend for us to do it all.  If He puts you in a position of leadership (which we are in some way), He can give you wisdom in that role.  We are to be good stewards in the roles God gives us – whether at home or work.  Part of meeting goals is by surrounding yourselves with others who can help carry the load.  It’s important to organize and delegate. It allows everyone to come together and work as one.  No longer do you have to do it yourself but instead, others surround you with the same goals.  God never intended for us to go through our personal or work life alone.  He wants us to do it together.  Whatever God has you in now, pray for wisdom and discernment.  You may not be surrounded by the best or most efficient people, but God has you there for a reason even if it is to be an example to others.