February 4, 2022

1 Kings 5 (HCSB)
1 Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he heard that he had been anointed king in his father’s place, for Hiram had always been friends with David. 2 Solomon sent this message to Hiram: 3 “You know my father David was not able to build a temple for the name of Yahweh his God. This was because of the warfare all around him until the Lord put his enemies under his feet. 4 The Lord my God has now given me rest all around; there is no enemy or crisis. 5 So I plan to build a temple for the name of Yahweh my God, according to what the Lord promised my father David: ‘I will put your son on your throne in your place, and he will build the temple for My name.’ 6 “Therefore, command that cedars from Lebanon be cut down for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay your servants’ wages according to whatever you say, for you know that not a man among us knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.” 7 When Hiram heard Solomon’s words, he greatly rejoiced and said, May the Lord be praised today! He has given David a wise son to be over this great people!” 8 Then Hiram sent a reply to Solomon, saying, “I have heard your message; I will do everything you want regarding the cedar and cypress“ timber. 9 My servants will bring the logs down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place you indicate. I will break them apart there and you can take them away. You then can meet my needs by providing my household with food.” 10 So Hiram provided Solomon with all the cedar and cypress timber he wanted, 11 and Solomon provided Hiram with 100,000 bushels of wheat as food for his household and 110,000 gallons of oil from crushed olives. Solomon did this for Hiram year after year. 12 The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty. 13 Then King Solomon drafted forced laborers from all Israel; the labor force numbered 30,000 men. 14 He sent 10,000 to Lebanon each month in shifts; one month they were in Lebanon, two months they were at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor. 15 Solomon had 70,000 porters and 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, 16 not including his 3,300 deputies in charge of the work. They ruled over the people doing the work. 17 The king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones. 18 So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the temple’s construction.


Christine Mullins - This chapter brings us the preparation to build God’s temple.  David wanted to build the temple in his reign but God had other plans.  God didn’t want David to build the temple, as he was a man of war.  There was blood on his hands and it would look like it was about David’s accomplishments and not about God.  God wanted a peacemaker to build His house of prayer.  Solomon would employ 3x the number of workers needed in building the temple.  He did this so people could rotate off work and spend time with their families.  Solomon wisely knew family should be top priority.   He knew the strength of the kingdom was in direct proportion to the strength of its families.  This gives us the example of how to structure our own schedule and work; it should not affect our families greatly.  Our families are our first mission field.  How we lead and love is an example of how God leads and loves us.  Having our priorities in order can help us be a better example to our family.  God’s plan is for us to teach our family His ways and commands.  The best way is by living this out.

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