1st Kings 9:10-28 SUUCESS, OR THE BEGINNING OF FAILURE? The twenty cities Solomon gave Hiram, were likely collateral; until Solomon repaid him for all the gold and material he got from him, to use in the building of the temple. If the towns were in payment for all Solomon got from Hiram, they would not be really all that useful to a king whose economic base was the sea-faring trade and shipping for which Tyre was well known. As far as the twenty cities that Hiram refused to accept, to him they were worthless -"Cabul." The term "brother" would have been a way of addressing one who leaders would consider their equal.
Solomon did not short-change Hiram in any way. More likely he paid him above and beyond that which he spent. The largess of the leaders of the Middle East was a source of pride to them. It was important to them to seem very generous and go farther than others in giving gifts [2Chr.9]. International trade between the tribal nations was flourishing during the time of Solomon's reign.
Both Israel and Egypt seemed to be the major nations to be reckoned with among all the other nations of the Middle East. Pharaoh's daughter becoming Solomon's wife was part of that alliance process that Solomon must have thought was necessary to keep peace. Yet Solomon's building projects throughout the kingdom must have been in view of defending the territory David had brought under Israeli rule. Those ancient building projects have been a great source of interest among archaeologists in recent years, as they give confirmation of the biblical accounts and serve to silence skeptics. The building projects Solomon was so concerned about would have been on major trading routes that crossed the Middle East.
The conscripts Solomon got from the people were likely all non-Israeli residents who were still living among the Jewish inhabitants of the land. There would have been a building of resentment because of this but it did not fester to the breaking point until after Solomon died. Opposition by the Canaanites to the Egyptians during the time of Solomon was crushed and the Egyptians claimed property the Canaanites had previously. Solomon maintained a standing army and had horses and chariots in various places prepared for war even though he was a man of peace.
When God's people focus their attention on the business practices of the world, and are constantly engaged in seeking to gain wealth and power, the spiritual life of a nation declines. Salt and light have to be obviously in use in order for them to be effective. It is important for us as God's people to do whatever we do "as to the Lord" and not just to increase our profits for merely personal reasons.
The three feasts Solomon made sure were kept: The Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles, was so there was still a semblance of spirituality among the people. When we use the things of God for personal advantage it will not be long before the generation following will get the picture that what I have and can get for myself is more important than what God gives me. Some people attend meetings in order to interface with others in view of making a business deal. Others to gain a foothold that leads to some kind of power.
Our spiritual obligations can look like worship outwardly for awhile, but soon the heart of man is revealed. Success is a wonderful thing when we recognize it is coming from God and we give God the credit and all the glory for the outcome. When we begin to think we are accomplishing this success because of our business acumen, skill and strategy, we are placing ourselves and the generation to come in a very dangerous position. Solomon started out humbly and wisely, but as time went by he relied on his wisdom rather than on God. There is nothing that can take the place of faith when it comes to pleasing God.
1Kings 10:1. “And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions.” THE KEY. The name of the Lord is not honored by most, They do not consider God to be that important. Some think of God as an idea or just a vague ghost And never consider Him in their life or deportment. But to those who have experienced His grace in their lives He is the most significant Person of all. Though He is not seen, our God is all-wise And He hears our requests when we call.
The forms men design no matter how impressive and great, Are just imaginary ideas they have about God. The gold and silver; the trappings of office and state; Really have nothing to do with the Lord. The great buildings that rise with spires reaching to the sky Miss the point of man’s relationship to Him. Those things, though impressive, that appeal to the eye, Miss conveying the power and authority of His name.
His name means He exists, He is not an idea of men To be used to keep order with threats. His name was called “Jesus”, when to earth He came To bring light, life and in His name, we pray – That gives authority to the requests we make. When we speak in His name, we are reminded one day, Every person will confess to the power of His name.
“O Holy God, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I bow my heart before Thee and praise Thee for the privilege of being gathered to His name. In His name I pray for the comfort of my sister in Christ who is dying; for the relief from pain for my brother in Christ; for the salvation of the man I was speaking to and for my family and their daily needs. Amen.”