4:7 - Solomon does exactly what Samuel told Israel a king would do to them - he starts taxing them and lives off what the people produce. Solomon is very wise in the way he breaks down his organization of the country and his taxation, and from everything we see in this passage - Israel really begins to flourish. Unfortunately, we will see as the life of Solomon plays out, that the abuse of power that comes so naturally to kings and rulers will eventually destroy Israel. Solomon, the wisest man in the world, begins to rely on wealth and military power instead of on the Most High God (Check out Deut. 17:15-17). As Christians, no matter what is going on with the political powers in authority over us, we must remember to never allow ouselves to get caught up in the pursuit of wealth and power, and push God aside.
4:34 - I think this is a really good challenege for us as Christians. People came from all over the world to listen to what Solomon had to say, because his knowledge base was so strong and he spoke from wisdom. There are a lot of Christians out there, myself included, that often act as if the only knoweledge they need is doctrinal and theological. But if we will spend our life learning and expanding our knowledge base...I believe it will give us better opportunity to influence people outside the faith, because they will most likely have more respect for our opinion. (Which definitely does not mean that you stop studying the bible, it just means be a lifestyle learner)
5:13 - Uh oh! Forced labor...Solomon's kingdom is starting to look more and more like the kingdoms of the rest of the world. He has set up a fair system (I know a lot of guys that would like to work one month and then get two off!), but it is still forced labor. The people escaped forced labor in Egypt only to get it forced on them in their own country.
6:38 - So here is a pretty good rendition of what Solomon's temple might have looked like. Pretty cool, huh? I like that he completed it in seven years - seven is the biblical number of completeness.
1 comment:
4:33-34; I never thought of Solomn as a scientist before, but obviously with his knowledge of plants and animals and his ability to build indicate such. I agree about sitting at the feet of wisdom. I so thankful to all those men and women who devote lifes to God and often write about it so that we can learn.
The whole forced labor thing was from the beginning when he set up his cabinet. He had the minister of forced labor (4:6), Adoniram.
I bet the temple was an impressive sight in those days when walking into Jerusalem. I imagine that same awe was felt when people from the country side would travel into major European cities and see the grand cathedrals. Just like war would destroy cathedrals in the medieval times, the same fate was met for the Lord's temple.
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