September 29, 2023

God's plans in God's timing

1 Kings 5

Kuriakos Pyros
Friday's Devo

September 29, 2023

Friday's Devo

September 29, 2023

Friday's Devo

September 29, 2023

Friday's Devo

September 29, 2023

Big Idea

Wise leaders walk closely with God.

Key Verse | 1 Kings 5:5

"And so I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD said to David my father, 'Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.'"

1 Kings 5

Preparations for Building the Temple

1  1 5:1 Ch 5:15 in Hebrew Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram always loved David. 2 And Solomon sent word to Hiram, 3 “You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet. 4 But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune. 5 And so I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD said to David my father, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.’ 6 Now therefore command that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. And my servants will join your servants, and I will pay you for your servants such wages as you set, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”

7 As soon as Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the LORD this day, who has given to David a wise son to be over this great people.” 8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message that you have sent to me. I am ready to do all you desire in the matter of cedar and cypress timber. 9 My servants shall bring it down to the sea from Lebanon, and I will make it into rafts to go by sea to the place you direct. And I will have them broken up there, and you shall receive it. And you shall meet my wishes by providing food for my household.” 10 So Hiram supplied Solomon with all the timber of cedar and cypress that he desired, 11 while Solomon gave Hiram 20,000 cors 2 5:11 A cor was about 6 bushels or 220 liters of wheat as food for his household, and 20,000 3 5:11 Septuagint; Hebrew twenty cors of beaten oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year. 12 And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.

13 King Solomon drafted forced labor out of all Israel, and the draft numbered 30,000 men. 14 And he sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in shifts. They would be a month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the draft. 15 Solomon also had 70,000 burden-bearers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hill country, 16 besides Solomon's 3,300 chief officers who were over the work, who had charge of the people who carried on the work. 17 At the king's command they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones. 18 So Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the men of Gebal did the cutting and prepared the timber and the stone to build the house.

Footnotes

[1] 5:1 Ch 5:15 in Hebrew
[2] 5:11 A cor was about 6 bushels or 220 liters
[3] 5:11 Septuagint; Hebrew twenty

S2:190 1 Kings 5

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Dive Deeper | 1 Kings 5

Whew! It feels like we've been on a roller coaster in 1 Kings so far! If you're just joining us, we've experienced death, new kingship, execution, arguments, and a blessing from God. Today, the plot continues as Solomon builds the temple of God and partners with Hiram of Lebanon to accomplish this plan. 

Right away we notice this story didn't start with Solomon. Our key verse is actually Solomon quoting God's promise to his father David. In 2 Samuel 7, David wanted to build the Lord's temple but was told to wait. Instead, God assures David that HIS timing is perfect. Although he never sees the resolution, David's unwavering trust persists even to his deathbed (1 Kings 2:4). 

God asks His children to trust His perfect timing throughout the Bible, from the rain Noah didn't experience for about 100 years (Genesis 5:32–7:6), Abraham's faith for countless offspring (Genesis 12:1-3), and Moses dying before entering the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 34). These stories are pillars of faithfulness for us to lean on when we find ourselves in similar situations, just like Solomon does. 

Solomon seeks to obey God's plan in addition to His timing. He remembers what David has instructed and gets down to business. God's temple takes precedence over Solomon's own home (we'll see that next week), and Solomon thoroughly observes a construction plan to complete the Lord's temple with perfect proportions. 

What's comforting about this chapter is Hiram's pure joy in assisting Solomon. He is so committed to God's plan that he is willing to make it happen, even though he receives little direct benefit. The abundance of details falling into place also confirms that God's plans are perfect: Hiram and Solomon rule their lands simultaneously, have complementary resources, not to mention their peaceful relations! 

We didn't start this story with Solomon alone, and we don't end with him either. God's plan extended from David through Solomon to Hiram, and it was the perfect timing for all of them to co-labor and accomplish God's mission.

 What will we do to obey God's plan and trust His timing?

This month's memory verse

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

– Matthew 5:16

Discussion Questions

1. Where in your life do you feel it's difficult to trust God's plan or His timing? Jot down if there's something you've been holding onto that you might need to ask for His help in surrendering to Him. 

2. Who in your life can encourage you and live on mission with you, like Hiram did for Solomon? 

3. We recounted several other people to whom God promised something and they trusted Him. Which one stuck out to you as a good reminder to look back on when you're struggling to trust God?

4. What's your next step today to align your heart and actions with God's plan, just like Solomon went into action to build the temple? 

As we gear up to release even more features for Join The Journey in 2025, our staff team, unfortunately, no longer has the margin to continue to support the comment functionality. We have big things in store for Join The Journey 2025. Stay tuned!

HS

Hugh Stephenson

Thank you, Kurk, and good morning.  One sentence here really jumped out at me, “Solomon seeks to obey God's plan in addition to His timing.”  That seems to be the call to all of us.    Q1.  Where is trust hard?  Day in and day out I am restless about my unsaved prodigal children.  I want to DO  SOMETHING.  God makes it clear that His call is for me to love them as He does. The rest is up to him.    Q2.  Who is on mission with me?  My CG and my fellow leaders in Prodigal.  It’s an army of God’s Marines.  And  no one is left behind.    Q3.  Promises and trust?  Noah.  100+ years with no rain while he builds the ark day after day.  Now that’s trust.   Q4.  Next step I s same as the last 10+ years.    Read, pray, reflect, study, journal.    God’s Word, God’s People. God’s Spirit.    His Mission. His Timeline.  His Glory. 
HS

Hugh Stephenson

The ESV SB sets the table-   The Reign of King Solomon. The first 11 chapters of 1 Kings are an extensive description of the reign of David’s son Solomon, a king who was great when he obeyed God and depended on God for wisdom but whose reign ended in tragedy as he departed from God’s ways and worshiped other gods.   —————————————   Two main takeaways from this chapter-   1-The relationship between King Hiram and King Solomon.   Clearly Solomon has the upper hand in this relationship. Even so Solomon’s publicly credits the LORD with victory after victory-   In verse three Solomon sends a message to Hiram and credits victory to “…the LORD my God who put [David’s] enemies under the soles of his feet.”   Then in verse 4 “…the LORD my God has given me rest on every side .”   “There is neither adversary or misfortune.”   Then Hiram “rejoiced greatly” and said Blessed be the LORD this day who has given to David  a wise son…”   The notes edify-   “A Gentile recognizes God’s blessing on his great people, Israel.”   “God has given Solomon the rest on every side that he had promised to David (2 Sam. 7:11), so much so that there is neither adversary nor misfortune. This picture reflects God’s intended result when the people of Israel have a wise ruler and they walk in obedience to God’s commandments. Given this situation, the time is right for the temple-building project, divinely ordained as the task for David’s successor (2 Sam. 7:12–13).”   2- Prophecy and fulfillment, a key theme.  Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 15:5-6, 2 Samuel 7,   “People generally regarded their king as the representative, son, and vice-regent of their chief god in the ancient Near East.”   “This was really the true relation of Israel's king to Yahweh. People also viewed the temples of the gods as the palaces of those beings and regarded the magnificence of their houses as a reflection of their personal greatness. The temple represented the god.”   “Therefore Solomon wanted to portray the greatness of Yahweh by building Him the most glorious temple in the ancient Near East. This would have enabled Israel to better fulfill the purpose for which God had raised her up, namely, to bring people to God (Exodus 19:6; cf. Isaiah 42:6-7).   “A house for the name of the LORD" (v. 3) means a house for Yahweh that would communicate His reputation to the world.”   “Why did the writer of Kings tie the building of the temple to the Exodus? It was evidently for the reason explained above: With the building of the temple Israel would have an opportunity as never before in her history to realize the purpose for which God had formed and freed the nation. That purpose was to draw all people to Himself.”
GJ

Greg Jones

Really cool name. That’s the kind of name where people ask “what kind of name is that! Greg Jones, I get do you spell your name with one g or two? For the record it’s two, one in front and one in back. Otherwise it’s erg or Gre. I’ve heard of people who spell it with 3 ggg’s You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet. But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune. And so I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD said to David my father. I have to ask is Solomon building a “house” of prayer and worship or is it more of a monument structure that honored a god much like what Israel’s neighbors would have constructed? “The Lord has given me rest on every side” “There is neither adversary nor misfortune.” “And so…” He could have said “Hiram, And you shall offer the Passover sacrifice to the Lord your God, from the flock or the herd, at the place that the Lord will choose, to make his name dwell there. Deuteronomy 16:2. And so I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD said to David. And the king commanded all the people, “Keep the Passover to the Lord your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” For no such Passover had been kept since the days of the judges who judged Israel, or during all the days of the kings of Israel or of the kings of Judah. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was kept to the Lord in Jerusalem. 2 Kings 23:21-23 Within David and Solomon’s view of God there doesn’t seem to be any acknowledgment of a God who would “just deliver” people out of bondage? You know that David my father could not build a [house for the name of the LORD] his God because of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, [until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet]. Delivered-passed over, that has a different ring to it than put under the soles of his feet. And maybe it’s no coincidence that a first born from Bathsheba died and 3 other “born befores” Solomon died. It is kind of a mess of a story.
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Michael Sisson

Re: 1Kgs 5:3 1Kgs 5:3 (NASB) “You know that David my father was unable to build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of the wars which surrounded him, >>>until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.<<< As the L-RD brought David’s enemies into submission “under the soles of his feet,” so too with G-d ultimately bring Messiah’s enemies into submission “under the soles of his feet.” See Ps 110:1, Acts 2:34-35. Re: 1Kgs 5:5 1Kgs 5:5 (NASB) “Behold, I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spoke to David my father, saying, >>>’Your son<<<, whom I will set on your throne in your place, >>>he will build the house for My name.’<<< See 2Sam 7:13. Likewise, the Son of David, Yeshua (Jesus), is building the House for His Name. See Heb 3:2-6. Re: 1Kgs 5:12 "Sometimes Solomon has been criticized for entering into such an agreement with an unbelieving pagan like Hiram. Scripture says, 'Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers' (II Cor. 6:14). The principle does not apply in this case, however. Solomon did not join in a partnership with Hiram to build the temple. Solomon built it and merely purchased material and hired workers from Hiram."[117] — Wood, Israel's United…, p. 312, as quoted by T. Constable https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/ot/1kings/1kings.htm#_ftnref65 SEASONAL NOTE: Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), the last of Judaism's Fall feasts, begins this evening. It runs from sundown of Friday, Sep 29, 2023 – sundown Friday, Oct 6, 2023. It recalls how G-d tabernacled with His people for the forty years following their Exodus from Egypt. To learn more, please explore this overview of Sukkot and Jesus' allusions to it. https://hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Fall_Holidays/Sukkot/sukkot.html#loaded You might also be intrigued by the evidence for Jesus actually being born during Sukkot. https://ffoz.org/messiah/articles/birth-of-jesus-sukkot
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Sue Bohlin

Super devo, Kurk, bless you! Yesterday's chapter plus today's seems to be a sneak peek of the strong and beautiful peace we get to look forward to on the New Earth when earth and heaven come together as one. Peace on every side, no conflict, with the blessing of 100% of our time available to love and worship God and work out the blessings He loves to lavish on His people. I long for that time!
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Michael Scaman

There are several ironies afoot. Irony 1 - One of Solomon's head of forced labor will eventually be stoned to death when Solomon's son Rehoboam tries to increase taxes. as "King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem." 1 Kings 12:18 Irony 2 - Another one of Solomon's head of the work force from Ephrain and Manasseh, will be Jeroboam 1 Kings 11:28-29 who will run the northern kingdom and who will build a spectacular worship center in Jerusalem for Solomon, then go on to tule the northern kingdom and build two false worship centers to keep the people of the northern kingdom from going back to Jerusalem to the real temple and possible rejoining kingdoms.
AL

Amy Lowther

1. For me, I trust God’s plan and God’s timing. For me, I also know it is hard to trust God in the beginning of a relationship with Him because there are details to learn and value to build for God that take time. 2. Anyone can live on mission with anyone as long as they put their personal opinions to the side and do life God’s way. It helps life to be clearer and stronger. For me personally, close friends, community, fellow workers, and fellow activity participants are people I find encouraging of being on mission because they are on mission themselves. 3. David was a known believer. If he ever struggled, the Lord came through for Him. 4. My next step would be to stay to God’s way and get things done today versus being nervous and drifting off path.