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Thursday, November 21st, 2024
the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33

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Bible Commentaries
1 Kings 5

1 Kings1Ki 4 1 Kings1Ki 1 Kings1Ki 6

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Verses 1-18

Intro:
1. We now move from Solomon’s wisdom to his building projects.
  1. Ch’s 5-8 record the fulfillment of God’s promise that Solomon would build a temple to the glory of God.
  2. Its Preparation (5). Execution (ch’s. 6,7). & Dedication (ch. 8).
2. Solomon obtains the basic materials for the construction of the temple. We’ll also hear about the trade agreement between Solomon and Hiram, king of Tyre, who supplied wood in exchange for wheat and oil.
HIRAM’S HOME DEPOT (ch.5)
1. Hiram - the Gentile king of Tyre, agreed to supply the wood and the skillful men to do the work. Solomon in turn paid him 130,000 bushels of wheat and 120 gallons of pure olive oil each year.
2. While God does not dwell in material temples today (Acts 17:24), this is no reason why the work we do for Him should be cheap or shoddy.
3. (5) Solomon sees himself as the fulfillment of God’s covenant with David who will bring about a new era. (1 Chron.28:9,10 & 29:1)
  1. Newly established kings in the ancient Near East often began their reign by constructing a temple & palace. This marked a period of change and ensured that both the god(s) and the king were properly enthroned.
  2. David’s great preparations 1 Chron.29:1-9.
    1. Time is not wasted which is spent in preparation. F.B.Meyer
4. Connecting with the world? - Do you only hire Christians to do work at your house/ business? - When is it right or wrong for believers to work with nonbelievers?
  1. When we do evangelism we can only use the support and understanding of other believers. But when believers seek to do justice in the world, we may find it both necessary and desirable to work with others who do not share our faith. eg. BACA (Bikers against child abuse). Law enforcement.
    1. We should have both humble cooperation and respectful provocation.
5. (8) Cedars - erez refers to the Cedrus libani, a tree which can reach a height of 100’.
6. Cypress - berosh Hb., refers to the Juniperus excels, a species of fir.
7. (6) Cedar wood from Lebanon was famed from as early as the 3rd millennium bc until 300bc.
  1. The wood from the cypress tree is lightweight, durable and has no sap. Its wood is known for not being prone to common problems such as splintering, cracking, warping or splitting.
  2. Cedar wood is known for its strength, durability, and fragrance.
  3. It was highly prized by kings and thus exported throughout the ancient near E.
  4. The Psalmist likened a righteous man to a cedar from Lebanon.
    1. Ps.92:12,13 But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God.
  5. The bible calls these forests the glory of Lebanon, Is.60:13 The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, The cypress, the pine, and the box tree together, To beautify the place of My sanctuary; And I will make the place of My feet glorious.
8. For you know - yep Hiram does know this when he counters Solomon’s offer in v.9.
  1. Solomon may have hoped to gain knowledge about how the Sidonians cut their timber by sending his own laborers to help Hiram’s crew.
  2. Hiram suspects this and takes advantage of the situation (v.9).
9. Sidonians - another name for the Phoenicians. The port of Sidon was used to transport lumber throughout the Mediterranean.
10. (11) Pressed oil - describes the process by which fine olive oil was obtained.
11. (12) The Fulcrum - Solomon's preparations for building God's house were centered on God's peace, God's promise, and God's purpose. Without them, his project was doomed to failure.
  1. There's a lesson here for all Christian ministries trying to build programs and visions.
  2. The psalmist says, Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. (Ps127:1)
  3. Spend time praying for your church & other ministries you support, that they would be grounded in God's peace & promise, & guided by God's purpose.
12. So, why the change now from a tent to a building? (wandering/in the land) Ex.25-31 Tab/details
  1. The Tabernacle, is where God dwelt, or Tabernacled, with His people. Rev.21:3

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Verses 1-18

Intro:
1. We now move from Solomon’s wisdom to his building projects.
  1. Ch’s 5-8 record the fulfillment of God’s promise that Solomon would build a temple to the glory of God.
  2. Its Preparation (5). Execution (ch’s. 6,7). & Dedication (ch. 8).
2. Solomon obtains the basic materials for the construction of the temple. We’ll also hear about the trade agreement between Solomon and Hiram, king of Tyre, who supplied wood in exchange for wheat and oil.
HIRAM’S HOME DEPOT (ch.5)
1. Hiram - the Gentile king of Tyre, agreed to supply the wood and the skillful men to do the work. Solomon in turn paid him 130,000 bushels of wheat and 120 gallons of pure olive oil each year.
2. While God does not dwell in material temples today (Acts 17:24), this is no reason why the work we do for Him should be cheap or shoddy.
3. (5) Solomon sees himself as the fulfillment of God’s covenant with David who will bring about a new era. (1 Chron.28:9,10 & 29:1)
  1. Newly established kings in the ancient Near East often began their reign by constructing a temple & palace. This marked a period of change and ensured that both the god(s) and the king were properly enthroned.
  2. David’s great preparations 1 Chron.29:1-9.
    1. Time is not wasted which is spent in preparation. F.B.Meyer
4. Connecting with the world? - Do you only hire Christians to do work at your house/ business? - When is it right or wrong for believers to work with nonbelievers?
  1. When we do evangelism we can only use the support and understanding of other believers. But when believers seek to do justice in the world, we may find it both necessary and desirable to work with others who do not share our faith. eg. BACA (Bikers against child abuse). Law enforcement.
    1. We should have both humble cooperation and respectful provocation.
5. (8) Cedars - erez refers to the Cedrus libani, a tree which can reach a height of 100’.
6. Cypress - berosh Hb., refers to the Juniperus excels, a species of fir.
7. (6) Cedar wood from Lebanon was famed from as early as the 3rd millennium bc until 300bc.
  1. The wood from the cypress tree is lightweight, durable and has no sap. Its wood is known for not being prone to common problems such as splintering, cracking, warping or splitting.
  2. Cedar wood is known for its strength, durability, and fragrance.
  3. It was highly prized by kings and thus exported throughout the ancient near E.
  4. The Psalmist likened a righteous man to a cedar from Lebanon.
    1. Ps.92:12,13 But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God.
  5. The bible calls these forests the glory of Lebanon, Is.60:13 The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, The cypress, the pine, and the box tree together, To beautify the place of My sanctuary; And I will make the place of My feet glorious.
8. For you know - yep Hiram does know this when he counters Solomon’s offer in v.9.
  1. Solomon may have hoped to gain knowledge about how the Sidonians cut their timber by sending his own laborers to help Hiram’s crew.
  2. Hiram suspects this and takes advantage of the situation (v.9).
9. Sidonians - another name for the Phoenicians. The port of Sidon was used to transport lumber throughout the Mediterranean.
10. (11) Pressed oil - describes the process by which fine olive oil was obtained.
11. (12) The Fulcrum - Solomon's preparations for building God's house were centered on God's peace, God's promise, and God's purpose. Without them, his project was doomed to failure.
  1. There's a lesson here for all Christian ministries trying to build programs and visions.
  2. The psalmist says, Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. (Ps127:1)
  3. Spend time praying for your church & other ministries you support, that they would be grounded in God's peace & promise, & guided by God's purpose.
12. So, why the change now from a tent to a building? (wandering/in the land) Ex.25-31 Tab/details
  1. The Tabernacle, is where God dwelt, or Tabernacled, with His people. Rev.21:3

return to 'Top of Page'

1 Kings1Ki 4 1 Kings1Ki 1 Kings1Ki 6

Copyright Statement
These files are the property of Brian Bell.
Text Courtesy of Calvary Chapel of Murrieta. Used by Permission.

Bibliographical Information
Bell, Brian. "Commentary on 1 Kings 5". "Bell's Commentary". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/cbb/1-kings-5.html. 2017.

Bible Commentaries1 Kings 5

Bell's Commentary on the BibleBell's Commentary

Verses 1-18

Verses 1-18

Bible Commentaries
1 Kings 5