2 Chronicles 8:1-18
Solomon is strengthening his kingdom. He builds store cities and fortifications. Amongst these upper Beth-horon and lower Beth-horon (v. 5) remind us of Joshua’s (or rather the LORD’s) extraordinary victory on the road leading down between these two cities (Joshua 10:11). Now all the Canaanites, having survived after the conquest because of the disobedience of the people, are subjected to taxes. In contrast, in obedience to the Word (Leviticus 25:42), the children of Israel are not subjected to doing the work reserved for slaves. The king thus makes a clear distinction between those who belong to the people of God and those who don’t, even in the case of his own wife (v. 11). Let us never forget that this distinction still exists today.
It is true that we were, at one time, servants to sin (Romans 6:20). But now the Son has set us free; we are free (John 8:36) – free "to praise and minister. . . as the duty of every day required" (v. 14). But not free to do what we want! " And they departed not from the commandment of the king" (v. 15). V. 13 mentions the commandment of Moses and v. 14 that of David. True freedom for the Christian consists in doing the will of the Lord in love.