Reading
SAA Notes
The Chronicler does not mention Solomon’s sins. These are well known to his original readers. What he does is emphasise the blessings that Solomon received. God kept His promise to Solomon. This raises the question: Won’t He keep His promise to us? I will come again and receive you to Myself!
SJA Notes
* Dear God, You have searched us and known us, You discern our thoughts from afar. How precious to us are Your thoughts, O God!
“Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind.”
While we often remember Solomon’s folly (accumulation of too many horses, wealth and wives, then idolatry through his wives), Chronicles does not highlight this.
Instead, we are pointed to a king that all other kings come to.
Which points us to Jesus!
As the King of kings, He excels all other kings. And more, not just earthly kings, but all powers and authorities submit or will be brought to bear to Jesus as King.
For us, Jesus is the deeper, fully, more perfect heavenly reality. His wisdom is without equal.
And we can pray that the kings and rulers of the earth today would seek Him out!
Because if they do not know Jesus in this life, then as we read in Psalm 110,
“… He will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.”
Solomon points us to Jesus, a better and truer king.
Jesus is the king who saves us. A king who rides out to battle. A king who rules over us in wisdom. And a king who will return again to bring His people into eternal life in the new heavens and the new earth.
This is our King – Hallelujah!
* Lord God Above,
Thank You that in Jesus, You in the Person of the Son, we see the full truth of what it means to be a king.
Please help us to walk as Your people, subjects of Your kingdom, with You as our King.
Amen.