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Biblereading: 2
Chronicles 9:13-31
13 Now
the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six
hundred and threescore and six talents of gold; 14 Beside
that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the
kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and
silver to Solomon. 15 And king Solomon made two
hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels
of beaten gold went to one target. 16 And three
hundred shields made he of beaten gold: three hundred shekels
of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house
of the forest of Lebanon. 17 Moreover the king made
a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold. 18
And there were six steps to the throne, with a
footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and
stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing
by the stays: 19 And twelve lions stood there on
the one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was not
the like made in any kingdom. 20 And all the
drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold, and all
the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of
pure gold: none were of silver; it was not any
thing accounted of in the days of Solomon. 21 For
the king’s ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram:
every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold,
and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. 22 And
king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and
wisdom. 23 And all the kings of the earth sought
the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in
his heart. 24 And they brought every man his
present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment,
harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by
year. 25 And Solomon had four thousand stalls for
horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; whom he
bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at
Jerusalem. 26 And he reigned over all the kings
from the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the
border of Egypt. 27 And the king made silver in
Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore
trees that are in the low plains in abundance. 28
And they brought unto Solomon horses out of Egypt, and out
of all lands. 29 Now the rest of the acts of
Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book
of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the
Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam
the son of Nebat?
30 And Solomon
reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 31 And
Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of
David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.
The imports here
mentioned, would show that prosperity drew the minds of Solomon
and his subjects to the love of things curious and uncommon,
though useless in themselves.
True wisdom and happiness are always united together; but no such
alliance exists between wealth and the enjoyment of the things of
this life. Let us then acquaint ourselves with the Savior, that we
may find rest for our souls.
Here is Solomon reigning in wealth and power, in ease and
fullness, the like of which could never since be found; for the
most known of the great princes of the earth were famed for their
wars; whereas Solomon reigned forty years in profound peace.
The promise was fulfilled, that God would give him riches and
honor, such as no kings have had or shall have. The luster wherein
he appeared, was typical of the spiritual glory of the kingdom of
the Messiah, and but a faint representation of His throne, which
is above every throne. Here is Solomon dying, and leaving all his
wealth and power to one who he knew would be a fool!
(Eccl.2:18,19).
This was not only vanity, but vexation of spirit. Neither power,
wealth, nor wisdom, can ward off or prepare for the stroke of
death. But thanks be to God who gives the victory to the true
believer, even over this dreaded enemy, through Jesus Christ our
Lord (see 1Cor.15:57). |
