1 Kings 4
Bible Passage: 1 Kings 4
There are times when we read certain chapters of the bible and they are mere factual recordings that do not inspire much thought. Case in point would be the chapters concerning sacrificial laws in Leviticus or the reign of the genealogies in Chronicles.
Chapter 4 today is similar in some ways, but once we put in a little bit more effort to think about the verses, it is a much deeper chapter that speaks of many great qualities of king Solomon.
The chapter is a concise documentation of Solomon’s successful reign as the 2nd king of united Israel. We find a name list of government officials who took on various functions as part of the burgeoning Israelite kingdom – priests, scribe, labour minister, food resource ministers, and various local governors. Those names are not familiar, but perhaps we might recall one or two of them. Importantly though, what we might gather is that the kingdom was not ruled by a despotic king.
In fact, Solomon practiced a leadership style that emphasised trust that worked in both directions between the king and his officials, while also esteeming the dissemination of authority to his appointed leaders. In turn, the leaders had a responsibility to ensure that their duties were carried out properly in their local regions, keeping in good faith with their king’s appointment and trust in them.
Put this in practice for our church today, and a lesson can be gained: God is the king, and He has appointed leaders and workers whom He trusts for various works in church. In all our local congregations, we could be a Benaiah (v4) or a Ben-Hur (v8) etc. We must keep in good faith and be good servants (cf. Matt 25:20-23), worthy of our appointments as workers of God. When we can be like the faithful subjects of Solomon, we shall surely share in the joy of the eternal Master and have a part in His kingly reign.
Verse 20, 25, and 29 stand out brightly, glistening like precious gems.
This was a good testimony of Solomon’s successful and highly prosperous reign through God’s grace. To rule a country to the extent that the citizens are many and yet happy is no easy matter – Ask any president/prime minister today and we’ll know that this was certainly no easy feat! Indeed, his wisdom from God must surely be at the heart of his successful rule.
Adding to this, Solomon’s reign receives another huge plus point because there was a good sense of security and peace was a centrepiece during his reign. I would want to live under such a wise ruler as well.
The quality that really, really stands out though, would have to be the “largeness of heart” that this wisest king possessed. If anything, it’s a big lesson on humility that all of us ought to learn. It’s an increasingly difficult lesson given today’s advancements in knowledge acquisition. We find that we know a lot and knowledge sometimes make our neck stiff and noses elevated. But if the wisest king could do it, surely, we can do it too! This is the same exhortation from Paul:
“There, as elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering…” (Colossians 3:12)
May God guide us to be wise yet humble, and also to be successful in the things of His kingdom. Amen!