Bible Studies
The Lord Highly Exalted Solomon (1 Kings 4:1-28)
Series: Studies in First KingsIntroduction:
1. “The Lord highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed on him royal majesty which had not been on any king before him in Israel” (1 Chron. 29:25). 2. This is the summary statement the chronicler makes about Solomon’s reign.a. He gives emphasis to the fact that it was the Lord who exalted Solomon.
b. And he emphasizes that such exaltation had not been seen in Israel before.
3. 1 Kings 4 gives additional details about the glory of Solomon’s kingdom and there are three major statements in that account that I would call to your attention.Discussion:
I. “King Solomon was king over all Israel” (4:1).A. This statement stands in contrast to what transpires after his death.
1. The kingdom was divided between Rehoboam and Jeroboam.
2. It remained divided until the northern kingdom was taken into Assyrian Captivity and the southern kingdom was taken into Babylonian Captivity.
B. The author wants us to realize that part of the glory of Solomon’s kingdom was reflected in the unity that characterized it.
1. This unity was achieved and maintained by Solomon’s submission to the wisdom of God (3:28).
2. This unity stands in contrast to the disunity and confusion which the historian summarized in the closing chapters of Judges with the statement: “There was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes” (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25).
3. The historians want us to know that with when the wisdom of God is applied by the king that unity is the result (Note the structure of the text: 3:28----4:29-34).
C. In this way Solomon’s kingdom prefigures the Messianic kingdom of which we are a part.
1. Isaiah spoke of the word of the Lord (the wisdom of God) going forth from Jerusalem (Isa. 2:2-4; cf. Isa. 11:1-9).
2. In this kingdom peace is attained by the sacrifice of the King and founded upon the apostles and prophets (i.e., their teaching), Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone (Eph. 2:13-20).
3. They are the Israel of God (Gal. 6:16; cf. Eph. 2:12-13; Rom. 9:6).
4. As we submit to the wisdom of God such unity is maintained.
II. “Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand that is on the seashore” (4:20).A. There is prosperity, life, and rejoicing when the King reigns according to the wisdom of God.
1. This was true in Solomon’s day.
2. It is true in our day.
3. It is the reality in the Messianic kingdom.
B. The prosperity that the citizens of Solomon’s kingdom experienced was in fulfillment of the promise God had made to Abraham (Gen. 17:2, 5-6; 22:16-18).
C. In the Messianic kingdom today life and happiness result from our application of the wisdom of God (James 3:13-18). But because of our ignorance and distrust of God’s wisdom there is hardship and difficulty.
III. “Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms” (4:21).A. This statement reflects the author’s desire for us to recognize the fulfillment of the land promise God made to Abraham (Gen. 12:1; 17:8). As expressed in Gen. 22:17: “Your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.”
B. Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms (21, 24-25).
1. From the River Euphrates in the north. In particular Tiphsah
2. To the land of the Philistines.
3. To the border of Egypt. In particular Gaza.
4. Over all the kings west of the Euphrates.
C. “So Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree” (v. 25).
1. This is of course a figurative expression denoting the prosperity and peace experienced by every citizen in the kingdom. Contra Psa. 105:32-33.
2. Jeremiah predicted a time to come as he anticipated the coming captivity of the enemy devouring vines and fig trees (5:15-17).
3. Both Joel and Micah use the language sitting under vine and fig tree of the Messianic kingdom (Joel 2:22; Micah 4:1-5).
4. This is what characterizes the kingdom ruled by the wisdom of God.
IV. Horses (4:26, 28; Deut. 17:16).A. Is this mention of horses merely an illustration of Solomon’s prosperity OR is the author reminding us of a vulnerability in Solomon’s armor?
B. It seems probable that the author has in mind Deut. 17:16 and the warning that a king should not gather many horses for himself.
1. It would appear that that is exactly what Solomon is doing.
2. As the account about Solomon develops the author repeatedly points out “little” problems that are going to erupt into an explosion that destroys Solomon’s kingdom.
3. Moses had warned that the king should not multiply horses and he should not multiply wives. Instead he should write for himself a copy of the law and read it all the days of his life.
C. The Lord highly exalted Solomon, but the seeds are already in place for Solomon’s downfall. Like most of us, Solomon is successful only to the degree that he applies the wisdom of God to his life. There is great gulf between knowing the right thing to do and actually doing it.
Conclusion:
1. The Lord highly exalted Solomon as Solomon applied God’s wisdom to his kingdom. 2. Solomon fulfilled prophecies made to Abraham. 3. He was a type of the great Messianic king. 4. In His kingdom there is unity, prosperity, peace, rejoicing, every man sits under his own vine and his own fig tree, as long as the wisdom of God prevails. 5. But when people fail to submit to the wisdom of God there is war, grief and destruction. 6. What shall it be for you?
