November 25, 2024 1 Kings 5:7-18

November 25, 2024 1 Kings 5:7-18

⁷ As soon as Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the Lord this day, who has given to David a wise son to be over this great people.” ⁸ And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message that you have sent to me. I am ready to do all you desire in the matter of cedar and cypress timber. ⁹ My servants shall bring it down to the sea from Lebanon, and I will make it into rafts to go by sea to the place you direct. And I will have them broken up there, and you shall receive it. And you shall meet my wishes by providing food for my household.” ¹⁰ So Hiram supplied Solomon with all the timber of cedar and cypress that he desired, ¹¹ while Solomon gave Hiram 20,000 cors of wheat as food for his household, and 20,000 cors of beaten oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year. ¹² And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.

¹³ King Solomon drafted forced labor out of all Israel, and the draft numbered 30,000 men. ¹⁴ And he sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in shifts. They would be a month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the draft. ¹⁵ Solomon also had 70,000 burden-bearers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hill country, ¹⁶ besides Solomon's 3,300 chief officers who were over the work, who had charge of the people who carried on the work. ¹⁷ At the king's command they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones. ¹⁸ So Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the men of Gebal did the cutting and prepared the timber and the stone to build the house.

Think about the preparation that went into the building of the temple.  So many people, so much lumber, and money to feed those workers who were building this great temple. 

God doesn’t send us to do work for Him without preparing us.  Sometimes we don’t even realize how He has prepared us.  Moses felt he wasn’t a good speaker and couldn’t lead the nation of Israel out of slavery but think about his unique background that prepared him for that task.  He knew the inner workings of the palace because it is where he grew up.  He knew the personalities of many of those in command.  He had spent time in the wilderness and one on one time with the Lord. 

Paul spent many years learning in the temple before he met Jesus on that road to Damascus.  He spent time with Pharisees, Sadducees, and many other leaders and believed as they did until He met Jesus.  It prepared him for the many letters he would write.  He knew what the Jews had learned as children and believed to their core, and it made him uniquely able to reach some of them. 

It isn’t our job to “save” people…just to be obedient to Christ and “tell” people.  Jesus does the saving. 

Who needs to hear about Jesus today in your circle of friends or acquaintances?  Ask God for guidance as to what your task is to fulfill your part in His great plan.