A Big Project

1st Kings 5

I remember being really into Legos. I would want some kind of Lego something when it came time for Christmas. I would receive some really big sets that were a big project to me. I would work on it for a few hours and not be done, the next day a few more and then finally by the end of the week I was done. 

I see the construction of the church going on and how big of a project that is. It requires many different men with different skills to build a building. The more detailed a project the more detailed work crew you will need.

In this chapter we see that Solomon is beginning the work of the Temple of the Lord. 

Other Nations Send Help

In the very beginning of chapter 5 we see that King Hiram of Tyre will send wood from Lebanon. He wanted to help the king in this way and mostly because it means that the powerful Israel will have a treaty with Tyre. King HIram was looking out for his well being but also knew that David was a good man and wants to invest in his son, Solomon. For the wood that would be sent by the Mediterranean Sea from Tyre to Joppa Solomon just gave food to Hiram. 

Forced Labor

In verse 13 we read that Solomon drafted forced labor. This was not forced labor of the Israelites but from those who were their servants such as the Canaanites. But when we read these numbers this was a big task. We see that 30,000 we be sent to Lebanon to help with the trees to use for the wood and they would spend one month there and two months home or used to build Solomon’s home and go then go out again. Then we see that 70,000 were burden bearers who would bear weight or carry things on their backs. They would literally carry the burden or weight for the temple. Remember during this time there were no trackers or forklifts. They did manual labor. The amount of stone required a big amount of stone cutters, 80,000 to be precise. Since there were so many workers there needed to be 3,300 overseers or foremen over the building projects. This was a huge task.

We can only see the wisdom that Solomon had as he administered the making of one of the great marvels of the world, the Temple. He truly had God’s wisdom. In James 1:5 the Bible tells us that if any of you are lacking in wisdom let them ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. We need to know what Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-11 that if we ask and seek and knock we will receive, find, and the door to be opened. We need to look at this as not here you go and ask whatever wish your would like. This is a “ask of God’s will” then you see what  His will is. Whenever we start asking for things of our wills we need to stop and just say, “God I need you and what you would have me to do.” Give me the wisdom I need to handle each and every situation. Give me the strength to get through another day. Give me the strength to see who you are.