Prosperity And Wisdom of Solomon’s Reign
June 11, 2022
Commentary
Solomon’s kingdom was unified, secure, strong, and prosperous, with a large population. Solomon’s rule extended over all the kingdoms from the river Euphrates to the border of Egypt (v. 21). His kingdom was strong, secure, and prosperous with a very large population. Verse 20 says the people were as many “as the sand which is by the sea.”
Solomon had dominion over all the region west of the Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kings west of the Euphrates (v 24). And he had peace on all sides around him (v.25). And Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan even to Beersheba, every man under his vine. The ability of the nation to provide Solomon’s daily provisions testifies to his prosperity (vv. 22-23). His horses numbered 12,000 and his chariots 1400 (II Chron. 1:14) and these were kept in several locations called “chariot cities” (II Chron. 9:25). These horses and chariots were used for national defense and served as a strong deterrent to potential foreign aggressors.
Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt (v. 30). His wisdom exceeded that of all men of the East (Job 1:3) and all of the people in Egypt and both of these areas were known for their wisdom. The extent of Solomon’s wisdom, understanding and knowledge was so great it could not be measured. It is demonstrated by the kings coming to observe and listen to him (vv. 32-34). He wrote over 3,000 proverbs of which several hundred have been preserved in the book of Proverbs and a few in Ecclesiastes. He also was an authority in botany and zoology. He had many important visitors from far away places who came for advise which he gave freely. He was recognized as the wisest man of his day as God had promised he would be.
Application
Prosperity and luxury often bring false security and will lull me into thinking all is well when disaster is around the corner. If I abandon God’s purpose for my life I will also abandon His help.
Isaiah 32:1– 20 (NET)
1 Look, a king will promote fairness; officials will promote justice.
2 Each of them will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from a rainstorm; like streams of water in a dry region and like the shade of a large cliff in a parched land.
3 Eyes will no longer be blind and ears will be attentive.
4 The mind that acts rashly will possess discernment, and the tongue that stutters will speak with ease and clarity.
5 A fool will no longer be called honorable; a deceiver will no longer be called principled.
6 For a fool speaks disgraceful things; his mind plans out sinful deeds. He commits godless deeds and says misleading things about the Lord; he gives the hungry nothing to satisfy their appetite and gives the thirsty nothing to drink.
7 A deceiver’s methods are evil; he dreams up evil plans to ruin the poor with lies, even when the needy are in the right.
8 An honorable man makes honorable plans; his honorable character gives him security.
9 You complacent women, get up and listen to me! You carefree daughters, pay attention to what I say!
10 In a year’s time you carefree ones will shake with fear, for the grape harvest will fail, and the fruit harvest will not arrive.
11 Tremble, you complacent ones! Shake with fear, you carefree ones! Strip off your clothes and expose yourselves— put sackcloth around your waists.
12 Mourn over the field, over the delightful fields and the fruitful vine.
13 Mourn over the land of my people, which is overgrown with thorns and briers, and over all the once-happy houses in the city filled with revelry.
14 For the fortress is neglected; the once-crowded city is abandoned. Hill and watchtower are permanently uninhabited. Wild donkeys love to go there, and flocks graze there.
15 This desolation will continue until new life is poured out on us from heaven. Then the wilderness will become an orchard and the orchard will be considered a forest.
16 Justice will settle down in the wilderness and fairness will live in the orchard.
17 Fairness will produce peace and result in lasting security.
18 My people will live in peaceful settlements, in secure homes, and in safe, quiet places.
19 Even if the forest is destroyed and the city is annihilated,
20 you will be blessed, you who plant seed by all the banks of the streams, you who let your ox and donkey graze.
Illustration: The Devil Saw a Man Pick up Something
Once the Devil was walking along with one of his cohorts. They saw a man ahead of them pick up something shiny. “What did he find?” asked the cohort. “A piece of the truth,” the Devil replied. “Doesn’t it bother you that he found a piece of the truth?” asked the cohort. “No,” said the Devil, “I will see to it that he makes a religion out of it.” (Klyne Snodgrass, Between Two Truths – Living with Biblical Tensions, 1990, Zondervan Publishing House, p. 35).