1 Kings 5

In 1 Kings 5, Solomon showed God given wisdom in action. Hiram, king of Tyre, a friend of Solomon’s father, David, sends a message congratulating Solomon on his ascension to the throne. This gesture opens the door for a diplomatic alliance. Solomon responds strategically, expressing his desire to build a temple for God, a vision his father David had but could not fulfill due to his life of warfare. Solomon’s response to Hiram’s congratulatory message reveals his deepest desire and purpose to build a house for God. This was not a spontaneous decision but a long-held intention, rooted in his father David’s unfulfilled vision. Because it has always been in his heart, and having a clear purpose, Hiram’s message then serves as a divine opportunity, awakening Solomon’s heart to act on this purpose.

Child of God, preparation precedes opportunity. It is important, even very important, to have a clear dream, purpose, and intentions in our life. Had Solomon not been clear about his purpose, he might have missed the chance to form a strategic alliance with Hiram. Instead, he uses God’s wisdom to turn a simple congratulatory message into a diplomatic alliance. Hiram’s friendship with David, passed down to Solomon, was no coincidence but a divinely orchestrated connection. Solomon discerns the purpose of this relationship, leveraging it to fulfill God’s plan for the temple, which was also on his father's heart. God brings people into our lives for specific purposes, and we must recognize and align with these connections to fulfill our divine calling. The importance of understanding why God brings certain people into our lives cannot be undermined. We must pray for the spirit of discernment child of God. Solomon requests cedar and cypress timber from Hiram, along with skilled workers, offering to pay for the labour.

Hiram agrees to Solomon’s request, providing the timber and workers in exchange for wheat and olive oil from Israel. This mutually beneficial deal strengthens the alliance between the two kingdoms. Solomon organizes a massive workforce, including 30,000 labourers from Israel, 70,000 carriers, and 80,000 stonecutters, along with supervisors, to execute the temple’s construction. Solomon’s God given wisdom is evident in his strategic response to Hiram. Rather than a simple “thank you,” Solomon proposes a detailed plan, leveraging his father’s goodwill and forming a partnership that benefits both parties. Brothers and sisters, see how clarity of purpose, combined with divine wisdom, allow us to maximize opportunities and align relationships with God’s plan… Although David will be happy to build the temple, God didn't allow him because of his warlike nature. 1 Kings 5 notes that Solomon had peace on all sides, a divine provision that allowed him to focus on building the temple, but more so, the temple God should be a place of peace, mercy and love, unlike David’s life of war which prevented him from building the temple, as God’s house required a foundation of peace, love, and mercy.

Solomon, blessed with peace on all sides, was divinely positioned to complete what his father could not, and by recognizing the purpose of Hiram’s connection, rooted in David’s legacy, Solomon transforms a congratulatory message into a powerful alliance, fulfilling God’s plan. Brothers and sisters, clarity of purpose, preparation, and discernment of divine connections enable us to seize opportunities and accomplish God’s will, just as Solomon did in building the temple.

reflection

Child of God, how do we discern whether the opportunities and relationships that enter our lives are divinely orchestrated to fulfill a greater purpose? And how does our preparedness and clarity of intention shape our ability to act wisely in those moments, as Solomon did with Hiram’s message?