1 Kings 9: Mysterious Gold

In 1 Kings 9, we see one of the numerous times in the Bible that Jerusalem's destruction (and the tragic fate of the Jews) is prophesied.  Solomon has put all his effort and faith in God into the building of a glorious temple, and God reveals that He is pleased and will bless Solomon and his line if he remains faithful and follows the commandments, ordinances, and judgments of God.  But if Solomon and the Israelites become disobedient and unfaithful, God proclaims, "I will take away Israel from the face of the land which I have given them; and the temple which I have sanctified to my name, I will cast out of my sight" (1 Kings 9:7).  We know that this very thing happened to the Jews and their temple, not just during the Babylonian captivity, but of course again in 70 AD and in the long centuries that followed in which the Jews were cast off from the land they were given and persecuted nearly everywhere they went.  And the Temple has been cast out of God's sight all the while.  These are remarkably accurate prophecies we read in the Old Testament.  

One last thing in this chapter that caught my attention is the mysterious mention of a place called Ophir, from whence Solomon brought immense amounts of gold to his kingdom.  I had not heard this place name before, and apparently to this day its location is still a mystery.  Ophir may have been a place in east Africa, or possibly even as far as India.  Scholars debate this.  But the wildest theory, which is mentioned in my commentary, is that Ophir is in modern day Sumatra!  I don't know what leads some to think this, but it's a fascinating hypothesis.  It stretches the imagination to thrilling lengths to think that the peoples of ancient Palestine could have been in communication with the peoples of far-off Southeast Asia, and that gold may have been transported from the latter to the former.  Of course, this is wild conjecture, and perhaps eastern Africa is the more logical theory.  But it's fun to speculate about these things.  

1 Kings 8: Temple Dedication

"And it was the feast of the dedication at Jerusalem, and it was winter:  And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch." (John 10:22-23)

1 Kings 8 describes the official Temple dedication presided over by Solomon.  The dedication of the Temple became a significant feast day for the Jews, and though John 10 may be referring to the re-dedication of the Temple (or "Hanukkah"), it shows that a thousand years after Solomon when the Son of God was walking the earth, the commemoration of the Temple's dedication was still an important annual tradition.  

Another thing I found notable about this chapter was the way in which Solomon dedicated the Temple.  Scripture says, "And the king turned his face, and blessed all the assembly of Israel: for all the assembly of Israel stood" (1 Kings 8:14).  The fact that Solomon turned toward the people to bless them implies that he was facing the altar for the rest of the dedication sacrifice.  The sacrifice of the Mass, since the Second Vatican Council, has undergone many significant changes, one being that the priest now faces the people (versus populum) instead of the altar (ad orientem) during the Mass.  But would it not be more Biblical to face the altar?  Clearly it was seen as common practice in Solomon's day.  Why in the 1960s was this tradition suddenly questioned?  Protestantism is different, clearly, as the tradition in that sect is for the preacher to face outward to a congregation to preach, which makes sense for its purposes.  But there is no sacrificial element to a Protestant service.  There is no altar.  

Also significant about Solomon's sacrifice is that he offers it upon his knees.  This also is an ancient Christian tradition based on Biblical precedent.  In fact, this instance of Solomon's dedication of the Temple could be the first time we see the kneeling posture used in an official capacity.  1 Kings 8:54 says, "...when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication to the Lord... he rose from before the altar of the Lord: for he had fixed both knees on the ground, and had spread his hands towards heaven."  The kneeling posture associated with prayer is therefore anciently Biblical, yet just like with ad orientem worship, we see a move away from it in the modern era.  Why?

1 Kings 7: Building for Posterity

1 Kings 7 continues the detailed descriptions of Solomon's temple and palace.  All narrative ceases at this point in Scripture as we are taken through every particularity of the build project.  And it is quite impressively elaborate and monumental.  A note in my commentary says it best:  "The ancients built for posterity."  This immediately brought to mind the sorry state of modern architecture.  Our structures, be they houses or office buildings or shops or even churches, are built quick and cheaply.  The idea of these structures still standing in a thousand years is comical.  They begin to show degradation in one person's lifetime.  And even when a structure is built to awe and impress, such as a government building or a large museum, the architecture has become so stripped of all beauty, seeking to "outmodernize" other buildings with starkness and sleekness and, essentially, emptiness.  So large and "impressive" structures might get some attention initially and titillate with their innovativeness; but will be forgotten or seen as eyesores a few generations from now.

Ancient buildings, however, were built to be beautiful and to endure for all future generations.  This is especially true for buildings of religious significance, such as Solomon's Temple.  The size and scope, the attention and even symbolism of each building material, all point to something bigger than ourselves.  These buildings are meant not to glorify human ingenuity, but to glorify God.  We see it in the Cathedrals of the Middle Ages, and of course the buildings of antiquity, from Egypt to Greece to Rome.  

I had the good fortune to visit Italy earlier this year with my family.  We toured Florence, Siena, and Rome.  And the beauty of the architecture is staggering.  These buildings were not built in a year or five years, but, sometimes, over the course of hundreds of years.  The intricacies and details captivate and inspire.  We could learn from the ancients that we are worthy of more than cheap and quick structures.  We ought to build so that a thousand years from now people will still be inspired by what they see wrought by previous generations.  Of course, we won't do that until we all agree on the purpose of beauty and art and why we ought to build glorious things.  Until we all agree that we ought to glorify God, our Creator, we will continue to sink to our baser instincts--the instincts to build cheap and quick so that we can turn a profit and move on to the next ugly building.  

1 Kings 6: The First Temple

The level of detail found in 1 Kings 6 hasn't been seen since the Book of Exodus and the building of the tabernacle.  Every cubit, every board of cedar, every statue and relief, is described in minute detail, such was the great importance of this mighty temple of God.  What's interesting to me is that the image of ancient Jerusalem (that I imagine at least) always has with it the grand and imposing temple on the hill.  However before Solomon there was no great temple.  There was the altar of sacrifice, but no massive structure to honor God, for hundreds of years before Solomon.  It has made me rethink the landscape of Jerusalem and how significant both David and Solomon are to contributing to our modern conception of the ancient Jews.  At any rate, the temple has now been built, and what an impressive monument to God it is!  The gold, the statuary, the inner sanctuary, the colossal dimensions -- it's all quite amazing.  And God agrees to dwell therein, IF Solomon (and his descendants) keep God's laws.  We know the temple will not last forever, but it stands at this point as a sign of God's favor and blessings upon His people.  It was indeed a golden age.

1 Kings 5: Glory to God

 As I've learned, Solomon's reign ushered in an unprecedented period of peace and prosperity.  It allowed for cultural flourishing -- a newfound appreciation for art, poetry, music, and philosophy.  Starting with Solomon himself, the Israelites were afforded the leisure to pursue these things.  Therefore, it makes perfect sense that at this point in their history, the Israelites began the construction of their long-awaited temple.  With no foreign wars to worry about, no invaders, no internal strife, Solomon led the charge to finally carry out the plan begun during David's reign to build a grand and glorious temple in which to worship Almighty God.  In Chapter 5 we see how even neighboring kingdoms lent a hand to help Solomon out, with King Hiram of Tyre playing a key role by allowing the Israelites to harvest the famous cedars of Lebanon to use as timber to construct the temple.  The massive amount of wood and stone needed to construct the temple tells us how massive it was to be.  Solomon could have used his riches only on himself or on pursuits of pleasure or even entertainment for his people, but instead he used his wealth (given to him by God after all) to glorify God by building a temple fit for the Almighty.  This First Temple would of course not last forever, but it becomes a precedent for the temples and churches built to glorify God in the years to come.  And for a few hundred years at least, Solomon's Temple would be the center of Jewish worship, a sacred place containing the presence of God, and the cornerstone of Jewish life.  And it should be so today -- our churches ought to strive to be awe-inspiring as our God is.  They ought to be grand and glorious and exceed all other structures in size and importance.  They ought to be the foundation and cultural center of any community.  For a time, it was so.  

1 Kings 4: "every one under his vine"

"And Juda, and Israel, dwelt without any fear, every one under his vine, and under his fig-tree, from Dan to Bersabee, all the days of Solomon." (1 Kings 4:25)

This verse captures so well this era of Biblical history.  Solomon's reign begins with a period of unprecedented prosperity.  The Hebrew kingdom had never been so large, so unified, and so prosperous.  It was a golden age indeed; the high-water mark of the Israelites' earthly kingdom.  And it continues to be viewed as a pinnacle that represents ultimately the spiritual kingdom established by Jesus Christ.  As Solomon's was an earthly kingdom, it was not meant to be eternal, and so we will see its heyday begin to wane soon enough.  But in the meantime it is quite amazing to see how far the Israelites have come, from a nomadic people in the days of Abraham, through enslavement in Egypt, and now the realization of God's promise to Abraham, that his descendants would be numerous and they would inhabit the Promised Land, the fullest extent of which we see here in the First Book of Kings.  It is said at this time that the Israelites numbered in the several million (seven million at least, many say much more than that).  And the borders of the kingdom extended from the river (the Euphrates) down to the border of Egypt!  The borders of Israel to this very day in AD 2024 are a source of controversy and conflict.  It is a remarkable thing to see here in Sacred Scripture almost 1,000 years before Christ those very borders being defined (though I acknowledge here a difference between the ancient Kingdom of Israel and the modern nation that was formed in 1948).  

And within those expansive borders we see a picture of peace and prosperity in every corner of the kingdom.  "Every one under his vine" tells us that in the rural regions, men and women lived harmonious lives tilling the earth, enjoying the harvest, and worshipping God Almighty in thankfulness for their bounty.  It's nice to see peace rather than warfare, the latter of which so much of the Israelites' history had been.  And so there is much to credit Solomon for.  His prosperous kingdom allowed for advances in the arts and sciences, the likes of which the world had never known.  Solomon himself, as the wise ruler of this exceptional kingdom, was a devotee of poetry and music.  It is said that the Greeks themselves may have received their brilliant philosophical ideas from the court of Solomon.  Solomon almost seems like a precursor to Aristotle, as he was a lover of the natural sciences, hundreds of years before the great Greek philosopher.  Solomon composed parables, poems, and songs, his "Canticle of Canticles" being one of the best known.  Apparently much of what Solomon wrote has been lost to time, but thankfully we have some preserved still in Scripture.  Solomon's devotion to high culture, his royal court comprised of scribes and priests and stewards, prefigures the royal courts we see in the High Middle Ages.  Solomon (David as well) seems to be a model, the original example of the ideal king that future kings aspired to.  And for the time being, his kingdom has been blessed and elevated by God that we all may see a glimmer of a future heavenly kingdom that awaits those who keep His commandments. 

1 Kings 3: Solomon's Wisdom

 I'm immediately fascinated by King Solomon.  On the one hand, as evinced by the events of the previous chapter, Solomon seems ruthless, even brutal.  It seems as though he will rule with an iron fist.  Yet in Chapter 3, he acknowledges his youth and inexperience, and confides to God that he needs help, he needs the wisdom necessary to rule rightly.  That acknowledgment alone bespeaks a noble maturity in the young Solomon.  Of all the things he could have wished for, he chooses wisdom, which pleases God.  It shows Solomon as someone willing to listen.  

My commentary notes that Solomon proved to be interested in nature and the art of governance.  His wisdom was nearly unmatched it seems in all Biblical history.  These things automatically set Solomon apart, and I'm curious to see how such a king will rule over his people, and more importantly how it will impact Solomon's relationship with God.  At this point, it seems he acknowledges his lower place compared to God and that he needs to rely on God in order to be a truly good king.  These things elicit hope that Solomon will be a wise and magnanimous king.

The lesson at the end of Chapter 3, of the two harlots arguing over whose baby is whose, famously illustrates Solomon's wisdom at work.  It's a well known tale, but though it might seem simple at first, there are layers to its lesson.  It evokes the goodness of the true mother and the malice of the bad one.  It's crafty and cunning.  It's the judgement of a wise and beneficent ruler who seeks to reward the good and punish the evil.  Solomon exhibits mercy and justice, an example of God's perfect Mercy and Justice.