What Solomon asked of GOD

 

1 Kings 3:5

King James Version

5 In Gibeon 

the Lord appeared to Solomon 

in a dream by night: 

and God said, 

Ask what I shall give thee.

SPIRIT led me to write something important.

Something so powerful, and magnificent!

But first, we write about GOD, and Solomon.

As backgrounder, and context, for that material.

What did Solomon ask of GOD?

Herein is their conversation.

What Solomon asked for:

1 Kings 3:6-9

King James Version

6 And Solomon said, 

Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father 

great mercy, 

according as he walked before thee in truth, 

and in righteousness, 

and in uprightness of heart with thee; 

and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, 

that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, 

as it is this day.

7 And now, O Lord my God, 

thou hast made thy servant king 

instead of David my father: 

and I am but a little child: 

I know not how to go out or come in.

8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people 

which thou hast chosen,

a great people, 

that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart 

to judge thy people, 

that I may discern between good and bad: 

for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

What GOD gave Solomon:

1 Kings 3:10-14

King James Version

10 And the speech pleased the Lord, 

that Solomon had asked this thing.

11 And God said unto him, 

Because thou hast asked this thing, 

and hast not asked for thyself long life; 

neither hast asked riches for thyself, 

nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; 

but hast asked for thyself understanding 

to discern judgment;

12 Behold, 

I have done according to thy words: 

lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; 

so that there was none like thee before thee, 

neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

13 And I have also given thee 

that which thou hast not asked, 

both riches, and honour: 

so that there shall not be any among the kings 

like unto thee all thy days.

14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, 

to keep my statutes and my commandments, 

as thy father David did walk, 

then I will lengthen thy days.

What did Solomon do next?

1 Kings 3:15

King James Version

15 And Solomon awoke; 

and, behold, it was a dream. 

And he came to Jerusalem, 

and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, 

and offered up burnt offerings, 

and offered peace offerings, 

and made a feast to all his servants.

Soon after, he received his FIRST task/test:

"The TWO women"

But in the latter days of his life, Solomon lost that heart, and wisdom for GOD.

He became distracted from his task.

Here's what happened:

"SOLOMON's sin"

"The CONSEQUENCES of SOLOMON's sin"

Now, we can move on to the article which SPIRIT gifted me with.

Something so wonderful, and magnificent!

A REAL find!

Click here for the next post.

Image: Free Bible Images

On SOLOMON's power

 

1 Kings 10:23-24

King James Version

23 So king Solomon exceeded 

all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.

24 And all the earth sought to Solomon, 

to hear his wisdom, 

which God had put in his heart.

Solomon succeeded his father, king David.

GOD gifted Solomon with wisdom.

But because he didn't ask for wealth, GOD gave him that, too.

And more.

1 Kings 4:1

King James Version

4 So king Solomon was king over all Israel.

1 Kings 4:21-34

King James Version

21 And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms 

from the river unto the land of the Philistines, 

and unto the border of Egypt: 

they brought presents, 

and served Solomon all the days of his life.

22 And Solomon's provision for one day 

was thirty measures of fine flour, 

and threescore measures of meal,

23 Ten fat oxen, 

and twenty oxen out of the pastures, 

and an hundred sheep, 

beside harts, and roebucks, 

and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl.

24 For he had dominion over all the region 

on this side the river, 

from Tiphsah even to Azzah, 

over all the kings on this side the river: 

and he had peace on all sides round about him.

25 And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, 

every man under his vine and under his fig tree, 

from Dan even to Beersheba, 

all the days of Solomon.

26 And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses 

for his chariots, 

and twelve thousand horsemen.

27 And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, 

and for all that came unto king Solomon's table, 

every man in his month: 

they lacked nothing.

28 Barley also and straw for the horses 

and dromedaries brought they unto the place 

where the officers were, 

every man according to his charge.

29 And God gave Solomon wisdom 

and understanding exceeding much, 

and largeness of heart, 

even as the sand that is on the sea shore.

30 And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom 

of all the children of the east country, 

and all the wisdom of Egypt.

31 For he was wiser than all men; 

than Ethan the Ezrahite, 

and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, 

the sons of Mahol: 

and his fame was in all nations round about.

32 And he spake three thousand proverbs: 

and his songs were a thousand and five.

33 And he spake of trees, 

from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon 

even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: 

he spake also of beasts, 

and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

34 And there came of all people 

to hear the wisdom of Solomon, 

from all kings of the earth, 

which had heard of his wisdom.

Because it had been prophesied, Solomon builds the HOUSE for GOD, taking seven years to do so.

Finally, the ark of the covenant can be brought in.

Experience that event on the next post.

Related posts:

SOLOMON's sons and 12 officers

SOLOMON succeeds DAVID

GOD rewards Solomon

WISDOM of SOLOMON

SOLOMON and SHEBA

HOUSE for GOD

SOLOMON and HIRAM

Image: Free Bible Images

SOLOMON and HIRAM

 

1 Kings 5:1

King James Version

5 And Hiram king of Tyre 

sent his servants unto Solomon; 

for he had heard that they had anointed him 

king in the room of his father: 

for Hiram was ever a lover of David.

Here's the wonderful team work between the two kings, Hiram and Solomon, as the latter built a HOUSE for GOD.

First, Solomon explains the circumstances to the HOUSE.

1 Kings 5:2-5

King James Version

2 And Solomon sent to Hiram, 

saying,

3 Thou knowest how that David my father 

could not build an house 

unto the name of the Lord his God 

for the wars which were about him on every side, 

until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet.

4 But now the Lord my God 

hath given me rest on every side, 

so that there is neither adversary 

nor evil occurrent.

5 And, behold, 

I purpose to build an house 

unto the name of the Lord my God, 

as the Lord spake unto David my father, saying, 

Thy son, 

whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, 

he shall build an house unto my name.

With Solomon requesting Hiram:

1 Kings 5:6

King James Version

6 Now therefore command thou 

that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; 

and my servants shall be with thy servants: 

and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants 

according to all that thou shalt appoint: 

for thou knowest that there is not among us 

any that can skill to hew timber 

like unto the Sidonians.

Hiram was delighted to help:

1 Kings 5:7-10

King James Version

7 And it came to pass, 

when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, 

that he rejoiced greatly, and said, 

Blessed be the Lord this day, 

which hath given unto David 

a wise son over this great people.

8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, 

I have considered the things 

which thou sentest to me for: 

and I will do all thy desire 

concerning timber of cedar, 

and concerning timber of fir.

9 My servants shall bring them down 

from Lebanon unto the sea: 

and I will convey them by sea in floats 

unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, 

and will cause them to be discharged there,

 and thou shalt receive them: 

and thou shalt accomplish my desire, 

in giving food for my household.

10 So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees 

according to all his desire.

In turn, Solomon provided for Hiram and his household.

1 Kings 5:11

King James Version

11 And Solomon gave Hiram 

twenty thousand measures of wheat 

for food to his household, 

and twenty measures of pure oil: 

thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.

The two excited kings "made a league together".

1 Kings 5:12-18

King James Version

12 And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, 

as he promised him: 

and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; 

and they two made a league together.

13 And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; 

and the levy was thirty thousand men.

14 And he sent them to Lebanon, 

ten thousand a month by courses: 

a month they were in Lebanon, 

and two months at home: 

and Adoniram was over the levy.

15 And Solomon had threescore 

and ten thousand that bare burdens, 

and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;

16 Beside the chief of Solomon's officers 

which were over the work, 

three thousand and three hundred, 

which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.

17 And the king commanded, 

and they brought great stones, 

costly stones, 

and hewed stones, 

to lay the foundation of the house.

18 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders 

did hew them, 

and the stonesquarers: 

so they prepared timber and stones 

to build the house.

This rare friendship, surely was done for the GLORY of GOD, and also to honor Hiram's friendship with Solomon's father, king DAVID.

If you're wondering the extent of Solomon's power given him by GOD, click here.

Images: Free Bible Images

HOUSE for GOD

 

1 Kings 6:1

King James Version

6 And it came to pass in the four hundred 

and eightieth year after the children of Israel 

were come out of the land of Egypt, 

in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel,

in the month Zif, 

which is the second month, 

that he began to build the house of the Lord.

Solomon builds a house for GOD.

And this is how he went about it:

1 Kings 6:2-10

King James Version

2 And the house which king Solomon built for the Lord, 

the length thereof was threescore cubits, 

and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, 

and the height thereof thirty cubits.

3 And the porch before the temple of the house, 

twenty cubits was the length thereof, 

according to the breadth of the house; 

and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house.

4 And for the house he made windows of narrow lights.

5 And against the wall of the house 

he built chambers round about, 

against the walls of the house round about, 

both of the temple and of the oracle: 

and he made chambers round about:

6 The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, 

and the middle was six cubits broad, 

and the third was seven cubits broad: 

for without in the wall of the house 

he made narrowed rests round about, 

that the beams should not be fastened 

in the walls of the house.

7 And the house, when it was in building, 

was built of stone made ready 

before it was brought thither: 

so that there was neither hammer nor axe 

nor any tool of iron heard in the house, 

while it was in building.

8 The door for the middle chamber 

was in the right side of the house: 

and they went up with winding stairs 

into the middle chamber, 

and out of the middle into the third.

9 So he built the house, 

and finished it; 

and covered the house with beams 

and boards of cedar.

10 And then he built chambers against all the house, 

five cubits high: 

and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.

Of course, GOD reminds Solomon the whole objective of it all:

1 Kings 6:11-14

King James Version

11 And the word of the Lord came to Solomon, 

saying,

12 Concerning this house which thou art in building, 

if thou wilt walk in my statutes, 

and execute my judgments, 

and keep all my commandments to walk in them; 

then will I perform my word with thee, 

which I spake unto David thy father:

13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, 

and will not forsake my people Israel.

14 So Solomon built the house, 

and finished it.

How the HOUSE looks like:

1  Kings 6:15-37

King James Version

15 And he built the walls of the house 

within with boards of cedar, 

both the floor of the house, 

and the walls of the ceiling: 

and he covered them on the inside with wood, 

and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir.

16 And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the house, 

both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar: 

he even built them for it within, 

even for the oracle, 

even for the most holy place.

17 And the house, 

that is, the temple before it, 

was forty cubits long.

18 And the cedar of the house within was carved 

with knops and open flowers: 

all was cedar; 

there was no stone seen.

19 And the oracle he prepared in the house within, 

to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

20 And the oracle in the forepart 

was twenty cubits in length, 

and twenty cubits in breadth, 

and twenty cubits in the height thereof: 

and he overlaid it with pure gold; 

and so covered the altar which was of cedar.

21 So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: 

and he made a partition 

by the chains of gold before the oracle; 

and he overlaid it with gold.

22 And the whole house he overlaid with gold, 

until he had finished all the house: 

also the whole altar that was by the oracle 

he overlaid with gold.

23 And within the oracle 

he made two cherubims of olive tree, 

each ten cubits high.

24 And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, 

and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: 

from the uttermost part of the one wing 

unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits.

25 And the other cherub was ten cubits: 

both the cherubims were of one measure and one size.

26 The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, 

and so was it of the other cherub.

27 And he set the cherubims within the inner house: 

and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, 

so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, 

and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; 

and their wings touched one another 

in the midst of the house.

28 And he overlaid the cherubims with gold.

29 And he carved all the walls of the house round about 

with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees 

and open flowers, 

within and without.

30 And the floors of the house he overlaid with gold, 

within and without.

31 And for the entering of the oracle 

he made doors of olive tree: 

the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall.

32 The two doors also were of olive tree; 

and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims 

and palm trees and open flowers,

and overlaid them with gold, 

and spread gold upon the cherubims, 

and upon the palm trees.

33 So also made he 

for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, 

a fourth part of the wall.

34 And the two doors were of fir tree: 

the two leaves of the one door were folding, 

and the two leaves of the other door were folding.

35 And he carved thereon 

cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: 

and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.

36 And he built the inner court 

with three rows of hewed stone, 

and a row of cedar beams.

37 In the fourth year 

was the foundation of the house of the Lord laid, 

in the month Zif:

It took SEVEN years to build this HOUSE for GOD.

1 Kings 6:38

King James Version

38 And in the eleventh year, 

in the month Bul, 

which is the eighth month, 

was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, 

and according to all the fashion of it. 

So was he seven years in building it.

But we must also know about Hiram and Solomon.

How they both helped build the HOUSE for GOD.

And that's for the next post.

Related link:

More details on the HOUSE for GOD

Images: Free Bible Images

SOLOMON and SHEBA

 

1 Kings 10:1

King James Version

10 And when the queen of Sheba 

heard of the fame of Solomon 

concerning the name of the Lord, 

she came to prove him with hard questions.

I had not known Solomon met Sheba.

Up until starting this blog.

Now, we all know.

Scripture testifies of it.

1 Kings 10:2-13

King James Version

2 And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, 

with camels that bare spices, 

and very much gold, 

and precious stones: 

and when she was come to Solomon, 

she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

3 And Solomon told her all her questions: 

there was not any thing hid from the king, 

which he told her not.

4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen 

all Solomon's wisdom, 

and the house that he had built,

5 And the meat of his table, 

and the sitting of his servants, 

and the attendance of his ministers, 

and their apparel, 

and his cupbearers, 

and his ascent by which he went 

up unto the house of the Lord; 

there was no more spirit in her.

6 And she said to the king, 

It was a true report that I heard in mine own land 

of thy acts and of thy wisdom.

7 Howbeit I believed not the words, 

until I came, 

and mine eyes had seen it: 

and, behold, 

the half was not told me: 

thy wisdom and prosperity 

exceedeth the fame which I heard.

8 Happy are thy men, 

happy are these thy servants, 

which stand continually before thee, 

and that hear thy wisdom.

9 Blessed be the Lord thy God, 

which delighted in thee, 

to set thee on the throne of Israel: 

because the Lord loved Israel for ever, 

therefore made he thee king, 

to do judgment and justice.

10 And she gave the king 

an hundred and twenty talents of gold, 

and of spices very great store, 

and precious stones: 

there came no more such abundance of spices 

as these which the queen of Sheba gave 

to king Solomon.

11 And the navy also of Hiram, 

that brought gold from Ophir, 

brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, 

and precious stones.

12 And the king made of the almug trees 

pillars for the house of the Lord, 

and for the king's house, 

harps also and psalteries for singers: 

there came no such almug trees, 

nor were seen unto this day.

13 And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba 

all her desire, 

whatsoever she asked, 

beside that which Solomon gave her 

of his royal bounty. 

So she turned and went to her own country, 

she and her servants.

With all this wisdom, and wealth, what did Solomon do for GOD?

The next post tells more about that.

Related posts:

GOD rewards Solomon

WEALTH from GOD

Image: Free Bible Images

WEALTH from GOD

 

1 Kings 3:13

King James Version

13 And I have also given thee 

that which thou hast not asked, 

both riches, and honour: 

so that there shall not be any among the kings 

like unto thee all thy days.

Solomon asked for wisdom.

Which pleased GOD.

Thus, wealth and honor followed.

Here's a sampling of the material gain GOD gave him:

1 Kings 10:14-29

King James Version

14 Now the weight of gold 

that came to Solomon in one year 

was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,

15 Beside that he had of the merchantmen,

and of the traffick of the spice merchants, 

and of all the kings of Arabia, 

and of the governors of the country.

16 And king Solomon made two hundred targets 

of beaten gold: 

six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.

17 And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; 

three pound of gold went to one shield: 

and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.

18 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, 

and overlaid it with the best gold.

19 The throne had six steps, 

and the top of the throne was round behind:

and there were stays 

on either side on the place of the seat, 

and two lions stood beside the stays.

20 And twelve lions stood there on the one side

and on the other upon the six steps: 

there was not the like made in any kingdom.

21 And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, 

and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon 

were of pure gold; 

none were of silver: 

it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.

22 For the king had at sea 

a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: 

once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, 

bringing gold, and silver, ivory, 

and apes, and peacocks.

23 So king Solomon exceeded 

all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.

24 And all the earth sought to Solomon, 

to hear his wisdom, 

which God had put in his heart.

25 And they brought every man his present, 

vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, 

and garments, and armour, 

and spices, horses, and mules, 

a rate year by year.

26 And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: 

and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, 

and twelve thousand horsemen, 

whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, 

and with the king at Jerusalem.

27 And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, 

and cedars made he to be 

as the sycomore trees that are in the vale, 

for abundance.

28 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, 

and linen yarn: 

the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.

29 And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt 

for six hundred shekels of silver, 

and an horse for an hundred and fifty: 

and so for all the kings of the Hittites, 

and for the kings of Syria, 

did they bring them out by their means.

Did you also know Sheba visited Solomon?

And marveled at his wealth?

That's for the next post.

Related post:

GOD rewards Solomon

EVERYTHING is GOD's

Solomon's SAGA

Image: Free Bible Images