Study of the Book of Kings – 1Ki 9:10-28 “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”
1Ki 9:10-28 “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”
[Study Aired February 10, 2022]
1Ki 9:10 And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD, and the king’s house,
1Ki 9:11 (Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.
1Ki 9:12 And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not.
1Ki 9:13 And he said, What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day.
1Ki 9:14 And Hiram sent to the king sixscore talents of gold.
1Ki 9:15 And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the LORD, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.
1Ki 9:16 For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and given it for a present unto his daughter, Solomon’s wife.
1Ki 9:17 And Solomon built Gezer, and Bethhoron the nether,
1Ki 9:18 And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land,
1Ki 9:19 And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
1Ki 9:20 And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel,
1Ki 9:21 Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto this day.
1Ki 9:22 But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.
1Ki 9:23 These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomon’s work, five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.
1Ki 9:24 But Pharaoh’s daughter came up out of the city of David unto her house which Solomon had built for her: then did he build Millo.
1Ki 9:25 And three times in a year did Solomon offer burnt offerings and peace offerings upon the altar which he built unto the LORD, and he burnt incense upon the altar that was before the LORD. So he finished the house.
1Ki 9:26 And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom.
1Ki 9:27 And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.
1Ki 9:28 And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.
Matthew 10:1-42 is a sort of blue print regarding how we are to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God in this age, and this section of Kings we are looking at tonight (1Ki 9:10-28) has a lot to say to us in type and shadow of how the world will react to the preaching of the true gospel in this age and what we can expect will happen to us as we are about our Father’s business (Luk 2:49) of preaching the gospel to every man in the way God has instructed us in His word and not as we used to when we were in Babylon compassing “sea and land [carnal terrain] to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves” (Mar 16:15, Mat 24:14, Col 1:28-29, Mat 23:15).
Luk 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. [In time the gospel message will be heard by all of God’s creation, by all nations within.]
Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Col 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.Mat 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
We need to have heard and believed the gospel within in order to have a proper outward application of preaching the gospel, and so with that in mind, we have these scriptures reminding us that the primary way we are to hear the preaching of the gospel is within ourselves first (Mar 16:15, Gen 1:26-28, Mat 10:23).
Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. [We gain dominion over every creature within (Gen 1:26-28) through the word of God that quickens us (Joh 6:63). God’s spirit makes it possible for us to bring every thought captive (2Co 10:5) and onto Noah’s ark that symbolizes the body of Christ being brought into subjection to Christ as we move with fear to the saving of our house. It is by those actions the Lord works in us that we can then be the light of the world and preach the gospel to all nations outside ourselves (Heb 11:7)]
Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Gen 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: [when we gain dominion over the beasts within by the grace of God then this is what will happen spiritually] and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.[“Over every living thing“ is another way of saying we are to bring “into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2Co 10:5)]
Mat 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come [In time the gospel message will be heard by all of God’s creation, by all nations within].
Christ calling the “twelve disciples” in Matthew 10:1 is showing us that God is about to reveal to us something foundational that can only be built upon Christ. Each name of the apostles is significant in laying this foundation, and each one has been given “power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease” [these physical things, “sickness and all manner of disease”, represent false doctrine]. Notice that “Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him” was one of the twelve who was given “power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease” reminding us of Christ’s words: “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven“. So we see we can have all sorts of knowledge and understanding of what is correct doctrine and still not have any love in our hearts if God is not shedding that love abroad in our hearts (Luk 10:20, 1Co 13:2, Rom 5:5).
Luk 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
1Co 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Judas’ name was not written in heaven to be an overcomer as were the other eleven as we are told of Christ, “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.” (Joh 17:12)
Judas symbolizes the man of perdition within us who must be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming (2Th 2:8) and what Christ will destroy within us is the strong delusion that can come with having “power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” Remember we’re talking about a section of scripture that has to do with preaching the gospel and letting people know that the kingdom of God is at hand. The unbelieving need a sign, “power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” However, the elect are told to understand that the greater sign is unseen, and that is the truth that “ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Col 3:3) and that your names are written in heaven: “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.“
Having our names “written in heaven” is what we have if the spirit of God is within us in our heavens (Rom 8:9) which is the only way we can do greater works than Christ, meaning we will be instrumental in healing people even in this age, unlike Christ who did not convert anyone in His earthly ministry. We are like Christ in this regard in that we preach the gospel as a witness to a world which will not be converted by that message unless they are being dragged to Christ in this age, as his disciples indeed were (1Jn 4:17, Joh 6:44, Joh 8:31-32)
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Blessed are they who believe and have not seen, we are told in John 20:29, for it is only with the faith of Christ (Luk 22:32) that we can try the spirits of this age and truly be blessed to understand and keep these words of Christ (Rev 1:3) which were the instructions He gave the twelve regarding how they were to preach the gospel: “Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying…Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give” (Mat 10:5-8). We preach the gospel to each other, the “Israel of God” (Gal 6:16), by believing that the kingdom of God is within (Luk 17:21) and that we have the power within ourselves to spiritually do this for each other; to “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give“, until the first resurrection and the outward kingdom of God is established, being perfected on the third day (Luk 13:32).
Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Luk 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
So now the disciples are told who to go to and who not to go to, and this also is a parable of Christ (Mat 13:34) telling us that if we are truly God’s shepherds with His spirit in us, we will not be preaching the gospel with a carnal approach as we have all done in the past, and still can, but rather as we’re maturing and being led of the spirit of God (Rom 8:14-16) we are no longer going in “the way of the Gentiles” casting the pearls of God’s truth unnecessarily on ground that was never meant to bring forth fruit in this age. The truth is if someone is attracted to the message of the true gospel, they will be dragged to Christ in us (Joh 6:44) who will be ready to give an answer for the hope that is within us (1Pe 3:15).
Preaching the true gospel is accomplished with the faith of Christ that gives us the confidence we have all that we need Him to accomplish this (2Co 3:5), and this is the reason why Christ says these words in this parable: “Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.” (Mat 10:9-14).
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; [He is our gold, silver, brass, scrip, spiritual clothing, and protection (stave)]
It’s not that we don’t need physical things to do the work of God, but rather the parable is telling us that the work we are doing is not dependent on our efforts [our gold, our silver, our brass, our coats, our shoes, our staves; all symbols of what our flesh needs to be sustained instead of realizing that God has us spiritually covered, sustained, as confirmed with Christ’s words “the workman is worthy of his meat” (Heb 11:6)]. As we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling with the faith of Christ, we will understand this parable of Christ is telling us that He is the one who is doing the work within us both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure (Php 2:12-13). Christ tells us to ask, seek, and knock, as we go forth with a desire to be fishers of men and “enquire who in it is worthy” [in the city]. I’m sure anyone who fishes would enquire about the status of the lake or river or part of the ocean they are going to fish. Is there a possibility that the gospel will be received or am I fishing in the dead sea here? Great question! Or am I going to preach the gospel with the wisdom of men or by the power of God? (two verses with the same message [1Co 2:4, Joh 21:6]).
Those to whom we are led to preach the true gospel and who reject that message is something God’s elect are going to experience as well, and Christ tells us that of those souls, “It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city” and “it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them” (Mat 10:15, 2Pe 2:21). The meaning is that we need to know there will be consequences for those who hear the message through God’s elect and reject that message. It makes sense that right after this section of scripture we are told by Christ of those who will preach the gospel, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves, But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles” (Mat 10:16-18). There must be a witness against the world through what God is doing in each of our lives and so we are brought “before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles“, and they are used of God “for my sake“, meaning for our sakes who have the life of Christ within us (2Co 4:15, Rom 8:9)
2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Does anything that Christ says here sound easy? If we think so in our spirit, that is a good thing because all things are possible for God who makes us more than conquerors through Christ and “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us”, and if our names are written in heaven we will come to “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Rom 8:37, Rom 8:18, Php 4:4). Notwithstanding, we are also instructed of God to arm ourselves with the realistic mind of Christ (1Pe 4:1, 1Co 10:13) which tells us we will be hated of all men for His name’s sake, and yes, He will equip us to endure the rest of these verses that I will read which are instructive in showing us the fallout of living for Christ and standing on His words in this age, as well as showing us His faithfulness to see us through all these trials of being hated of all men so we can be among those who endure until the end in order to be saved, “but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.“
Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
Mat 10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Mat 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
Mat 10:24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
Mat 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Mat 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
Mat 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Mat 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Mat 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Mat 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Mat 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Mat 10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
Mat 10:41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
Mat 10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
With this new testament backdrop in our minds of how we are called to preach the gospel to all men, we will now look at our verses in 1 Kings (1Ki 9:10-28) which reveal certain events which parallel this experience of preaching the gospel to the world via the life of king Solomon who is a type of the elect in this world and a type of Christ.
1Ki 9:10 And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD, and the king’s house,
The two houses that were built took twenty years. The two houses represent the witness of Christ and His Christ whose house is now ready to witness the true gospel symbolized by the completed “house of the LORD, and the king’s house“. The house of the LORD, and the king’s house took twenty years for Solomon to build and the fruit of his labor would be recognized by those activities that would take place in and around the temple in the years to come. Jacob typifies this 20-year period of time as well having waited “twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times” in regard to serving Laban who symbolizes our flesh (Gen 31:41). We serve the flesh for that symbolic period of time as we learn obedience by the things we suffer as Christ did in His flesh, and it is through that exercise of evil in this world that God’s love is perfected in us through judgment (1Jn 4:17) a judgment we are able to bear as a result of the love of God being shed abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5). His love alone is what makes it possible for us to endure all things, and hope all things until the end of our lives (1Co 13:7).
Gen 31:41 Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
1Co 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
1Ki 9:11 (Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.
Hiram, the king of Tyre, represents the unbelieving masses who provide the furnishings of God’s golden word for the temple today which we are (1Co 3:16). The cedar trees, and fir trees, are symbolic of the ministers of Babylon whom we have come to understand for who they are, non-fruit bearing trees (Isa 3:1) that are now serving us in their unbelief (Heb 3:19, 2Co 4:4, Rom 11:31-32) within our temple where we’ve taken their ever-searching hearts that were not able to come to the knowledge of the truth [cedar and fir trees with no fruit] and being blessed to utilize the gold that was given from Hiram to rightly adorn the temple of God with it (2Ti 3:7, Luk 10:24).
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Luk 10:24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
It is with this understanding of how the unbelief of the modern day churches serve us today “that then king Solomon [who represents the elect] gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. This symbolic action represents our witness of preaching the gospel to every nation outwardly (Mar 16:15), and as we will see that message, like the parable of the vineyard tells us, it is rejected (Mat 23:34-35, 1Pe 1:12).
Mat 23:34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
Mat 23:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Mat 23:36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
HiramH2438, whose name means “noble” and represents Babylon (out of which we are coming and is outside of us only because we have been given to acknowledge that we have been granted to be the first generation to confess that the “All these things shall come upon this generation“), who is ‘not pleased’ with this gift of 20 cities in the land of Galilee, is speaking of our blind and yet unjudged old man who cannot see the things of the Spirit and therefore rejects it (Mar 7:9, 1Co 1:26-27).
Mar 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
1Co 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
The name Galilee is a symbolic name that tells us the world is ever searching and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth like the Israelites of old who wandered for forty years in the wilderness in a circuit or circle, and that is exactly what we do with the word of God at first when we are initially delivered from Egypt (Jos 5:6).
Jos 5:6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD : unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
– Definition: Galilee = circuit, district
- a territory in Naphtali [H5321 “my wrestling“] largely occupied by heathen; a circuit of towns around Kedesh-Naphtali H5321, in which were situated the 20 towns given by Solomon to Hiram king of Tyre as payment for his work in conveying timber from Lebanon to Jerusalem
– Origin: the same as H1550
– Strong’s: the same as H1550; a circle (with the article);Galil (as a special circuit) in the North of Palestine: – Galilee].1Ki 9:12 And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not.
1Ki 9:13 And he said, What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day.It was after the temple was furnished of those things Hiram gave to Solomon that Solomon gave Hiram “twenty cities in the land of Galilee“. As already mentioned, Hiram was not pleased with the cities and “he called them the land of CabulH3521 unto this day“. Whatever the physical historical reason Hiram was displeased with these cities and ended up calling them worthless is not what we’re trying to understand as much as to know what the spiritual significance of this gift being rejected is, coming on the heels of Solomon being blessed by this Phoenician king of Tyre who had an affection toward Solomon’s father, David (1Ki 5:1). As a man thinks in his heart so is he (Pro 23:7) and Hiram sees these cities as being ‘sterile’ and ‘unable to produce anything good’, which is how the world looks at the true gospel message of Christ which is rejected. Hiram loved the name of David (type of Christ) but rejected the food and the clothing, in type and shadow, by rejecting this gift from king Solomon (Isa 4:1).
H3521
kâbûl
kaw-bool’
From the same as H3525 in the sense of limitation; sterile; Cabul, the name of two places in Palestine: – Cabul.
Total KJV occurrences: 2Isa 4:1 AND in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.
Hiram is coming out of Babylon [“Tyre“] to see this gift from king Solomon. Hiram comes into twenty cities that were given to him by king Solomon, and he rejects them. Hiram seeing them as having no value and as worthless tells us that he had no appreciation for the things of God, either the words or the works that Solomon (Joh 10:38), who is a type of Christ, witnessed to Hiram by giving him 20 cities [2x10=20]. That is precisely how our Babylonian brothers in the world today would receive the (20) cities that are within us that have not rejected Christ in us. We reject the cities that reject Christ in us, and the world rejects the cities that are within us that are accepted of Christ (Mat 10:14, 2Co 2:16, Eph 1:6).
Mat 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
2Co 2:16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
1Ki 9:14 And Hiram sent to the king sixscore talents of gold.
Sending the king 120 talents of gold tells us that God’s word can only become foundational [12x10] in the church, the body of Christ, his flesh [10x12] and bones (Eph 5:30), where the manifest knowledge of God is made known (Eph 3:10). The gold, while we are in Babylon, is wrapped around the idol of our hearts and only becomes purified of those idols when judgment comes upon us in the church, symbolized by the temple (1Pe 4:17).
Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Ki 9:15 And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the LORD, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.
1Ki 9:16 For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and given it for a present unto his daughter, Solomon’s wife.
1Ki 9:17 And Solomon built Gezer, and Bethhoron the nether,This section of Kings reminds us of God’s provision for the body of Christ, symbolized by “the levy which king Solomon raised“. The tax that is upon the world is the unbelief that is in their hearts which strengthens us and convicts us of the things we have been blessed to prove and confirm in our own heavens today (Rom 11:22-33, Php 1:10).
Looking at verse 15, what is being accomplished in the body of Christ through God’s power is the building of the following:
- the house of the LORD
- his own house
- Millo H4407 From H4390 = fulness, abundance, accomplished, satisfied ; a rampart (as filled in), that is, the citadel: – Millo. See also H1037.
- the wall of Jerusalem – the wall of “founded in peace”
- HazorH2674 – “castle” or “village”
- MegiddoH4023 – “place of crowds” or “rendez-vous”
- GezerH1507 – “portion” or “something cut off”
Before Gezer is built, we are specifically told, “Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken GezerH1507, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and given it for a present unto his daughter, Solomon’s wife.” In this instance, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, represents God who uses the Gentile city Gezer to bring us into spiritual captivity where we are humbled, “burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city“, until we are given as “a present unto his daughter, Solomon’s wife” which is symbolic of coming out of Babylon and becoming the bride of Christ, represented by Solomon’s wife when we consider that Solomon is a type of Christ in this instance.
The root word for Gezer is taken From H1504; something cut off; a portion: – part, piece reminding us that there is a remnant that is first saved (Rom 11:5). There are two specific areas mentioned together that Solomon built “Gezer, and Bethhoron the nether“. Gezer represents the remnant, the church that Christ builds, and “BethhoronH1032 the netherH8481” represents the other fold, the rest of the world, that Christ speaks of in (Joh 10:16, 1Co 15:22) that will one day be saved after the remnant.
Gezer: H1507
gezer
gheh’-zer
The same as H1506; Gezer, a place in Palestine: – Gazer, Gezer.H1506
gezer
gheh’-zer
From H1504; something cut off; a portion: – part, piece.Bethhoron: H1032
bêyth chôrôn
bayth kho-rone’
From H1004 and H2356; house of hollowness; Beth-Choron, the name of two adjoining places in Palestine: – Beth-horon.nether: H8481
tachtôn tachtôn
takh-tone’, takh-tone’
From H8478; bottommost: – lower (-est), nether (-most).1Ki 9:18 And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land,
1Ki 9:19 And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
1Ki 9:20 And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel,
1Ki 9:21 Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto this day.These additional cities that are mentioned which Solomon built represent the many unconverted nations of the world or Babylon stated this way: “BaalathH1191 =mistress, and TadmorH8412 = palm tree in the wilderness, in the land“.
Notice the terminology in the next series of cities and how this is speaking of those things that belonged to Solomon’s strength: “cities for his chariots” and “cities for his horsemen” and “and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.”
These cities represent sin that still resides within us (1Jn 1:8) represented by, “all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel.
These chariots and horsemen represent our strength in our flesh and inability to overcome sin in our lives without Christ. Solomon, who represents Christ, sees “all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel” within us as well as “Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy.” Their children represent false doctrines that Christ in us helps us identify and overcome, represented by Solomon doing this “upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto this day.“
1Ki 9:22 But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.
1Ki 9:23 These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomon’s work, five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.We must, through the spirit of God, mortify the deeds of the flesh in this life (Rom 8:13) stated this way verse 21: “upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto this day“, which is what we do when we resist the devil (Jas 4:7). We also read of how we are to deal with sin via the grace through faith gift (Eph 2:8) of God represented by the “five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work” of verse 23. So it is by submitting ourselves to God and resisting the devil that we will be able to “bare rule over the people that wrought in the work” which is happening within us.
The liberty we have in Christ and the victory we are promised through him is typified by what is said in verse 22: “But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.“
Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
1Ki 9:24 But Pharaoh’s daughter came up out of the city of David unto her house which Solomon had built for her: then did he build Millo.
1Ki 9:25 And three times in a year did Solomon offer burnt offerings and peace offerings upon the altar which he built unto the LORD, and he burnt incense upon the altar that was before the LORD. So he finished the house.It is because of that typical grace mentioned in verse 23, representing the grace through faith relationship that we have with God (Eph 2:8), that “Pharaoh’s daughter came up out of the city of David unto her house which Solomon had built for her: then did he build Millo“. This daughter represents the elect bride who are having their house built by Christ typified by Solomon (Psa 127:1).
The only way the spiritual house can be completed (“So he finished the house“) which Christ is building, is via “The Process of Spiritual Completion Through Judgment” which is what the next verse signifies for us: “three times in a year did Solomon offer burnt offerings and peace offerings upon the altar which he built unto the LORD, and he burnt incense upon the altar that was before the LORD“.
We look to the Lord and present ourselves a living sacrifice, “burnt offerings and peace offerings upon the altar“, and offer up our thanks and praise and fervent prayer that is likened unto “burnt incense upon the altar that was before the LORD” which is how Solomon or Christ in us “finished the house“, rather today is finishing the house within us, as the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:1-2).
Heb 12:1 WHEREFORE seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.1Ki 9:26 And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom.
1Ki 9:27 And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.
1Ki 9:28 And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.Solomon was a wise king who, while he was building his own kingdom, developed a navy that symbolizes the strength of Christ in us to rule over “Eziongeber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom” which represents our flesh. He also maintained a working relationship with Hiram, stated this way: “And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.” It was through this relationship that Solomon was able to receive the benefit of his close tie to Hiram whose navy “came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.“
This is a lesson for us today while we are in the world and not of it (Joh 17:15-16), to learn to walk with all men in peace (Rom 12:17-18) being the light of Christ to them knowing that this is preaching the gospel to them as well, even if the specifics of what that gospel mean are never mentioned. We know that in due time the Lord will use every relationship that we’ve had to His glory and honor (Isa 55:10-11) bringing those three measures of meal in our lives today into remembrance in the day of their visitation (Mat 13:33, 1Pe 2:12, 1Pe 3:15, Luk 16:8-9).
Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.Isa 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.Mat 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took [the church], and hid [Col 3:3] in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened [positive use of leaven].
1Pe 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Luk 16:8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
Luk 16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.Verse 28 shows us that the best results in our sojourn in Christ, the finding of the best gold, the gold of Ophir (‘420 talents’), comes about when we have Christ working in our lives (2) and we experience this right relationship of loving our neighbour as ourselves (Mar 12:31). It’s the whole relationship (4) that God is after, teaching us to love our neighbor as ourselves, the other fold and the body of Christ (Joh 10:16), doing good unto all men, unto Solomon and unto Hiram (Gal 6:10). The whole (4) is also represented by these verses (Mat 22:37-40).
Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.As God gives us to bind mercy and truth around our necks (Pro 3:3), we “find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man” and are being made ready for the day of their visitation when both folds, the whole of creation (Joh 10:16) will enjoy the blessing of having the same gold of Ophir (Isa 13:12, 2Co 4:7) that represents God’s word in our hearts and minds today: “And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.” The gospel therefore is always being preached whether by words or works, “even though you do not believe me, believe the works” (Joh 10:37-38), and God is the one who is leading His little fold through Christ to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves, being made aware of wicked men within and without (Mat 10:16) as we “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Isa 13:12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
Pro 3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Pro 3:4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
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