ALWAYS FAITHFUL TO HIS PROMISES

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

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So King Solomon ruled over all Israel. And these were his chief officials:

Azariah, son of Zadok—the priest; Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha—secretaries; Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud-recorder; Benaiah, son of Jehoiada—commander in chief;

Zadok and Abiathar-priests; Azariah, son of Nathan—in charge of the district officers;

Zabud, son of Nathan—a priest and personal adviser to the king; Ahishar—in charge of the palace; Adoniram, son of Abda—in charge of forced labor.

Solomon also had twelve district governors over all Israel who supplied provisions for the king and the royal household. Each one had to provide supplies for one month in the year. These are their names:

Ben-Hur—in the hill country of Ephraim; Ben-Deker—in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh and Elon Bethhanan; Ben-Hesed—in Arubboth (Socoh and all the land of Hepher were his Ben-Abinadab—in Naphoth Dor (he was married to Taphath, daughter of Solomon; Baana, son of Ahilud—in Taanach and Megiddo, and in all of Beth Shan next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth Shan to Abel Meholah across to Jokmeam; Ben-Geber—in Ramoth Gilead (the settlements of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead were his as well as the district of Argob in Bashan and its sixty large walled cities with bronze gate bars; Ahinadab, son of Iddo—in Mahanaim; Ahimaaz—in Naphtali (he had married Basemath, daughter of Solomon; Baana, son of Hushai—in Asher and in Aloth; Jehoshaphat, son of Paruah—in Issachar; Shimei, son of Ela—in Benjamin; Geber, son of Uri—in Gilead (the country of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and the country of Og, king of Bashan). He was the only governor over the district.

The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank, and they were happy. And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon's subjects all his life.

Solomon's daily provisions were thirty cors of fine flour and sixty cors of meal, ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle, and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks, and choice fowl. For he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and had peace on all sides. During Solomon's lifetime, Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, each man under his own vine and fig tree.

Solomon had four thousand stalls for chariot horses and twelve thousand horses. The district officers, each in his month, supplied provisions for King Solomon and all who came to the king's table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking.

They also brought to the proper place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and the other horses.

God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than any other man, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations.

He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world who had heard of his wisdom.

1 Kings 4

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Going back to 1 Kings, chapter 3, you may remember this from the scriptures:

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this (a discerning heart). So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both riches and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. Vv.10-13

Here, we see that there was little doubt that Solomon had won over the Lord by asking for wisdom when he could have asked for anything else. We read where he didn’t seek long life or wealth or even the fatal downfall of his enemies. No, he simply wanted wisdom so to lead his people the right way…a people who really belonged to God.

And so we see that the Lord not only granted Solomon what he wished for but assured him that He would receive far more than that. For God vowed to bestow riches and honor on Israel’s new king…so much so that he would have no equal among other kings. Such would be the blessing God would provide and in chapter 4, we see in our passage today how God delivered on His promise.

For in our passage for today, we read about all of Solomon’s chief officials and district governors, learning just how much the Lord had blessed the new king of Israel. Here’s a summation of those blessings:

1. “Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon's subjects all his life…. For he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and had peace on all sides.”

Solomon’s kingdom was vast with all territory granted to him by God. And as a byproduct from the great esteem he fostered with the countries he ruled, Solomon was well cared for by his subjects who all brought him tribute.

2. “The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore…”

A powerful kingdom isn’t only about land mass. It’s also about people and the Lord made certain that Solomon would have plenty populating his population…as many as sands on the seashore.

3. “…they ate, they drank and they were happy…. During Solomon's lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, each man under his own vine and fig tree.”

Here we read where Solomon wasn’t the only one blessed by God. His people were as well for they were happy and safe with plenty to eat and drink. Life was good for them as they shared in the Lord’s bountiful blessings.

4. “Solomon's daily provisions were thirty cors of fine flour and sixty cors of meal, ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle, and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks, and choice fowl...Solomon had four thousand stalls for chariot horses and twelve thousand horses. The district officers, each in his month, supplied provisions for King Solomon and all who came to the king's table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking….They also brought to the proper place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and the other horses…God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than any other man, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations…He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world who had heard of his wisdom.”

The scriptures show us that Solomon was not only was made wiser than his contemporaries but he was also give abundant riches and honor…all because God had assured he would have it. We’re reminded here that the Lord never breaks His promises.

Given this, think about how many times God has kept His promises while blessing you in your own life. I know He has given me more than I deserve, over and over again.

For He promised to never leave me nor forsake me and I remember well how He never stopped pursuing me, even when I wasn’t giving my attention to Him. Indeed, there was never a time when He wasn’t walking alongside and on that day when I decided to submit my life to Him, He wasn’t hard to find for He was right there, like the father who was watching for his prodigal son to return (Luke 15:11-32).

After placing my faith and trust in Him, He showed Himself to be my Refuge and very present help in times of trouble (psalm 46:1)…a mighty Stronghold who watched over me and kept me safe from harm. He also proved He was the Light who leads people out of darkness after infidelity happened in my first marriage, helping me navigate through the feelings of betrayal, hurt, and pain.

Finally, I walk in hope every day because He promised me that I won’t perish but have everlasting life once I believed in His Son Jesus as my Savior…the Lamb of God who came and took away the sin of the world (John 1:29). It was this Jesus who then vowed to be with me until the end of the age and He has while I work every day to answer His call to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20).

Friends, we serve a Lord who is good all the time, ever faithful to promises that He always keeps.

Can I get a witness?

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.