NO. 197 SOLOMON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT (1)
1. Solomon and the Holy Spirit
Solomon as well as his father David holds the peculiar position among many kings of Israel. The Bible describes the achievement and walk of Solomon devoting nineteen chapters in total, ten chapter on Kings and nine chapters on 2 Chronicles. The evidences of Solomon described on these chapters depict many characteristics of the Holy Spirit. The reasons are simply written as below.
1) Solomon means peace.
JOHN 14: 26, 27 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (KJV)
2) Solomon is the king who has built the Temple of God for the first time.
1 CORINTHIANS 3: 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (KJV)
3) Solomon is the king of wisdom.
JOHN 14: 26, 27 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Further, we would like to learn that the Bible tells about the Holy Spirit through the description of Solomon. I believe it will help us greatly to understand the Holy Spirit that we learn about these words.
2. David and Solomon
Lives of many kings of Israel are described in Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles. But the Bible places David and Solomon in the special position among them. We understand that through the followings.
1) Many chapters about David and Solomon.
The Bible devotes many chapters to David and Solomon. This shows their importance.
2) The kingdom of Israel was united until the time of Solomon.
The kingdom of Israel was divided into two, Northern and Southern kingdoms from the time of Rehoboam, son of Solomon. The three kings before the division, Saul, David and Solomon, were comparatively placed in greater position than others.
It is very exceptional case that the Bible describes the lives of the same persons in details repeatedly. So we know that these two kings are placed in exceptional position.
Well, we see another Person who is described of His life repeatedly in the Bible. He is no other than our Lord Jesus. Four writers of the Gospels recorded the life of Christ. It is my conviction that the two kings, David and Solomon, symbolize Christ and the Holy Spirit.
3. About David
It should be written about David, the father of Solomon, who built the kingdom of Israel before talking about Solomon. Who is David? Whom does he symbolize? I don’t think this is a difficult question. I think the right answer “Christ” will be returned even if they do not think so much. Yes, it is. Many events in the life of David suggest Christ the King. Like Christ, he was born in Bethlehem, became king at thirty (Christ stood in public ministry at thirty), and was the brave to defeat many enemies. David is the representative person to sign for Christ in the Bible as many Bible scholars admit.
4. David who could not build the Temple of God.
We understand that when see the relation between Solomon and David some teachings and truths concerning the relation between Christ and the Holy Spirit are hidden. One of them is that David was not allowed to build the Temple of God but his son Solomon built it instead. David hoped to build it. But God said,
1 CHRONICLES 28: 3 Thou shalt not build an house in my name. (KJV)
Why? What does it mean? We see that the Holy Spirit did not come down while Christ was in this world but instead came down and many people were made the Temple of God after Christ went up into the heaven though David represented Christ. Christ did many wonderful miracles when He was in this world as Son of man. Yet we should discern clearly what He did from what He did not do when He was in this world. Jesus, Son of man, left the job to make the people Temple God to the Holy Spirit. And it symbolizes this fact that David did nit build the Temple of God but left it to Solomon.
5. The plan and the materials of the Temple of God were prepared by David.
1 CHRONICLES 28: 11, 29: 2 28: 11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,
29: 2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. (KJV)
The Bible says that though David did not build the Temple of God he prepared the plan and the materials by himself. This fact reminds us of the next word of Christ.
JOHN 16: 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (KJV)
We can understand the basic characteristic of the Holy Spirit through these descriptions. What kind of Person is the Holy Spirit? This Person shows us Christ’s.
1 CHRONICLES 28: 19 All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern. (KJV)
He, the Holy Spirit, is the very Person who does all the works of His (Christ’s) pattern. Christ intended it that He left the execution of the job to the Holy Spirit. It is the very Holy Spirit who executes the works inside us and makes us into the vessels of God, that is to say, does “all the works of this pattern.” The relation between Solomon and David can be precisely likened to that between the Holy Spirit and Christ. In short, David intended it and Solomon executed it. Likewise, Christ intends it and the Holy Spirit executes it.
6. The instruments to be dedicated to the Temple of God.
2 CHRONICLES 5: 1 Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the Lord was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God. (KJV)
The instruments that are brought into the Temple are used no other than the ones of the Holy Spirit and symbolize each individual Christian who is used for God’s work. One of the things that these descriptions teach concerning vessels is that each vessel is different in its kind and so has different use. And another is that these vessels are dedicated and sanctified by David, Christ. The word, “David dedicated,” reminds us of the word of Christ as below.
JOHN 15: 19 I have chosen you out of the world. (KJV)
We are honored as the vessels of God and used in the Temple of God. But we should not forget it that the qualification and the reason of that are based on the only one fact that we are chosen and sanctified by the Son of God.
7. Solomon and the Temple of God
The life of Solomon that is the symbol of the Holy Spirit has several characteristics, and the greatest and the symbolic of them is that Solomon was the king who built the Temple of God. It is written about this Temple of God in the New Testament as below.
1CORINTHIANS 3: 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (KJV)
This description about the temple of Solomon teaches us several truths about the Holy Spirit.
2 CHRONICLES 6: 10 The Lord therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken: for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. (KJV)
We are now made the Temple of God, and it is written Solomon who made us so. The Person filled with wisdom, knowledge and wealth, the Holy Spirit, has made us the Temple. What do we lack for?
2 CHRONICLES 6: 18 But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built! (KJV)
This word of Solomon, “Will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth?” is the reasonable question. Do we have any ground to ask this living God to dwell with us on the earth? But it is written after these descriptions of the Temple as below.
2 CHRONICLES 7: 1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. (KJV)
The most surprising teaching that we hear since we have become Christian is that the Holy Spirit, that is, God Himself, dwells in us. And this description of the Temple does not tell the simple teaching but the teaching that it is the fact God Himself dwells in us. This will never teach enough, even if how much it is explained.
2 CHRONICLES 6: 20 That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place. (KJV)
God has now made us the Temple of God. We dedicate our prayer here. And it is very important that God hearkens to the prayer in this Temple of God. It seems common to Christians not to be filled with deep emotion, but is still great thing that God hearkens to the prayer. And this reminds us of the word of promise of Christ as below.
JOHN 16: 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. (KJV)
2 CHRONICLES 6: 20 upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there. (KJV)
In the days of Solomon, God’s presence and glory were not seen in other places than this Temple of God. And God said He pus His name there respectfully. What does this fact mean? As I have repeated it, we, Christians, are crowned with the name of Christ and are the Temple of God. And God says that He does not put His name and His presence on any king or any noble man but on us, Christians. This is very solemn thing. And the Bible says it is literally the fact. Yes, the full authority of the name of God in this earth is on us, Christians.
5) The burnt offering was consumed by the fire.
2 CHRONICLES 7: 1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. (KJV)
The fire that came down after Solomon made an end of praying reminds us of that of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit of promise came down as the fire on the day of Pentecost and made us the Temple to dwell in us, Christians. Likewise, the fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifices. This fire has come down on us and consumed our flesh totally to make us offering of sweet savor to God.
Well, there is a verse where it is written about the characteristics of the Temple in summary.
2 CHRONICLES 2: 4 Behold, I build an house to the name of the Lord my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual showbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the Lord our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel. (KJV)
What is the reason why the Lord makes us the Temple of the Holy Spirit? It is no other than really to sanctify us to show His glory for His name. And it is also to dedicate us to the Lord and to let us burn sweet incense, prayers, to God. Further, it is to dedicate burnt offerings morning and evening, that is to say, to dedicate to God ourselves totally burnt by the fire of the Holy Spirit. And “this is an ordinance for ever to Israel,” the God’s people.
8. Solomon and the wisdom
One of the great gifts of Solomon is the wisdom. Let me write about his wisdom as below.
2 CHRONICLES 1: 11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enmies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king. (KJV)
It is written here his motive to ask God for wisdom. This motive is the same as that God gives us the Holy Spirit of wisdom.
2 CHRONICLES 1: 10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and com in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? (KJV)
Wisdom of God was given to Solomon to judge the people like the dust of the earth in multitude (2 Chr. 1: 9). And now the Holy Spirit has come down to judge, admonish, lead and teach Christians like the dust of the earth in multitude, Christians who are scattered all over the world. And He is the person who “may go out and com in before us” to our necessity. As is written, “Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee,” we should not forget that wisdom of knowledge for the necessity of our Christians is in very Solomon (the Holy Spirit). Not all the books, pastors or some specific people have necessarily this wisdom. We should never forget this wisdom and knowledge are in Solomon.
2 CHRONICLES 9: 22 And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. (KJV)
1 KINGS 4: 30 And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. (KJV)
It is written that Solomon’s wisdom excelled all the wisdom of Egypt and all the kings of the earth. Egypt symbolizes this world in the Bible. In short, it says the wisdom of the Holy Spirit excels that of the world. This reminds us of the word of John, “Ye need not that any man teach you.” The wisdom that has been given to us, Christians, of the Holy Spirit excels far over that of this world.
2 CHRONICLES 9: 2 And Solomon told her all her questions: and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not. (KJV)
It is written, “Solomon told her all her questions: and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not.” The Holy Spirit is really one and only Person who solves all the problems and difficult questions of ours.
2 CHRONICLES 9: 7 Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom. (KJV)
The praise of this queen of Sheba to the servants of Solomon can be also said that to us Christians who can hear the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. How happy were these servants of Solomon who could hear the wisdom of Solomon near him! And how happy are we who can hear the wisdom of the Holy Spirit that excels that of Solomon!
2 CHRONICLES 9: 5, 6 5 And she said to the king, It was a true report which I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom:
6 Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame of that I heard. (KJV)
ROMANS 11: 33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (KJV)
As Paul cried out as above, the wisdom of our God far exceeds our thoughts and cannot be measured by wisdom of men. When we are touched of the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, we will think as, “the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me.”
To be continued: