1 Kings 9:26-28
The portrait of Solomon in 1 Kings 9 is by no means completely negative. Solomon continues building, providing defense for the land by building up fortifications at strategic points. Despite his estrangement from Hiram, he continues to have some kind of working relationship with him, as these verses indicate. These verses celebrate one of the glories of Solomon?s reign, his sea-trade. Israel is largely a land-locked nation in the OT; but Solomon goes adventuring on the sea.
The symbolism is also important, because the sea represents the Gentile world, and Solomon?s fleet is a sign that his influence is spreading to the nations. He retrieves gold from Ophir, a place associated with Havilah (Gen 10), which is described as a place rich in gold in Gen 2. Solomon is an Adam once again, gathering gold from the lands outside Eden, and bringing it back to adorn Eden.
But in context these verses also leave us a bit disquieted. Solomon is beginning to multiply gold, something forbidden to Israel?s kings. And this disquiet becomes more pronounced when we compare the account of Solomon?s prosperity in 1 Kings 9 to the earlier account in 1 Kings 4. In this chapter, Solomon?s greatness is described mainly in terms of gold; in the earlier chapter, it was described by reference to food. In 1 Kings 4, Israel as a whole was one big feast; the crumbs from Solomon?s table spilled over to the people. In 1 Kings 9, there is no sign that the people share in the wealth that Solomon is accumulating.
The contrast helps us to identify the true glory of the kingdom of the greater Solomon. Gold is a good, a gift from God. But gold is not of the essence of the kingdom of God, nor of the church. At times, the church prospers and can adorn her buildings with finery and gold; at other times, the church worships in catacombs, conference rooms, and gymnasia. But whether the church has gold or not, the church always has food, for the feast IS of the essence of the church, because the church?s Lord is a Good Shepherd who always feeds His flock.