The opening text for Solomon’s agreement with Hiram reads:
1st Kings 5:1-3
1 When Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king to succeed his father David, he sent his envoys to Solomon, because he had always been on friendly terms with David. 2 Solomon sent back this message to Hiram:
3 "You know that because of the wars waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build a temple for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD put his enemies under his feet. 4 But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster. 5 I intend, therefore, to build a temple for the Name of the LORD my God, as the LORD told my father David, when he said, ‘Your son whom I will put on the throne in your place will build the temple for my Name.’
Concerning the agreement between Solomon & king Hiram of Tyre, Matthew Henry writes …(commentary courtesy of Biblegateway)
Here is Solomon’s design to build a temple. There is no adversary, no Satan, so the word is; no instrument of Satan to oppose it, or to divert from it. Satan does all he can, to hinder temple work. When there is no evil abroad, then let us be ready and active in that which is good, and get forward. Let God’s promises quicken our endeavors. And all outward skill and advantages should be made serviceable to the interests of Christ’s kingdom. It Tyre supplies Israel with craftsmen,
Israel will supply Tyre with corn, Ezekiel 27:17. Thus, by the wise disposal of Providence, one country has need of another, and is benefited by another, that there may be dependence on one another, to the glory of God. (1st Kings 5:10-18)
(commentary courtesy of Biblegateway)
Hiram was from the Phoenician culture which practiced the pagan worship of Molech, the star –god Saturn, & Asherah (or Atorte) the fertility goddess. Though Hiram praises the God of Israel for the wisdom He has given to Solomon (1st Kings 5:7); there doesn’t seem to be a clear indication that Hiram actually followed the God of Israel. The NIV Study Bible suggests:
NIV Study Bible Comments ref: 1st Kings verses 5-7:
In polytheistic cultures it was common practice for the people of one nation to recognize the deities of another nation. (see: 10:9;11:5) and even to ascribe certain powers to them see: 2nd Kings 18:25; see also 2nd Chronicles 2:12)
Assuming that the commentary I read was an accurate reflection of the dealings between Israel and some of it’s neighbors, it springboards some other thoughts and questions.
So here we have Solomon a man of God and full of wisdom having this business association with pagans. On the surface the conclusion to draw might be to say that its “not right” to partner up with pagans, especially with something as sacred as the Temple. After all doesn’t Paul says in 2nd Corinthians 6…?
14Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
2nd Corinthians 6:14 was used in a sarcastic manner in hopes of helping to illustrate a point or two. Paul’s command to the Corinthians of “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers" is addressing the issue of Christian having sexual relations with an idolater (not that two unwed Christians should be “hooking up” either).
As is the case with any portion of Scripture, the intent (the spirit of the text) can be misunderstood, thus an improper conclusion is drawn. One misunderstanding; a common I suspect, is to ascertain that the command from Paul instructs the Christian to not have any dealings with unbelievers. However! Considering Jesus’ giving of The Great Commission (“…go and make disciples of all nations…"); Paul’s commands become antagonistic to Jesus and The Great Commission if that command is believed to be an all inclusive statement vs having a narrowly defined criteria. Looking back to Christ though, let’s survey several instances where He engaged sinners.
Given the past examples from Christ, it seems clear then that a Christian will almost surely have to engage unbelievers/”sinners” in some form or another which, brings us back to 1st Kings 5:1-3.
Reading the text from 1st Kings 5:1-3, I began to wonder as to what is the significance of the Bible mentioning Hiram’s respective relationship with David and Solomon. "What’s the big deal with
this pagan being the supplier of lumber for the building of the Temple?"
First, glory to God the Father and the Holy Spirit because I’m just not too sharp on my own to figure this out. So it occurs to me that an implication to conclude from the text is that just as David and Solomon “partnered” up with a pagan to accomplish their respective God-given tasks; Christians today may find themselves in a similar situation. No not speaking of building a temple, rather in a broader view such as the participation of the building up of God’s Kingdom.
See? I think that sometimes we turn our faith in Jesus into a religion of our own making by imposing restrictions upon ourselves that God has not instituted. What I’m driving is that it’s not uncommon for denominational “rules”, a faulty understanding of Scripture, or a legalistic attitude to create spiritual blinders. These spiritual blinders (prejudices) can then inhibit the Christian from accomplishing the work that God has planned for us.
Ephesians 2:1-10
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Riding on that last idea, final thoughts that come to mind revolve around the gospel itself. I suppose with regard to the previous thought it could be considered a principal or something or practical value (in a Christian context). Principles and practicality aside there is I believe, a Gospel implication that rides underneath the account of Solomon and Hiram’s agreement. “What’s to say that partnering up with a non-believer for an mutual material benefit isn’t also part of the Lord’s way of providing the non-believer an opportunity to hear the Gospel; and you the Christian an opportunity to preach the Gospel to them?” (see also: Luke 16:1-14)
Grace and peace be with you.
Got-Fruit(?)
Examining Solomon’s Agreement with Hiram
The opening text for Solomon’s agreement with Hiram reads:
Concerning the agreement between Solomon & king Hiram of Tyre, Matthew Henry writes …(commentary courtesy of Biblegateway)
Hiram was from the Phoenician culture which practiced the pagan worship of Molech, the star –god Saturn, & Asherah (or Atorte) the fertility goddess. Though Hiram praises the God of Israel for the wisdom He has given to Solomon (1st Kings 5:7); there doesn’t seem to be a clear indication that Hiram actually followed the God of Israel. The NIV Study Bible suggests:
NIV Study Bible Comments ref: 1st Kings verses 5-7:
Assuming that the commentary I read was an accurate reflection of the dealings between Israel and some of it’s neighbors, it springboards some other thoughts and questions.
So here we have Solomon a man of God and full of wisdom having this business association with pagans. On the surface the conclusion to draw might be to say that its “not right” to partner up with pagans, especially with something as sacred as the Temple. After all doesn’t Paul says in 2nd Corinthians 6…?
As is the case with any portion of Scripture, the intent (the spirit of the text) can be misunderstood, thus an improper conclusion is drawn. One misunderstanding; a common I suspect, is to ascertain that the command from Paul instructs the Christian to not have any dealings with unbelievers. However! Considering Jesus’ giving of The Great Commission (“…go and make disciples of all nations…"); Paul’s commands become antagonistic to Jesus and The Great Commission if that command is believed to be an all inclusive statement vs having a narrowly defined criteria. Looking back to Christ though, let’s survey several instances where He engaged sinners.
Given the past examples from Christ, it seems clear then that a Christian will almost surely have to engage unbelievers/”sinners” in some form or another which, brings us back to 1st Kings 5:1-3.
Reading the text from 1st Kings 5:1-3, I began to wonder as to what is the significance of the Bible mentioning Hiram’s respective relationship with David and Solomon. "What’s the big deal with
this pagan being the supplier of lumber for the building of the Temple?"
See? I think that sometimes we turn our faith in Jesus into a religion of our own making by imposing restrictions upon ourselves that God has not instituted. What I’m driving is that it’s not uncommon for denominational “rules”, a faulty understanding of Scripture, or a legalistic attitude to create spiritual blinders. These spiritual blinders (prejudices) can then inhibit the Christian from accomplishing the work that God has planned for us.
Grace and peace be with you.