Reading: I Kings 5-7
And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. He was a widow’s son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work(I Kings 7:13-14).
Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. He shall build an house for My name; and he shall be My son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever. (I Chr. 22:9-10). When God chose Solomon to succeed David as king of Israel and build the Temple of the Lord, he hadn’t even been conceived. God made His proclamation before David gave in to lust and took another man’s wife (II Sam. 11:2-4). Before David compounded his sin by attempting to cover it with murder (11:15-17). Before David repented (12:13), and before all the ugly consequences of the sin became manifest. God knew the horror that was to come from David’s exercise of free will, but He also knew the good that He would bring from it. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Rom. 8:28).
Although we know considerably less about the life of Hiram out of Tyre and his parents, it is just as easy to find evidence of God’s hand in his life. Hiram was also the child of a union rooted outside God's will. Tyre was a pagan city-state on the outer border of Canaan, located in the land God granted to the tribe of Asher for their inheritance (Josh. 19:29-31), and God had forbidden the Israelites to intermarry with Canaanites (Deut. 7:3). Hiram’s mother was an Israelite from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre. We know nothing of the circumstances surrounding their marriage, nor do we know what led to Hiram’s mother being widowed, but in Hiram, we see the good that God chose to bring about from those circumstances.
Just as was Solomon, Hiram was born with a God-appointed purpose (though, as is the case with most of us, that purpose was likely unannounced and known only to God). God blessed him with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass, and Hiram used those blessings to their fullest extent to bring glory to God. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work. And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basons. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the Lord (I Kings 7:40).
Our worth is not determined by the circumstances into which we are born but rather by our acceptance of the path that God has set before us. He has equipped each of us with a unique set of gifts so that we might traverse that path and bring glory to His name. In doing so, we will fulfill our purpose and discover our worth.
If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen(I Pet. 4:11).
Thought for Today: It should come as no surprise that times of tribulation occur more frequently as we stray further from God.
Christ Revealed: Through the Temple (I Kings 6). Christ is the true Temple (John 2:21). Through Christ all believers have access to God (Rom. 5:12- 21). Through Him we . . . have access by one Spirit unto the Father (Eph. 2:18).
Word Studies: 5:3 under the soles of his feet = under his control; 5:4 evil occurrent = evil happening; 5:13 levy = forced labor; 6:2 cubit = about 18 inches; 6:5 oracle = Holy of Holies. Oracle in I Kings 8:8-9 = inner sanctuary, location of the two tables of stone. God cannot be separated from His Word whether spoken or written; 6:38 month (of) Bul = October/ November; 7:4 ranks = rows
Pray For Staff:Jennifer Palafox • Country: Libya (6,002,347) in North Africa • Major Languages: Arabic, Italian, English, Berber • No form of Christian witness to Libyans is permitted • 97% Muslim; 3% Other • Prayer Suggestion: Offer your gift of praise to God in prayer (I Pet. 2:5).
Optional Reading:Acts 24