OT # 26
                            King Solomon: Man of Wisdom, Man of Peace
                                                    I Kings 3; 5-11
                                                   by Lenet H. Read

I. David’s Seed to Rule Forever
    A. While David bore witness of Christ’s first coming as the Shepherd King, Solomon bore witness of Him as the Millennial King. 
        1 This King’s Kingdom would endure forever (1 Chron. 28:7).
        2. Scripture: “I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish forever… and his throne as the sun before me” (Psalm 89:3-4, 36).

II. Solomon taught of Christ’s wisdom, surpassing all Kings (1 Kings 4:34). 
    A. Supporting Scriptures: “And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth…” (1 Kings 4:34). Of him Queen Sheba exclaimed, “thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard” (1 Kings 10:7).
     B. Christ Himself taught these events were prophetic when He said, “The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.” (Matthew 12:42). (Italics added).
        1. As a witness He was the future King of Wisdom, at Jesus’ birth, wise men from other lands sought and worshipped Him (Matthew 2:1-2, 11).           

III. The true Man of Peace is Christ.
    A “Solomon” means “Man of Peace,” or “peaceable.” 
    B. Solomon’s reign was one of peace. He obtained peace by overcoming all foes. 
    C. The great time of peace, the Messianic Age, will come after the Lord purges the earth, destroying all wickedness. Then the true Man of Peace will rule forever.
    D. Supporting Scripture: “But now the Lord… hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrence.” (1 Kings 5:4).

IV. Solomon’s Temple
    A. The glory of Solomon’s Temple taught of Christ’s glory.
    B. Supporting Scripture:  “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up… he spake of the temple of his body.” (John 2:19, 21). But Christ’s statement was also meant to show He was a fulfillment of all that the temple signified. 
    C. The temple’s structure symbolized the Eternal Christ. 
        1. Its exterior was made of great and costly stones, representing imperishability and splendor. Christ’s final reign will be Eternal and glorious.
        2.  Everywhere everything was overlaid with symbol-of-glory Gold. 
        3. Messianic symbols abounded: carved olive trees signifying the atonement Christ wrought in Gethsemane; carved lilies signifying a joyous resurrection; carved palm trees signifying rest in His presence; carved pomegranates signifying He had opened the way to great multiplicity of seed.
        4. Entrance is only through Christ. At the threshold of the Temple were two brazen pillars. One was called Jachin, or “He shall establish.” One was called “Boaz,” meaning “In him is might, or splendor” (BD, p. 626). The key meaning of these pillars was of Christ.  At His first coming, He established things necessary for Salvation. At His Second Coming He will open the way to the glorious reality of His Salvation.
    D: The Temple’s instruments of worship taught of Christ’s Final Reign.
        1. All things which were in the Wilderness Tabernacle and taught of Christ, were now in the temple, but now greatly magnified.
        2. The table of shewbread was now ten tables, the golden candlestick was now ten candlesticks, the brazen laver was now ten lavers. Everything in Solomon’s Temple was multiplied or more glorious, to represent the greater presence and glory of Christ in the Millennium.
    E. The layout of the Temple taught of Christ’s Three Degrees of Glory.
        1.  The Temple held three areas of holiness, from an outer court to the Holy of Holies. There were also three stories of chambers around the outside, from a lower to a higher. All these affirmed three degrees of holiness and glory in His Kingdom. (1 Cor. 15:39-42; 2 Cor. 12:2; John 14:2; D&C 76).
    F. The Throne of Judgment: 
        1. The temple held a great porch containing a Throne of Judgment.
        2. Supporting Scripture:  “Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, even the porch of judgment” (1 Kings 7:7).
        3.  Jesus identified Himself with this Throne (at Herod’s Temple).
             a. There, Jesus testified He was the Son of God (John 10:23-38). 
             b. In doing so, He referenced Psalm 82. This Psalm calls upon God to arise and judge all the earth (Ps 82:1, 8).
            c. He manifest His judgeship by purging the temple.
    G. David received the temple pattern beforehand  (1 Chron. 28:11-19).
        1. Supporting Scripture: “the Lord made me [David] understand …by his hand upon me, even all … of this [temple] pattern” (v. 19). 
        2. David foreshadowed us, a latter-day repentant Israel. Our own temples are the foundation for the Final Temple (Presence) of Christ.
    H. The Temple Dedication taught of the Beginning of Christ’s presence.
        1. Solomon’s Temple was dedicated in the seventh month, at the Feast of Tabernacles, a holy day typifying the Millennium. It taught that the Holy Presence of Christ would come in the Millennium.          

Summary:  While Solomon as king fell into corruption, nevertheless his reign taught of Christ’s Eternal reign as King of Wisdom and Man of Peace. Solomon’s Temple taught Christ will usher in a “Presence of Holiness,” and that He, as Judge, will determine who will enter into Three Degrees of Glory within His Kingdom.