Each month the governors in turn provided food for King Solomon and all who came to his table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking. Each monthThe phrase "each month" indicates a systematic and organized approach to governance and provision. In the Hebrew calendar, months were lunar-based, and this regularity reflects the wisdom and orderliness of Solomon's administration. It underscores the importance of planning and consistency in leadership, ensuring that the needs of the kingdom are met without interruption. the governors The term "governors" refers to the twelve officials appointed by Solomon to oversee different regions of Israel. These governors were responsible for collecting provisions and taxes, demonstrating a decentralized system of governance that allowed for efficient management of resources. This structure highlights the importance of delegation and trust in leadership, as well as the need for capable and faithful stewards in positions of authority. in turn The phrase "in turn" suggests a rotational system, where each governor had a specific time to fulfill their duties. This not only distributed the burden evenly but also ensured that no single region was overtaxed. It reflects a fair and equitable system, promoting unity and cooperation among the tribes of Israel. provided food The act of providing food signifies the sustenance and support necessary for the functioning of the royal court. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, hospitality and provision were seen as essential duties of leadership. This provision symbolizes the abundance and prosperity of Solomon's reign, a fulfillment of God's promise to bless Israel under a wise king. for King Solomon King Solomon, known for his wisdom, wealth, and expansive kingdom, is the central figure in this verse. His leadership is marked by peace and prosperity, a direct result of his adherence to God's statutes. Solomon's table, therefore, becomes a symbol of divine blessing and the flourishing of God's people under righteous rule. and all who came to his table This phrase indicates the inclusivity and generosity of Solomon's court. It was not only for the king but also for his officials, guests, and possibly foreign dignitaries. This open table policy reflects the biblical principle of hospitality and the extension of God's blessings to others, showcasing the kingdom as a place of refuge and provision. They saw to it that nothing was lacking The diligence of the governors in ensuring that "nothing was lacking" speaks to their faithfulness and competence. It highlights the importance of thoroughness and attention to detail in service to the king. This phrase also reflects God's provision and abundance, as He supplies all needs according to His riches, ensuring that His people lack nothing when they walk in obedience to His commands. Persons / Places / Events 1. King SolomonThe son of King David and Bathsheba, Solomon is known for his wisdom, wealth, and building projects, including the Temple in Jerusalem. His reign is marked by peace and prosperity in Israel. 2. GovernorsThese were officials appointed by Solomon to oversee various regions of his kingdom. They were responsible for providing provisions for the king's household and court. 3. Provisioning SystemA structured system where each governor took turns supplying the king's household, ensuring a steady and sufficient supply of resources. 4. Solomon's TableRepresents the royal court and the administration of Solomon's kingdom, highlighting the abundance and organization of his reign. 5. IsraelThe united kingdom under Solomon, experiencing a time of peace and prosperity, which allowed for such an organized system of governance and provision. Teaching Points God's Provision and OrderGod's provision is evident in the structured and organized way Solomon's kingdom was run. This reflects God's nature as a God of order and abundance. Stewardship and ResponsibilityThe governors had a responsibility to provide for the king's household, teaching us about the importance of stewardship and fulfilling our duties faithfully. Community and CooperationThe system required cooperation among the governors, illustrating the importance of working together in community to achieve common goals. Leadership and WisdomSolomon's wisdom in organizing his kingdom can inspire us to seek God's wisdom in our leadership and management roles. Trust in God's ProvisionJust as Solomon's table was never lacking, we can trust that God will provide for our needs when we live according to His principles. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the provisioning system under Solomon reflect God's character of order and abundance? 2. In what ways can we apply the principles of stewardship and responsibility seen in the governors' roles to our own lives? 3. How does the cooperation among the governors in Solomon's kingdom inspire us to work together in our communities and churches? 4. What can we learn from Solomon's leadership and wisdom in organizing his kingdom that can be applied to our personal or professional lives? 5. How does the assurance of provision in Solomon's reign encourage us to trust in God's provision in our own lives, and what other scriptures reinforce this trust? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Kings 10:21This verse describes the wealth and splendor of Solomon's household, connecting to the abundance provided by the governors. Proverbs 3:9-10These verses speak about honoring the Lord with wealth and the resulting abundance, paralleling the prosperity seen in Solomon's reign. Matthew 6:33Jesus teaches about seeking God's kingdom first, and all needs will be provided, echoing the provision and order seen in Solomon's administration. People Abda, Abel, Abiathar, Abinadab, Adoniram, Ahiah, Ahijah, Ahilud, Ahimaaz, Ahinadab, Ahishar, Amorites, Argob, Asher, Azariah, Baana, Baanah, Basmath, Ben, Benaiah, Benjamin, Calcol, Chalcol, Dan, Darda, Dekar, Elah, Elihoreph, Elon, Ethan, Geber, Hanan, Heman, Hepher, Hesed, Hur, Hushai, Iddo, Issachar, Jair, Jehoiada, Jehoshaphat, Jezreel, Mahol, Manasseh, Naphtali, Nathan, Og, Paruah, Shimei, Shisha, Sihon, Solomon, Taphath, Uri, Zabud, ZadokPlaces Abel-meholah, Argob, Arubboth, Bashan, Bealoth, Beersheba, Beth-shan, Beth-shemesh, Dan, Egypt, Elonbeth-hanan, Euphrates River, Gaza, Gilead, Hepher, Jerusalem, Jezreel, Jokmeam, Lebanon, Mahanaim, Makaz, Megiddo, Naphath-dor, Ramoth-gilead, Shaalbim, Socoh, Taanach, Tiphsah, ZarethanTopics Care, Deputies, Drawing, Guests, King's, Lacked, Lacking, Month, Nothing, Officers, Overlooked, Overseers, Produced, Provided, Provisions, Solomon, Solomon's, Supplied, Sustained, Table, Victual, Victuals, WantingDictionary of Bible Themes 1 Kings 4:27 5119 Solomon, life of 5327 governors 5573 table 1 Kings 4:22-28 4476 meals 1 Kings 4:27-28 4516 straw 5434 officer Library The Great Gain of Godliness 'And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days of Solomon. 26. And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. 27. And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon's table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing. 28. Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureWhether He who Raises the Unworthy to Orders Commits a Sin? Objection 1: It would seem that he who raises the unworthy to orders commits no sin. For a bishop needs assistants appointed to the lesser offices. But he would be unable to find them in sufficient number, if he were to require of them such qualifications as the saints enumerate. Therefore if he raise some who are not qualified, he would seem to be excusable. Objection 2: Further, the Church needs not only ministers for the dispensation of things spiritual, but also for the supervision of temporalities. … Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Whether Vengeance Should be Taken on those who have Sinned Involuntarily? Objection 1: It seems that vengeance should be taken on those who have sinned involuntarily. For the will of one man does not follow from the will of another. Yet one man is punished for another, according to Ex. 20:5, "I am . . . God . . . jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation." Thus for the sin of Cham, his son Chanaan was curse (Gn. 9:25) and for the sin of Giezi, his descendants were struck with leprosy (4 Kings 5). Again the blood … Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Stedfastness in the Old Paths. "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."--Jer. vi. 16. Reverence for the old paths is a chief Christian duty. We look to the future indeed with hope; yet this need not stand in the way of our dwelling on the past days of the Church with affection and deference. This is the feeling of our own Church, as continually expressed in the Prayer Book;--not to slight what has gone before, … John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII Adam and Zaretan, Joshua 3 I suspect a double error in some maps, while they place these two towns in Perea; much more, while they place them at so little a distance. We do not deny, indeed, that the city Adam was in Perea; but Zaretan was not so. Of Adam is mention, Joshua 3:16; where discourse is had of the cutting-off, or cutting in two, the waters of Jordan, that they might afford a passage to Israel; The waters rose up upon a heap afar off in Adam. For the textual reading "In Adam," the marginal hath "From Adam." You … John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Fact of the Redeemer's Return was Typified in the Lives of Joseph and Solomon. In the Old Testament there are numerous references to the Second Coming of Christ, references both direct and typical, but in every instance it was His return to the earth which was in view. The secret coming of Christ into the air, to catch up the saints to Himself, was an event quite unknown to the Old Testament prophets, an event kept secret until revealed by God to the apostle Paul who, when writing to the Corinthians upon this particular aspect of our subject, said, "Behold, I show you a mystery … Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return Perhaps There is no Book Within the Whole Canon of Scripture So Perplexing and Anomalous... Perhaps there is no book within the whole canon of Scripture so perplexing and anomalous, at first sight, as that entitled "Ecclesiastes." Its terrible hopelessness, its bold expression of those difficulties with which man is surrounded on every side, the apparent fruitlessness of its quest after good, the unsatisfactory character, from a Christian standpoint, of its conclusion: all these points have made it, at one and the same time, an enigma to the superficial student of the Word, and the arsenal … F. C. Jennings—Old Groans and New Songs The Care of the Soul Urged as the one Thing Needful Luke 10:42 -- "But one thing is needful." It was the amiable character of our blessed Redeemer, that "he went about doing good," this great motive, which animated all his actions, brought him to the house of his friend Lazarus, at Bethany, and directed his behavior there. Though it was a season of recess from public labor, our Lord brought the sentiments and the pious cares of a preacher of righteousness into the parlor of a friend; and there his doctrine dropped as the rain, and distilled as the … George Whitefield—Selected Sermons of George Whitefield The Spiced Wine of My Pomegranate; OR, THE COMMUNION OF COMMUNICATION. I would cause Thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate."--Song of Solomon viii. 2.And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace."--John i. 16. THE SPICED WINE OF MY POMEGRANATE. THE immovable basis of communion having been laid of old in the eternal union which subsisted between Christ and His elect, it only needed a fitting occasion to manifest itself in active development. The Lord Jesus had for ever delighted Himself with the … Charles Hadden Spurgeon—Till He Come A vision of Judgement and Cleansing 'And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 3. Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the Angel. 4. And He answered and spake unto those that stood before Him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him He said, … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Historical Books. 1. In the Pentateuch we have the establishment of the Theocracy, with the preparatory and accompanying history pertaining to it. The province of the historical books is to unfold its practiced working, and to show how, under the divine superintendence and guidance, it accomplished the end for which it was given. They contain, therefore, primarily, a history of God's dealings with the covenant people under the economy which he had imposed upon them. They look at the course of human events on the … E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible The Poetical Books (Including Also Ecclesiastes and Canticles). 1. The Hebrews reckon but three books as poetical, namely: Job, Psalms, and Proverbs, which are distinguished from the rest by a stricter rhythm--the rhythm not of feet, but of clauses (see below, No. 3)--and a peculiar system of accentuation. It is obvious to every reader that the poetry of the Old Testament, in the usual sense of the word, is not restricted to these three books. But they are called poetical in a special and technical sense. In any natural classification of the books of the … E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible Kings The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), … John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 1 Kings 4:27 NIV1 Kings 4:27 NLT1 Kings 4:27 ESV1 Kings 4:27 NASB1 Kings 4:27 KJV
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