About a week ago we read through the end of 1 Chronicles and how David set up a government that could be a prophetic hint to the government of the Son of David. In that post I shared some OT texts looking forward to the reign of Messiah where everyone would “sit under his own vine and fig tree.”

Remember that?

Well… That phrase makes an appearance here in the context of the reign of Solomon.

“Judah and Israel lived in security, each man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan as far as Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.”
‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭4‬:‭25‬ ‭LEB‬‬

Could this be a subtle connection between aspects of the reign of Solomon and the future reign of Messiah?

Solomon also ruled over the furthest extent of the land promised to Abraham. Let’s look at some maps…

When we talk about the land promised to Abraham in Genesis, some interpret it this way:

Or all the way out to here:

The many sons of Father Abraham have inherited ALL this land; just not the descendants of Isaac and Jacob.

Now let’s look at the extent of Solomon’s reign compared to modern Israel (in 1999 – basically 3000 years after Solomon – with the exception of Gaza and the West Bank).

Now… One more map. The projected borders of the Promised Land as described by Ezekiel under the reign of “The Prince.”

None of these maps are the same but the prophetic kingdom in Ezekiel is closer to Solomon’s borders than the vast extent described in Genesis.

Solomon has characteristics that suggest he is a prophetic picture of Christ.

• He was the chosen son of David to reign over Israel.
• Wiser than any kings before or after
• No wars. A reign of peace. Even his name Solomon is version of shalom.
• He rules over a land similar in borders to a prophesied prince.
• Other kings of the earth come to him for instruction.
• There is a vast provision of food for his government workers. They all eat at his table.

Solomon starts out strong. He’s loving Yahweh and leading the nation in worship. When Yahweh appears to him in a dream and tells him to ask for anything, Solomon humbly asks for wisdom to rule God’s people.

David charged Solomon to build the temple. And in that charge he gives Solomon this blessing:

“And may the Lord give you wisdom and understanding, that you may obey the Law of the Lord your God as you rule over Israel.”
‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭22‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I suspect that these words were in his mind when God asked him what he wanted, because wisdom is the very thing he asks for.

The LORD gives him 4 things:

• Wisdom
• Riches
• Honor
• Long Life

BUT… the long life is conditional. The wisdom, riches, and honor are guaranteed. Long life? That depends.

“I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭ESV‬‬ (emphasis mine)

One thing I found interesting is that before this encounter with Yahweh, Solomon worships at the “high place” at Gibeon – likely where the Tabernacle of Moses stands. But after this dream…

“Then Solomon woke up and realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem and stood before the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, where he sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he invited all his officials to a great banquet.”
‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

After encountering Yahweh in the dream we find Solomon in the spot where we used to see David quite often – standing before the Ark of the Covenant on Mount Zion.

When someone is standing before the presence of Yahweh, they are focused on Him and as close as they can humanly get.

I think there is something precious about Solomon perhaps realizing why Dad wanted to spend so much time at the little tent where the Ark was.

The account of Solomon’s wisdom in the matter of the two prostitutes is touching and you can bet that story spread like wildfire. Solomon had a genius-savant-level of knowledge in wisdom literature, music, botany, biology, and probably any other topic. No wonder people came from around the world to pick his brain.

It reminds me of this:

“It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.”
‭‭Micah‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This word from Micah is a quotation from Isaiah the prophet (Is. 2:2-4). If you didn’t know it was written centuries after the reign of Solomon and written about the “last days” then you might think it was describing the reign of Solomon.

If you ever wanted to live “in the Bible days,” you will get your chance in the future. There are “Bible days” still to come. I’m still waiting for that vine and fig tree.