April 14, 2024

Solomon began working on the temple for God that David had designed. Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent his servants to Solomon because he had heard that David had passed away and he had been anointed king. Solomon sent word back to Hiram to make a deal with him for timber, the cedars of Lebanon. The Sidonians were experts in working with timber, and he needed their help. Hiram supplied the trees and wood, and Solomon paid Hiram's workers and sent food to his household. The two countries worked together to cut timber and hew stones for the foundation to get the temple started. Hiram moved the logs through the sea, floating them to Israel. 

Israel grew wheat and corn, harvested olives, and made oil, and Tyre was good at cutting trees and moving them. You can see that they didn't try to do everything themselves but divided the work according to their skills and hired the appropriate people. God has given us certain gifts that allow us to work together to complete the assignment He has given us. For this reason, we must be connected with The Church so that God can use our skills to fulfill His purpose if the need arises. We are Christ's body, and it takes all of us to accomplish kingdom work. 

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 1 Corinthians 12:27

And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house. 1 Kings 5:18