A Glimpse of Me

“In the future, foreigners who do not belong to your people Israel will hear of you. They will come from distant lands because of your name, for they will hear of your great name and your strong hand and your powerful arm. … Then people all over the earth will know that the LORD alone is God and there is no other.”

1 Kings 8:41–43, 60

King Hiram of Tyre had always been a loyal friend of David. When Hiram learned that David’s son Solomon was the new king of Israel, he sent ambassadors to congratulate him.

Then Solomon sent this message back to Hiram: “… Please command that cedars from Lebanon be cut for me. Let my men work alongside yours, and I will pay your men whatever wages you ask. As you know, there is no one among us who can cut timber like you Sidonians!”

When Hiram received Solomon’s message, he was very pleased and said, “Praise the LORD today for giving David a wise son to be king of the great nation of Israel.”

1 Kings 5:1–2, 6–7
view in context

Encouragement for Today

Solomon saw opportunities, and he had a good sense of timing. When the king of Tyre showed he was favorably disposed toward Solomon, Solomon recognized it as a good time to ask the king of Tyre to provide wood for the Temple Solomon dreamed of building. He drew on the strengths of the Sidonians—they were good at cutting timber. We see Solomon’s wisdom at work again in this example of persuasion. Solomon appealed to strengths and helped people feel good about being part of a grand undertaking. They were all too happy to comply.

When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying,

‘Why were the nations so angry?
Why did they waste their time with futile plans?
The kings of the earth prepared for battle;
the rulers gathered together
against the LORD
and against his Messiah.’

“In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will. And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Acts 4:24–30

Never abandon a friend—
either yours or your father’s.
When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for    assistance.
It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far    away.

Proverbs 27:10

The king summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!” …

“O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer to you because you have revealed all this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings!’ For you are God, O Sovereign LORD. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant.”

2 Samuel 7:2, 27–28