Daily Devotional for Monday, February 24

The Rise of Solomon

“And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem round about,”  1 Kings 3:1.

After David’s death, Solomon obeyed his father’s admonitions to take care of a few troublemakers who threatened the throne. He extended both grace and justice and fulfilled the Lord’s prophecies against those individuals. When the last one died, 1 Kings 2:46 states the kingdom of Israel  “was established in the hand of Solomon.”

Because of His promise to David, God blessed that establishment with peace. Solomon was Jedidiah, the Lord’s beloved (2 Samuel 12:24, 25). He became a great king, and his influence over neighboring kingdoms grew. His attraction or marriage alliance with pharaoh was evidence of the greatness God showered upon him. At that time, pharaoh needed a strong alliance. He could not conquer Israel or the neighboring Philistines. God had given David, and now Solomon, peace from his enemies and had weakened the surrounding nations. Pharaoh’s only option was to have his daughter marry Israel’s new king. We read in 1 Kings 9:16 that pharaoh gave Solomon the city of Gezer as part of the dowry, “For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and given it for a present unto his daughter, Solomon’s wife.”

Egypt’s history was intertwined with Israel’s, and pharaoh recognized that Israel was once again powerful. An alliance with Israel was his security plan. This practical and historically verified alliance displayed Israel’s stability and God’s favor on its king. God’s love for His Jedidiah (Solomon) is evident in his rise to his father’s throne. The Lord propelled him forward in success and influence. God loved His people and their king, and they reflected His love and power to their neighbors.

THOUGHT

We, too, reflect God’s love and power. Do our neighbors see it?

Kelli Reynolds