II Chronicles 1:1 "And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly."

The Lord spoke to David through his prophet Nathan saying, "And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up they seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son." And so it came to pass that God set up David's seed after him, Solomon, and the Lord God was with him and Solomon was magnified exceedingly by God. Solomon did not ask God for fame or fortune, to conquer nor to live long, but Solomon asked for wisdom to judge God's people. So pleased by this was God that He not only gave Solomon wisdom and knowledge but also riches and wealth and honor, "such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall any after thee have the like."

Who does Solomon typify? He was born of the seed of David-"Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David." He was the son of the King, magnified exceedingly by God-"He [Jesus] shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest." Solomon built a house for God's name-"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." God was Solomon's heavenly father and Solomon was God's son-"I will be his father and he shall be my son." God established the throne of Solomon's kingdom-"and the Lord God shall give unto him [Jesus] the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Solomon in all his riches and honor and wisdom is a picture of Christ Jesus, the greatest King of all. That king who reigns in the heavens, whose throne is from everlasting to everlasting, He is the beloved Son who came to do, moreover, who finished the work of the Father. God was with Christ from the beginning, through the ages, and when he humbled himself and became a man. Christ walked this earth and yet he never left the bosom of the Father. He built the house of God through the sacrifice of his body on the tree. Christ indeed reigns over the house of Jacob, the elect of God, those he justified, and those he made holy by his imputed righteousness. God raised him in majesty, crowning him Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Of his kingdom there shall be no end. Oh, the promises of God are sure and steadfast and His wisdom beyond compare.

Clay Curtis