The Fulfilment Series

1 Kings 5:1-18 THE FULFILMENT ES 21 May 17 1677

We are seeing in the first few chapters of 1 Kings the fulfilment of God’s promises.

• First, the fulfilment of God’s promise to Abraham - 1 Kings 4:20 “The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore…”

• The words the Lord used, when He made the promise to Abraham in Gen 22:17. “I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies…”

When Solomon asked for wisdom, he said I am “among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.” (3:8)

• The author (traditionally JEREMIAH) emphasized it again in 4:29 “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.” The words that God used.

• That’s the promise of a great nation, a GREAT PEOPLE.

The Lord also said to Abraham in Gen 15:18 – the promise of a GREAT PLACE.

• “On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates…”

• And we read last week - 1 Kings 4:21 (and saw the map): “And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon's subjects all his life.

• 4:24 “For he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and had peace on all sides.” That’s the PROMISED LAND!

We also read of GREAT PEACE in the land. He had peace on all sides.

• 4:25 “During Solomon's lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, each man under his own vine and fig tree.” (HDB flats with open doors.)

• God had given rest to Solomon on every side. No adversary, and not even any natural disasters. No droughts, no famine, no earthquakes.

• All Israel’s enemies were conquered – both the internal enemies and the external.

• We read in 1 Kings 2 the removal of the enemies WITHIN - Adonijah his scheming brother, Abiathar the unfaithful high priest, Joab the rebellious army commander, and Shimei the troublemaker.

• And EXTERNALLY the nations, from the River Euphrates to the North, to the land of the Philistines (East), and to the South as far as the border of Egypt, these nations paid tribute to Solomon!

This is the Lord’s promise of PEACE for Israel.

• Josh 21:43-45 “So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. 44The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD handed all their enemies over to them. 45Not one of all the LORD's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.”

• The Lord said to David in 2 Sam 7:10-11 “And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 11and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.”

ON GOD’S PART:

THE FULFILMENT OF GOD’S PROMISES IS SURE!

We are seeing the fulfilment of what God has promised to their forefathers.

• Isaiah 55:10-11 “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

It might have taken a longer time than most would like but trust God, it would come to pass. That’s our faith. That’s our conviction.

• In Hebrews 11 we see a list of the servants of God in the OT times who suffered greatly and persevered because they believed in the promises of God.

• Heb 11:39 says they ultimately died without seeing the fulfilment of God’s promise of the coming of the Messiah, but they were heroes of faith.

Read 1 Kings 5:1-18.

Hiram, King of Tyre, sent envoys to congratulate Solomon. He was a friend of King David and now seeing his son on the throne, he sent messengers to greet him.