Psalm 37; I Chronicles 22; Psalm 30
Recall II Samuel 7 and I Chronicles 17 with David’s proposal to build a house for the LORD and the LORD’s promise to instead build David’s “house”, his dynasty. (See the April 3 post.) The LORD does not allow David to build the Temple (I Ch. 22:8), but David does all he can to get everything ready for his son Solomon to build it. (I Ch. 22:5) Not only does David organize the labor force and stockpile supplies (I Ch. 22:2-4), but he also encourages Solomon to fulfill his calling, relaying to Solomon what the LORD had said to David:
Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. He shall build a house for My name. He shall be My son, and I will be his Father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.
I Chronicles 22:9-10
Note that the name “Solomon” is derived from “shalom,” which means “peace.” As we shall see, the LORD does indeed give peace to Israel during Solomon’s reign, so there is a direct fulfilment of this promise in King Solomon, but that fulfilment is significantly muted by Solomon’s own flaws. The ultimate fulfilment of this promise is in Jesus Christ.
It is well known that Solomon died without living long, and that his throne came to an end. He gives the name Solomon, therefore, to our peaceable Lord of Whom blessed Paul says, “For He is our peace, who has made the two one and has broken down the dividing wall.” [Eph. 2:14] … Now it was not Solomon who had dominion to the ends of the world [either] but He who sprang from Solomon in His humanity, Jesus Christ, and was called Solomon on account of His peaceable and gentle nature and His being the cause of peace.
Theodoret of Cyrus
OK. So we can all say, “Cool! What a neat bit of biblical interpretation.” But so what? What difference does that make for you and for me? Do we know Christ’s peace? If so, how? (Please share!) If not, why not?
See also: