David and Solomon
In this article I am going to talk about King David and his son Solomon in a general sense. These were flawed human beings that sinned greatly, especially in the latter seasons of their lives. However, David was called “a man after his (God's) own heart” (1 Sam 13:14, Acts 13:22). God used him to accomplish His will. David was a man of war. As a youth, he dropped the mutant/hybrid Goliath with a stone, took the giant's own sword and hacked his enormous head off, with hair, eyeballs, blood, brains, and teeth going in every direction (1 Sam 17). (A nice childrens' bedtime story).
After many years and many battles, David finally had rest from the attacks of his enemies (2 Sam 7:1). God had used him to destroy many of God's enemies. That was His main purpose for David's life. However, David also had a sensitive side. He was a songwriter, a singer, and musician. As peace was finally becoming the characteristic of his kingdom, David had plans to build a beautiful temple for the Lord. A tent had been the “house of God” since the days of Moses.
But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood. (1 Ch 28:3)
King David had many sons but his son Solomon was chosen to be the one that would build the temple. David gave him the blueprints for the new temple with intricate detail about the design and architecture. He supplied Solomon with tons of precious metals and other materials. David was the man of blood that accomplished part of God's will. Solomon means peaceful. The majestic temple was to be built by a man of peace.
(Note: Solomon, as king, did a fair amount of slicing and dicing. He had several men eliminated from his new administration by commanding the sword. Solomon was peaceful by comparison to his father.)
David, the man of blood, and Solomon, the man of peace, were both used by the Lord to accomplish God's will. God wanted to have the era of peace distinct from the earlier era of warfare and bloodshed.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem amid angels' declarations of peace to men (Luke 2:14). Jesus, the Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6), ironically would accomplish this promise of peace by being a man of blood. First, He shed His own blood at the cross. This brought those who would trust Him into right standing with God, real peace with the Righteous God. After the Church Age, Jesus is seen as being covered in blood (Rev 19:13). And it is not His own.
The LORD (yehôvâh) is a man of war: the LORD is his name. (Exo 15:3)
This is not how most people view Jesus. Hang on, Peace is coming but several things have to occur first.
After Jesus comes again, He must reign for one-thousand years as Supreme Dictator of the entire planet. During this time He rules fairly but the smallest infraction is severely, perhaps unreasonably, dealt with. This is the Kingdom of Heaven that was promised to the descendants of Abraham (Matt 8:11). At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan is released from his prison where he has been kept during the Millenium (Rev 20:7,8). Although the entire earth, under the rule of Jesus, has been a near perfect environment for a millennium, Satan finds enough sin in the hearts of men to incite a final rebellion against God. All of the rebels, including Satan, are destroyed. At this point Jesus, the Man of blood, has extinguished every last smoldering ember of sin and secret wickedness.
Then cometh the end, when he (Jesus) shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (1 Cor 15:24)
Seven thousand years (at least) of bloodshed will have come to a complete end. One thousand literal years of rule by Jesus over the earth also comes to an end. What happens now? It is a new era. It is one without any more possibility of war. All evil has been eliminated. Now, a new era begins. It is called the Kingdom of the Father, an entire universe that is actually without rebellion or even the possibility of it. Is Jesus out of a job now? No, He begins what He has always been destined for: An Everlasting Kingdom, without any more bloodshed, ruled by the Prince of Peace.
We have some more years before we see that. What we do not have a long wait for is The Appearing of Jesus. He will come to close the Church Age and position His saints in their new assignments from heavenly places (Eph 2:6, 2 Cor 5:1). Our responsibility until then? We are to transform the soul by renewing our minds while we wait for God's Son from heaven (Rom 12:2, 1 Thess 1:10). Come Lord Jesus!
Dec 18, 2024