1 Kings 5:7-12: a reflection

7When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly, and said, “Blessed is the LORD today, who has given to David a wise son to rule over this great people.” 8Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message which you have sent to me. I will do all your desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning cypress timber. 9My servants will bring them down from Lebanon to the sea. I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place that you specify to me, and will cause them to be broken up there, and you will receive them. You will accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.” 10So Hiram gave Solomon cedar timber and cypress timber according to all his desire. 11Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat for food to his household, and twenty cors of pure oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year. 12The LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty together.

As Solomon prepares to build the temple, he enters into a cooperative arrangement with Hiram, king of Tyre. Hiram provides the cedar and cypress timber Solomon needs; Solomon provides wheat and oil for Hiram's household. Each contributes what the other lacks, and both benefit; and there was peace between them, and they made a treaty together. It is a picture of peaceful, mutually beneficial cooperation toward a good end, each supplying what the other needed.

Notice the cooperation described: each supplied what the other lacked, and both were served. Solomon needed timber; Hiram needed food; and by working together, each provided what the other lacked, and the good work of the temple was advanced. It was not competition or conflict, but cooperation; each brought what they had, supplied what the other needed, and both benefited, in peace. The good end was served by working together rather than alone.

That picture of peaceful, mutually beneficial cooperation is worth valuing, for much good is accomplished when people work together, each contributing what they have and supplying what others lack. We can be tempted toward competition and conflict, toward doing everything alone or against others; but much is accomplished, and in peace, when we cooperate, each bringing our own contribution and supplying what others lack. Value cooperation toward good ends; do not always work alone or in competition, but be willing, like Solomon and Hiram, to work together with others, contributing what you have and receiving what they supply, to accomplish what serves all. Peaceful, mutually beneficial cooperation, each supplying what others lack, accomplishes much good; seek to work with others toward good ends, in peace, rather than only alone or in competition, as Solomon and Hiram worked together to build the temple.

Lord, as Solomon prepared to build the temple, he entered a cooperative arrangement with Hiram: Hiram supplied timber, Solomon supplied food, each providing what the other lacked, and both benefited, in peace. Help me value that picture of peaceful, mutually beneficial cooperation, for much good is accomplished when people work together, each contributing what they have and supplying what others lack. I can be tempted toward competition and conflict, toward doing everything alone or against others; but much is accomplished, and in peace, when I cooperate, each bringing our own contribution and supplying what others lack. Help me value cooperation toward good ends; keep me from always working alone or in competition, and make me willing, like Solomon and Hiram, to work together with others, contributing what I have and receiving what they supply, to accomplish what serves all. Peaceful, mutually beneficial cooperation accomplishes much good; help me seek to work with others toward good ends, in peace, Lord, rather than only alone or in competition, as Solomon and Hiram worked together to build the temple.