1 Kings 5:1-6: a reflection

1Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the place of his father, and Hiram had always loved David. 2Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, 3“You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of the wars which were around him on every side, until the LORD put his enemies under the soles of his feet. 4But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side. There is no enemy and no evil occurrence. 5Behold, I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spoke to David my father, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place shall build the house for my name.’ 6Now therefore command that cedar trees be cut for me out of Lebanon. My servants will be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants according to all that you say. For you know that there is nobody among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”

As Solomon prepares to build the temple, he explains to Hiram of Tyre why the time has come. His father David could not build it, he says, because of the wars that surrounded him on every side; David's life was consumed with conflict. But now, Solomon says, the LORD my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune. And so, in this season of peace, Solomon turns to the great work of building a house for the name of the LORD. The rest God gave became the opportunity to build for him.

Notice what Solomon does with his season of rest: he builds for God. The peace God gave was not merely for Solomon's ease and enjoyment; it was the opportunity to undertake a great work for the Lord that his father, amid constant war, could never attempt. Solomon recognized the rest as a gift with a purpose, and used the season of peace to build the temple.

That is a good question to ask of our own seasons of rest and peace. When God gives us a stretch of calm, freedom from conflict or crisis, a season of stability, we can spend it simply on our own comfort and ease. But such seasons are also opportunities, times when we are freed to undertake things for God that the seasons of struggle did not allow. When God gives you rest, ask what he might have you build in it. Do not spend every season of peace only on your own ease; use the calm God grants as an opportunity to build for him, to undertake the good work that seasons of struggle made impossible. Rest is a gift; let it also be an opportunity to build.

Lord, when you had given Solomon rest on every side, he used that season of peace to build the temple, a great work his father, amid constant war, could never attempt. Teach me to use my own seasons of rest that way. When you give me a stretch of calm, freedom from conflict or crisis, keep me from spending it only on my own comfort and ease. Help me see such seasons as opportunities, times when I am freed to undertake things for you that seasons of struggle did not allow. When you give me rest, show me what you would have me build in it. Let me not waste the peace you grant, but use it as an opportunity to build for you. Thank you for seasons of rest; help me make them fruitful for you.