The Wisdom of Holy Commerce: Text: 1 Kings 5:1-12
Introduction: Building on the Right Foundation
We come now to a pivotal moment in the history of God's people. The wars are over, the kingdom is established, and the time has come to build. David, the man of war, had subdued the enemies of Israel. He had fought the battles and secured the peace. But it was not given to him to build the Temple. That task was reserved for his son, Solomon, the man of peace. This is a foundational pattern. The church is always built in a time of accomplished victory. Christ, our greater David, has won the decisive battle. He has crushed the head of the serpent and disarmed the principalities and powers. Now, as His people, we are called to be Solomons, building His house in the era of His reign.
But how is this house to be built? Does God's kingdom advance through isolationism, through a spiritual retreat from the world? Does holiness require us to have no dealings with unbelievers? This passage in 1 Kings 5 gives us a resounding and practical no. Here we see Solomon, the wisest man on earth, entering into a business contract, a formal covenant, with a pagan king. And he does so with God's explicit blessing. This is not a story of compromise, but of sanctified commerce. It is a lesson in how the kingdom of God engages with the kingdoms of men, not by becoming like them, but by leveraging their skills and resources for the glory of God.
Our secular age wants us to believe in a strict separation of the sacred and the secular. Your faith is a private matter, they say. It has no place in the marketplace, in politics, or in international relations. This passage demolishes that lie. Here we have international trade, labor contracts, and resource management, all directed toward the central task of worship. Solomon's wisdom was not an abstract, philosophical wisdom. It was a practical, administrative, economic wisdom. And he used it to gather the best materials in the world to build a house for the name of Yahweh. This is a picture of mature, dominion-oriented faith. It is what happens when the people of God understand that the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, and they act like it.
We must pay close attention to the principles at work here. We see diplomatic courtesy rooted in a shared history. We see a clear and ambitious vision for the glory of God. We see honest negotiation, fair wages, and a mutually beneficial agreement. And we see it all crowned with the blessing of God. This is not just a historical account of how the first temple was built. It is a timeless lesson in how to build the kingdom.
The Text
Then Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram had always been one who loved David. And Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying, “You know that David my father was unable to build a house for the name of Yahweh his God because of the wars which surrounded him, until Yahweh put them under the soles of his feet. But now Yahweh my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor calamity. So behold, I intend to build a house for the name of Yahweh my God, as Yahweh spoke to David my father, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he will build the house for My name.’ So now, command that they cut for me cedars from Lebanon, and 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 no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”
Now it happened, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he was very glad and said, “Blessed be Yahweh today, who has given to David a wise son over this great people.” So Hiram sent word to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message which you have sent me; I will do what you desire concerning the cedar and cypress timber. My servants will bring them down from Lebanon to the sea; and I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place where you direct me, and I will have them broken up there, and you shall carry them away. Then you shall accomplish my desire by giving food to my household.” So Hiram gave Solomon as much as he desired of the cedar and cypress timber. Solomon then gave Hiram 20,000 kors of wheat as food for his household, and 20 kors of beaten oil; thus Solomon would give Hiram year by year. Now Yahweh gave wisdom to Solomon, just as He promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them cut a covenant.
(1 Kings 5:1-12 LSB)
Diplomacy Built on History (v. 1-2)
The interaction begins with an overture from a long-standing ally.
"Then Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram had always been one who loved David. And Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying," (1 Kings 5:1-2)
Notice that the relationship doesn't start from scratch. Hiram initiates contact because of a prior loyalty. He "had always been one who loved David." This wasn't just a sentimental friendship; it was a stable, political and economic alliance that had been beneficial for both Tyre and Israel. David's faithfulness and strength had earned him the respect and friendship of his pagan neighbor. Solomon inherits this relational capital. This is a crucial principle. Faithfulness in one generation builds a platform for the next. David fought the wars and built the relationships; Solomon builds the Temple on that foundation.
Solomon doesn't ignore this diplomatic courtesy. He responds immediately. Wise leaders understand the importance of maintaining good relationships. They don't see the world as a collection of atomistic individuals or nations, but as a web of interconnected covenants and loyalties. Solomon is not compromising his faith by dealing with Hiram; he is acting with prudence and wisdom, stewarding the alliances his father had forged.
A God-Centered Vision (v. 3-5)
Solomon's response to Hiram is a masterclass in God-centered diplomacy. He is not cagey or manipulative. He is direct, honest, and unashamedly theological.
"You know that David my father was unable to build a house for the name of Yahweh his God because of the wars which surrounded him, until Yahweh put them under the soles of his feet. But now Yahweh my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor calamity. So behold, I intend to build a house for the name of Yahweh my God, as Yahweh spoke to David my father, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he will build the house for My name.’" (1 Kings 5:3-5)
Look at how Solomon frames his entire project. He gives all the glory to God. He doesn't say, "My father was too busy fighting." He says David was unable to build "because of the wars... until Yahweh put them under the soles of his feet." The victory belonged to God. He doesn't say, "I have achieved peace." He says, "Yahweh my God has given me rest on every side." The peace belongs to God. He doesn't say, "I have a grand architectural ambition." He says, "I intend to build a house... as Yahweh spoke to David my father." The vision belongs to God.
This is how a Christian engages the world. We are not ashamed of our God or His providence. Solomon is speaking to a pagan king, and his letter is dripping with the name of Yahweh. He is not watering down his convictions to make the deal. He is making the deal on the basis of his convictions. He is explaining to Hiram that this entire project is an act of obedience to the God who controls history, who gives war and who gives peace. This is presuppositional diplomacy. Solomon begins with God and works out from there. He is not asking for permission; he is announcing his righteous intention, rooted in a divine mandate.
An Honest Business Proposal (v. 6)
Having laid the theological foundation, Solomon moves to the practical business at hand.
"So now, command that they cut for me cedars from Lebanon, and 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 no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians." (1 Kings 5:6)
This is straightforward and honorable. Solomon needs something that Hiram has: the famous cedars of Lebanon and the skilled labor to harvest them. The Sidonians, part of Hiram's kingdom, were renowned for their logging expertise. Solomon doesn't pretend to have a skill he lacks. He openly acknowledges Hiram's advantage: "there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians." This is humility and honesty, and it is the basis of good business.
Furthermore, Solomon proposes a fair arrangement. He will send his own men to assist, showing a willingness to partner in the labor. And he commits to paying a fair price: "I will give you wages for your servants according to all that you say." This is not an exploitative relationship. It is a free and open negotiation. Solomon is not using his political power to demand tribute. He is using his economic power to engage in mutually beneficial trade. This is sanctified commerce. The world's best materials and the world's best craftsmen are being marshaled for the construction of God's house, all through honest work and fair pay.
A Joyful and God-Fearing Response (v. 7-11)
Hiram's reaction is remarkable. He doesn't just see a profitable business deal; he sees the hand of God and rejoices.
"Now it happened, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he was very glad and said, “Blessed be Yahweh today, who has given to David a wise son over this great people.”... So Hiram gave Solomon as much as he desired... Solomon then gave Hiram 20,000 kors of wheat as food for his household, and 20 kors of beaten oil..." (1 Kings 5:7-11)
Hiram, a pagan king, blesses the name of Yahweh. We should not necessarily assume this is a conversion in the full sense, but it is, at the very least, a profound respect and acknowledgment of the God of Israel. Solomon's clear, God-centered testimony had an effect. Hiram recognized that Solomon's wisdom was a gift from Yahweh, and he praised Yahweh for it. This is a powerful lesson. When we are unashamed in our witness, when we conduct our affairs with integrity and wisdom, we become a light to the nations. Our competence and our character adorn the doctrine of God our Savior, sometimes even drawing praise from the mouths of unbelievers.
The deal they strike is a model of efficiency and fairness. Hiram handles the logistics of getting the timber to the sea and rafting it down the coast. Solomon is responsible for taking possession of it from there. The payment is not in gold or silver, but in staple goods: wheat and high-quality olive oil. This was a barter arrangement on a massive international scale. Israel, the breadbasket, provides food for Tyre, the maritime trading power. Each nation leverages its strengths for the benefit of the other. This is how God designed the world to work. He distributes gifts and resources differently among nations to encourage interdependence and peaceful trade, not isolation and war.
The Covenant of Peace (v. 12)
The chapter concludes by summarizing the outcome and attributing it to its ultimate source.
"Now Yahweh gave wisdom to Solomon, just as He promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them cut a covenant." (1 Kings 5:12)
The text explicitly states that Solomon's success was a direct fulfillment of God's promise. "Yahweh gave wisdom to Solomon." This wisdom was not just for writing proverbs; it was for negotiating trade deals and governing a nation. All true wisdom, whether it is theological, political, or economic, comes from God.
The result of this wisdom was "peace between Hiram and Solomon." And this peace was not just a passive absence of conflict; it was formalized in a covenant. They "cut a covenant." This was a binding, solemn agreement. Now, some might get nervous here. Doesn't the law forbid Israel from making covenants with the pagan nations? Yes, it forbids making covenants with the Canaanite nations they were commanded to drive out (Ex. 23:32). That was a prohibition against religious syncretism and idolatrous alliances. This is something different. This is a commercial and political treaty with a nation outside the promised land. It is a covenant of peace and trade, not a covenant of worship. Solomon's wisdom, given by God, enabled him to make this crucial distinction. He could do business with Hiram without worshiping Hiram's gods. This is the maturity that the church is called to. We are to be in the world, but not of it. We can and should engage in commerce, politics, and art with unbelievers, so long as we do not bend the knee to their idols.
Conclusion: Building with Wisdom
This chapter is intensely practical for us today. We are also called to build a house for God. Not a house of stone and timber, but a spiritual house made of living stones (1 Peter 2:5). This house is the Church, and by extension, a Christian civilization that honors God.
How are we to build it? We are to build it with the wisdom God gives. This wisdom is, first and foremost, unashamedly God-centered. Like Solomon, our plans and our communications should be saturated with the reality of God's sovereignty. We do what we do for the name of Yahweh.
Second, we are to build with integrity and excellence. We should seek out the best "cedars of Lebanon", the best tools, the best methods, the best skills, and consecrate them to the service of Christ. We should deal honestly and fairly with all men, paying fair wages and honoring our contracts. Our reputation for competence and integrity ought to be a powerful witness to the world.
Finally, we are to build with a wise and discerning engagement with the world. We are not to retreat into a pietistic ghetto. We are to cut covenants of peace and commerce where we can do so without compromise. We are to leverage the resources and skills of the world for the advancement of the kingdom, always remembering that the earth and its fullness belong to our God. Solomon took pagan timber and pagan craftsmanship and used it to build the dwelling place of God. In the same way, we are called to take every thought, every skill, every resource, and every relationship captive to the obedience of Christ, building a glorious house for His name.