1 Kings 4 offers us a list of Solomon’s leaders in virtually every area of life. Then it tells us of his wisdom and expertise in many different areas of life. While the chapter contains a great deal of detail, this written explanation is short, because it doesn’t contain many principles or points of significant application for us.
1 Kings 5-7 tells us of Solomon’s construction of the Temple and of his own palace. He used Hiram of Lebanon to oversee the cutting of the cedar lumber for the project. He conscripted Israelites to do the work. The number of workers is prodigious. He conscripted 30,000 workers, who worked in shifts of 10,000 at a time, so they worked one month and were off for two months during the project. He also had 70,000 men who carried the wood, along with thousands of others who undertook various aspects of the project. We’re given the details of the project, both the exterior and interior construction, and the furnishing of the Temple. King David had set aside supplies for the project, and we’re told the wood and the stones were cut and made to size before they were brought to the Temple for its construction. This meant that no stone or hammer was heard on the construction site itself. Solomon’s palace was bigger than the Temple, and was opulently furnished. As we read the details of the Temple and palaces construction, we see not only had David planned ahead by providing the materials, but Solomon planned ahead so that every detail of the project was thought through and completed in a timely and effective manner. We can learn a great deal from reading through these three chapters, and one of the most important truth it contains is the importance of effective planning and execution of our plans.
As we return to Mark 16, which recounts the resurrection of Jesus, we’re reminded once again that the “shorter” ending of Mark, which most biblical scholars agree was the original ending to it, doesn’t contain many details about Jesus resurrection, except that it happened and Jesus promised to appear to His disciples. The longer ending tells us Jesus rebuked His disciples for not believing the women’s account that He had risen. It also includes detail about His commission to preach the gospel in the nations we don’t find in the other gospels. It speaks about signs accompanying their preaching which would include casting out demons, tongues, handling poisonous snakes without harm, and laying hands on sick people and healing them. The details are consistent with events recorded in the Book of Acts, so we need not doubt them just because they don’t occur in the other gospels, nor in the shorter ending of Mark itself. As we live out Jesus’ commission in the power of the Holy Spirit, He will provide was is necessary for us to fulfill it near and far.