1 Kings 5:1-12
"5 Now 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 always loved David. 2 And Solomon sent word to Hiram, 3 “You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. 4 But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune. 5 And so I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord said to David my father, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.’ 6 Now therefore command that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. And my servants will join your servants, and I will pay you for your servants such wages as you set, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”
7 As soon as Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the Lord this day, who has given to David a wise son to be over this great people.” 8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message that you have sent to me. I am ready to do all you desire in the matter of cedar and cypress timber. 9 My servants shall bring it down to the sea from Lebanon, and I will make it into rafts to go by sea to the place you direct. And I will have them broken up there, and you shall receive it. And you shall meet my wishes by providing food for my household.” 10 So Hiram supplied Solomon with all the timber of cedar and cypress that he desired,11 while Solomon gave Hiram 20,000 cors of wheat as food for his household, and 20,000 cors of beaten oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year. 12 And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty."
The next five chapters record the building and consecration of the Temple, and there can be little doubt that among many splendours this was the glory of Solomon's reign. He seems to have been specially raised up for the purpose. The building of a temple was first proposed in David's reign (compare 2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17 with 1 Chronicles 28). But David was not permitted to build it because he had been a man of war. Instead, God indicated that his son should have the responsibility and honour of doing so. Such is the background to the passage before us today. And it is the knowledge that this was a work ordained and approved by God that explains the smoothness of the arrangements for it to be commenced and continued. It is not every king, be he never so great, who can require neighbouring rulers to send such unstinted help and materials and receive it with such goodwill. But Solomon was able to do it, not primarily because of his own greatness, but because the hand of God had been at work preparing the way beforehand. It was God who put it in Hiram's heart to help him, through the love he had had for his father David before him, and God who gave Solomon wisdom to ensure that an amicable settlement was made with Hiram in return (11, 12). God is no man's debtor and those who are pressed into helping His work are never the losers for it. And while the complementary fact is true that no work of God may be expected to proceed without pressures from the evil one, it is never wrong for us to look for smooth even working when God has a hand in the matter. After all, oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.