KJV “And Judah and Israel dwelt safely every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon” 1 Kings 4:25
NASB So Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. 1 Kings 4:25
Author: Dr. A.J. Higgins
So much of the Old Testament is taken up with the coming Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ that it would be difficult to read any book without encountering some allusion or foreshadowing of that great age for the nation of Israel and her Messiah.
We have promises which God made in His covenants with Abraham and David. We have prophecies uttered through Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zephaniah, and others that tell of the glory of a coming day. We have Psalms such as Psalm 72 that portray a world that has been “regenerated” over which the King of kings will reign. To these promises, prophetic utterances and Psalms can be added the picture given to us. The bounty of the garners of Egypt, which Joseph administered for the nations, is one picture. So also is the life and reign of Solomon.
There was not nor has there been any period of time when Israel so closely approximated the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham and David as during the reign of King Solomon. Geographically, the boundaries of the nation were never again so expansive. Economically and nationally, the nation would never be as strong and secure. Internal harmony and external peace marked his reign for many years.
Yet even here, there are contrasts that must remind us of how much greater and more wonderful are Christ and His future kingdom.
1 Kings 4 begins with a list of administration. Here were advisers and assistants in his handling of the kingdom. It is to Solomon’s credit that, even though a wise man, he was not above enlisting the help of others. But the Lord Jesus Christ will need no administrative staff, no counsellors or advisors. There will not be a cabinet to sit and deliberate the difficult issues of the day. He will be sufficient in Himself to make every decision and to carry out every plan.
The extent of Solomon’s reign and influence were remarkable. His kingdom stretched from the Euphrates to the Mediterranean and down to the border of Egypt. Neither Saul nor David had extended the kingdom to that dimension. But when the King of kings reigns, His dominion shall be over all the earth (Ps 72:8).
The prosperity and blessing that the nation enjoyed under Solomon lasted all the days of Solomon. But it did come to an end. But of His kingdom, “there shall be no end” (Isa 9:7; Luke 1:33). His Millennial Kingdom will merge into His eternal Kingdom, and He shall reign forever and ever.
Consider:
Think of other contrasts with the Millennial reign of Christ as described in Psalm 72 and with Solomon’s reign.