Bible Readings for December 9th
2 Chronicles 9 | Jude 1 | Zephaniah 1 | Luke 23
The material we find in 2 Chronicles 9 is, in almost every respect, identical to the material we read in 1 Kings 10. So, the account we read of the visit of the queen of Sheba is virtually verbatim what we read, and the catalog of Solomon’s great wealth and wisdom in the second half of 2 Chronicles 9 also mirrors the catalog from 1 Kings nearly completely. There is, however, one additional line included in the narrative from 2 Chronicles 9, and we will explore the significance of that line in the meditation for today.
The additional line in 2 Chronicles 9 comes in verse 26, in the middle of all the various descriptions of Solomon’s vast riches and superior wisdom. There, we read this: “And he [Solomon] ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt.” Now, the account from 1 Kings 10 did include the statement that nothing like Solomon’s throne was ever made in any other kingdom (1 Kgs. 10:20; 2 Chron. 9:19) and that Solomon “excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom” (1 Kgs. 10:23; 2 Chron. 9:22), so both narratives do include identical information comparing Solomon’s glory with the glory of the kings around him. This statement that Solomon actually ruled over all the other kings from the other nations, though, has no precedent in the material from 1 Kings.
Why include this detail here if it didn’t need to be included in 1 Kings 10? It seems that we are gaining another glimpse forward of the nature of the reign and rule of the coming Messiah. By including the information that Solomon reigned over the surrounding kings in his region for this brief time, we start to understand that the new Messiah will not merely be a wealthy and a wise king, as though he were simply a better king than anything Israel had ever seen. Instead, we learn from this that David’s greater Son must eventually be the greatest of all kings—an eternal, everlasting King of kings who rules supremely over all powers, authorities, principalities, and rulers, not only on earth, but even in heaven as well.
And for this reason, Jesus was sure to inform his disciples before ascending into heaven that “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matt. 28:17). Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, and his reign currently involves putting every last enemy under his feet until he can put away death, our last enemy, forever and ever (1 Cor. 15:24–28). Therefore, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you” (Zech. 9:9). Where Solomon was great, Jesus is greater.
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Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
