Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: 1 Kings 4 and Psalm 104

Solomon’s reign was characterised by military peace and material prosperity. In part, this was thanks to David’s earlier military successes. However, Solomon added great value to the kingdom by organising its administration and management with remarkable efficiency. Where David had been a warrior king and a leader of fierce fighters, 1 Kings 4 reveals that Solomon had an anointing to appoint capable people, delegate tasks, negotiate deals and structure systems very efficiently and effectively. His leadership and kingly rule is remembered as a time when “the people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy,” (v.20) and the people “lived in safety, everyone under their own vine and under their own fig-tree.” (v.25)

in Solomon’s administration, each district official had their region and their specific duty to perform – as the NKJV translates v.28, the officials did this, “each man according to his charge.” Charles Spurgeon once preached a whole sermon on that one phrase, “each man according to his charge”. He highlighted that we each have a unique charge to fulfill in the Kingdom of God (a unique role to play), and we should be diligent to perform it and be expectant in being supplied with what we need to fullfil this duty. His conclusion for us as Christians was as follows: “Everything for Jesus, the glorious Solomon of our hearts, the Beloved of our souls! Life for Jesus! Death for Jesus! Time for Jesus! Eternity for Jesus! Hand and heart for Jesus! Brain and tongue for Jesus! Night and day for Jesus! Sickness or health for Jesus! Honour or dishonour for Jesus! Shame or glory for Jesus! Everything for Jesus, ‘Every man according to his charge.’ So may it be! Amen.”