1

Solomon who made King Hiram participate in the temple construction

2

[1 Kings 5:18]

The craftsmen of Solomon and Hiram and the men of Gebal cut and prepared the timber and stone for the building of the temple.

3

Following King David, Solomon became king of Israel. Solomon prayed for wisdom to rule over the kingdom which God had entrusted to him. God gave Solomon wisdom to rule the kingdom.

4

After Solomon became king, Israel became more and more prosperous and peaceful. Hiram, king of Tyre, who was in intimate relationship with King David, sent a commemorative mission to hear that Solomon the son of David had become king.

5

Tyre, ruled by King Hiram, was about 226km nort-hwest of Jerusalem, and the cedar was very famous. There were many experts in Tire who handled wood and stone well.

6

King Hiram sent many cedar trees to King David when he built the palace. He also helped David build a royal palace by sending engineers who handle wood and stone well.

7

David, Solomon's father, wanted to build the temple of God. So he prepared a lot of things to build a temple.

8

But God did not allow David to build a temple. God told him to build a temple, not David, but Solomon, the son of David. David gave Solomon everything he had prepared to build the temple.

9

King Solomon decided to build a temple that God had commanded him to build. Solomon, who had decided to build a temple, sent people to Hiram king of Tyre, his father's friend.

10

King Solomon asked King Hiram to send a cedar tree and a man to work to build the temple. He said that the wages of those men would be given by King Hiram. King Solomon requested Hiram king to do this work.

11

At the request of Solomon, King Hiram rejoiced greatly. “Today I give thanks to Jehovah. The LORD gave David a wise son to rule over this great nation.” King Hiram praised God who gave Solomon as king of Israel.

12

King Hiram promised Solomon to provide everything for building the temple. And he asked Solomon for food that his people could eat. King Hiram actively cooperated with King Solomon who was responsible for building the temple of God.

13

King Hiram weaved cedarwood and pine trees and sent them to Israel through the sea. King Solomon sent 3,600 tons of wheat and 440,000 liters of olive oil every year as promised to King Hiram. So King Solomon and King Hiram made peace in the temple of God.

14

Hiram, the king of the Gentiles, and his people were used by the Israelites in the construction of the temple of God. Through King Solomon, God has allowed Gentiles who do not know God to be involved in building the temple.

15

This is an amazing grace. This is because the Bible shows the Gentile nation as God's enemy. The participation of Hiram, king of the Gentiles, in the work of building the temple, is a marvelous scene that shows in advance the great work that God will do in the future.

16

The temple of the Old Testament is a building that represents Jesus Christ, the only one who brings us to God. By the coming of the true temple Jesus, not only Israel but all nations can worship God!

There is no more Gentile in Jesus! In the scene where King Solomon and King Hiram built the temple of God together in peace, we can see God's love for all nations beyond Israel.

17

We, as a temple by believing in Jesus, received a mission to establish the kingdom of God as King Solomon. When we become temple, we should be good to be children of God even when we deal with people who do not believe. In doing so, our unbelieving friends around us will be able to thank God and praise Him like the King of Hiram today’s sermon.

This is the work of God's will for us in the world. I hope that you will be a believer who pleases God with a life of obedience to the Word.

(This is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)