God Grants Solomon Wisdom and Opportunity to Prepare Timber and Stone for the Temple

Greetings, everyone. Today, we study 1 Kings Chapter 5. Solomon was to build the temple for God. The ministers had been appointed, the administration was well-organized, the people of Israel dwelt in safety, and Solomon’s fame had spread far and wide. Yet, when it came to the actual building of the temple, Solomon pondered over it again and again, at a loss as to how to proceed.

The title of this chapter is "God Grants Solomon Wisdom and Opportunity to Prepare Timber and Stone for the Temple." This was no laughing matter. Why? Because transporting timber involved both waterways and mountain roads. How on earth were they to transport it to the site of the temple in Jerusalem? How could such massive stones and colossal logs be moved? Even today, transporting items of that scale is highly challenging, let alone three thousand years ago. Three thousand years ago, Solomon was deeply anxious. In the midst of his intense contemplation, King Hiram of Tyre sent his messengers. This brings us to our first point: King Hiram of Tyre had a very close relationship with David.

King Hiram of Tyre Had a Very Close Relationship with David

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. (1 Kings 5:1)

The relationship between David and King Hiram of Tyre was exceptionally close—so close, in fact, that Hiram "always loved David." This was a deep admiration. Have you ever admired someone? David was King Hiram’s idol. Why did David become his idol? There are several key reasons.

First, David wrote exceptionally beautiful psalms. I believe David’s psalms made King Hiram admire him much like modern fans admire their favorite pop stars or singer-songwriters who write and perform their own music. David’s music was simply beautiful and deeply moving. Thus, David’s image in the mind of King Hiram of Tyre was incredibly grand and noble.

Second, David was a man of great military prowess. King Hiram admired him immensely as an undefeated general. Furthermore, David was extremely shrewd in his dealings. Why? The reason is simple: David did not attempt to colonize Tyre. Instead, he maintained an excellent relationship with King Hiram. Tyre was likely a region that did not produce grain, whereas Israel, David’s homeland, was a land flowing with milk and honey, rich in agricultural produce. Therefore, David sold fruits and grain to King Hiram. Conversely, King Hiram’s territory produced building materials. You can eat grain, but you cannot eat building materials. Thus, they established a highly beneficial trade relationship. It was a win-win cooperation.

This laid a solid foundation for the relationship that Solomon would later inherit. Call it a coincidence, but just as Solomon was frowning in his palace, unable to come up with a plan, and even God’s wisdom had not yet manifested, he was consumed with worry. He had not slept well the night before and was still fretting today. Suddenly, the gatekeeper announced: "Report! Your Majesty, the servants of King Hiram of Tyre request an audience." Solomon said: "Bring them in, quickly!" Did the diplomats sent by King Hiram know what Solomon needed? Undoubtedly. They had analyzed the situation thoroughly; King Hiram had already figured it all out. Solomon immediately received them. This meeting was highly successful. It was not merely about good food and wine, though they were surely hosted with the highest hospitality at the state guesthouse; it was a highly productive discussion.

The envoy said: "Just send your servants to speak with our king, Hiram. Our region specializes in producing these materials. Whatever you need is not a problem." Solomon asked: "But how do we transport them?" The envoy replied: "Ah, leave that to us. We have experts; this is our specialty." Solomon then specified: "I need timber of a certain thickness." The envoy replied: "No problem, we have trees even thicker than that." Once Solomon understood the logistics, he immediately dispatched a diplomatic mission to solidify the relationship and finalize the project.

Now, let me ask you: where did this come from? It came from the wisdom God granted to Solomon. Do you think it was just wisdom? God also granted him the right opportunity! Without the right opportunity, things do not work out. You may want to buy, but will they sell? If you want rare earths or microchips, and they refuse to sell, what can you do? They might even impose sanctions. But here, they saw: "Oh, you need these materials to build a temple for your God. We will not double or quintuple the price." In this world, anything can happen. But when relations are good, it is a different story; they do not exploit the situation to hike prices. When they do not hike prices, things become much easier. Moreover, the other party had their own specific needs.

Solomon Requests King Hiram’s Assistance in Preparing Materials

And Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying, “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. But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune. 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.’ 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 we have no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.” (1 Kings 5:2-6)

Solomon requested King Hiram’s help in preparing the materials, laying out all his cards. You see, he revealed his ultimate goal—to build the temple of God as successor to his father David. By showing his hand so completely, was he not afraid of being exploited? From a human perspective, of course one would be. However, because of the established relationship, it was not an issue.

How did Solomon frame it? He said: "My father David faced warfare on every side, so God did not permit him to build the temple." This was highly sincere. He did not boast, "My father was great, but I am even greater." Instead, he acknowledged that the Lord God had put their enemies under their feet, and this matter was now accomplished.

Let me ask you: did King Hiram know how David had triumphed? Yes, he did! When the terms were presented, King Hiram understood perfectly. What did he understand? This was the work of the Lord God; one must not act foolishly, for it is dangerous to offend God.

How did David triumph? It was through his God. The stories of David’s victories in battle were well known to King Hiram. How did he win? The Kingdom of David was mighty and renowned among the surrounding nations. I have researched this and found that David stationed military garrisons in many surrounding territories. However, there was no garrison in Tyre because of their excellent relationship.

In reality, although Tyre was powerful, it could not compare to the Davidic empire. Because they could not match David’s empire, they actually existed under the protective umbrella of the Davidic and Solomononic reigns, which deterred other nations from bullying them. Just as some small nations today host foreign military bases—such as Okinawa hosting US forces, which deters others—Tyre benefited from this alignment.

Thus, when Hiram heard this, he viewed the service of Solomon’s God as his own priority. Therefore, Solomon’s request was framed clearly, with a tone that was firm yet diplomatic.

"But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune. I intend to build a house for the name of my God, as the Lord promised my father David." This was very clear and transparent.

Therefore, he requested Hiram to command his servants to cut the timber, promising to pay whatever wages Hiram set. Solomon offered to pay whatever price was demanded. Was Solomon foolish? Not at all. If you let the other party set any price, the outcome is usually uncertain.

But now was the time when God had granted them victory, peace on every side, no adversaries, and no misfortunes. Furthermore, what lay behind this diplomatic language? There was a mutual exchange of goods. "I have what you need, and you have what I need."

Solomon did not bluntly say, "Do you not need grain?" Wise people do not speak so crudely. God granted Solomon wisdom, and He also granted him opportunity.

Today, brothers and sisters, we must practice how we speak. Why must we learn how to speak? When you were born, you could not even say "mother." No one is born speaking; we learn by imitation when adults teach us. No one is born ready to apply for a passport and fly abroad. Everything in life must be learned. How foolish it is when a person does not know how to speak properly!

We must learn to speak. In ancient Chinese history, those who left their mark were all master communicators. The ministers under Qin Shi Huang, such as Zhang Yi, were incredibly eloquent. The envoys sent to negotiate were masters of diplomatic language, handling situations with perfect tact. Today, brothers and sisters, we must reflect on this. When you read the Bible as I do, you will see that these are examples of highly sophisticated diplomacy.

Hiram Accepts the Trade and Sets His Terms

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.” 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. 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.” (1 Kings 5:7-9)

See how clearly he spoke? He did not say, "The timber is in the mountains; come and get it yourself." That would have frustrated Solomon. Instead, what terms did Hiram set? "I will deliver it to your port, and from there, it is your responsibility." This was door-to-door delivery. "But you must also fulfill my desire by providing food for my household."

In fact, the Solomononic and Davidic empires had always maintained this trade relationship with Tyre. The only difference now was that the timber Solomon required was not for building small sheds, but for the temple of the Lord God. The stones were not small foundation stones, but massive blocks—some of which remain in place to this day. Consequently, they agreed on the trade: timber in exchange for food. The subordinates calculated the quantities, finalized the details, and signed the contract. Thus, the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him, and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.

So Solomon gave Hiram the specified amount of wheat and pressed oil. We do not know the exact measurements used back then, but it was a very large transaction.

Making a Covenant

They made a covenant, the contract was signed, and the transaction was finalized. King Hiram of Tyre received the grain he needed, and Solomon received the materials he required. They made a covenant with each other.

Today, we must discuss this concept of making a covenant. A covenant is not merely a contract. "Covenant" is a noble term, whereas "contract" is a more mundane, legalistic one. Making a covenant and signing a contract are not the same thing. The content of this covenant went beyond building materials and grain; it encompassed a broader relationship. In human relations, learning how to relate to one another and make covenants is a gradual process.

I want you to reflect on this. A covenant requires an exceptionally close relationship. For example, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is based on a treaty, a covenant. Is it still functioning as one today? The point is that making a covenant is highly significant. Let me ask you: did King Solomon believe in the Lord? Yes. Did King Hiram of Tyre believe? Although he spoke of blessing the Lord, did he truly know who the Lord was? Did he have a genuine relationship with God? Not really.

Therefore, today we should not simplify things merely by saying, "You are a believer, I am a believer," or "You are an unbeliever, I am an unbeliever." I have a certain logic regarding this, which I will share, though I do not know if it will be well-received. For instance, when looking for a partner, it is not for leisure; it is for marriage. I believe that looking for a Christian partner requires careful discernment. Do not marry someone simply because they carry the label of a "Christian." A marriage is a covenant. You must examine thoroughly whether that person is truly genuine.

Solomon’s Wisdom and the Science of Management

Therefore, I would rather a person be somewhat like Hiram. The treaty Solomon negotiated with him was not a marriage covenant, but it was a covenant nonetheless. A covenant represents a higher level of commitment and strategic alignment.

"So Hiram gave Solomon cedar and cypress logs according to all his desire. And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand kors of wheat as food for his household, and twenty kors of pressed oil. Thus Solomon gave to Hiram year by year. So 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." (1 Kings 5:10-12)

Remember this: wisdom is indispensable. Naivety and foolishness will never solve practical problems. One must possess wisdom. It was wisdom that enabled this treaty to be successfully concluded. This was the very wisdom the Lord promised and bestowed upon Solomon. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we must learn this systematically, step by step. Today, we desperately need wisdom.

Do not be gullible. Just because someone claims to be a Christian does not mean they are incapable of deceit. Do you honestly believe there are no swindlers among Christians? I have encountered people who say, "Pastor Liu, I am a Christian, you must trust me." My response is simple: nonsense. Why should I trust you simply because of a label? Even if you brand the words "I am a Christian" onto your forehead with a hot iron, I will still not trust you blindly. On what objective basis should I trust you? Others say, "You must trust me, we are from the same hometown." I say, forget it. Or, "I am your friend, how can you not trust me?" If you have not conducted proper due diligence, do not offer blind trust. Most scams are perpetrated by friends and compatriots. This is a common, harsh reality abroad.

Solomon’s Organization of Labor and Overseers

"Then King Solomon raised a labor force out of all Israel; and the labor force was thirty thousand men. And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts; they were one month in Lebanon and two months at home; and Adoniram was in charge of the labor force. Solomon had seventy thousand who carried burdens, and eighty thousand who quarried stone in the mountains, besides three thousand three hundred from the chiefs of Solomon’s deputies, who supervised the people who labored in the work. And the king commanded them to quarry large stones, costly stones, and hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the temple. So Solomon’s builders, Hiram’s builders, and the Gebalites quarried them; and they prepared timber and stones to build the temple." (1 Kings 5:13-18)

Look at this organizational structure. Solomon organized the laborers and the overseers. Without exceptional administrative wisdom, how could you manage thirty thousand men? How could you direct seventy thousand burden-bearers and eighty thousand stone-cutters in the mountains? Many of these were Sidonian craftsmen and Gebalites. Let me tell you, Solomon applied the wisdom he received from God directly to the science of management.

In my heart, I have a deep conviction and a persistent hope: to train every brother and sister among us to become managers. I want you to understand this strategic intent. I do not want you to remain mere laborers or manual operators. My goal is for you to become managers.

This is especially critical in this era of Artificial Intelligence. Many jobs will simply disappear, particularly manual labor. If you visit a modern smart manufacturing plant today, you will find the lights are off. Robots do not need light to operate. Robotic arms work tirelessly and continuously. Where are the human workers? There are none. They are obsolete in that space. Humans cannot compete with machines on that level. Machines do not fall sick, nor do they throw tantrums. They execute commands precisely.

What is the alternative? If a person cannot manage, they become redundant. Recently, an AI expert in our congregation told me, "No matter how intelligent AI becomes, it still requires human management." Exactly. Management is where human value lies.

I earnestly desire that our brothers and sisters grasp this in the church. This is not merely a theological issue; it is a management issue. Can you manage, or can you not? If you cannot even manage yourself, how can you expect to manage others? We must fundamentally realign our mindset. Frankly, I carry a strong sense of urgency and crisis regarding this.

I am absolutely clear on one thing: if a person refuses to take personal responsibility, even God's blessing cannot save them. Do you understand this? If you do not take ownership of your duties, how can God help you? You cannot take the work God assigned to you and simply "hand it back to God" in a cycle of passing the buck. What are you doing? Playing political football? God commanded you to manage, yet you say, "It is fine, I surrender it to God, let Him manage." Is God your servant, or are you His?

Some may ask, "Pastor, how do I learn this?" Let us establish the framework. First, learn how to conduct yourself with integrity (character). Second, learn how to execute tasks effectively (competence). This is merely the foundation. Once you have mastered self-management—managing your own character and tasks—you then progress to managing others and managing larger operations. This is the basic blueprint. It is not easy. You might wonder, "How do I train myself? I lack the knowledge."

Now, while I myself know how to execute, how to conduct myself, and how to manage people and operations, translating this into a structured curriculum is a different challenge. I needed authoritative material. My own ad-hoc summaries would not suffice as a timeless standard. Therefore, I decided to teach you ancient Chinese wisdom. If there is Western wisdom of equal caliber, I would gladly teach that too. This is not a matter of East versus West; it is a distinction between the wise and the foolish. Which one do you choose to be?

Ultimately, the world is not divided merely by gender, but by intellect and capability: the wise and the foolish. Which category do you want to belong to? In the past, anxiety would sometimes cloud my judgment and make me foolish. Now, I have learned to remain calm. If I do not worry, what happens? The responsibility falls squarely on you, the brothers and sisters, to train yourselves to be wise. Learn to be managers, not mere operators. Take it step by step. May God manifest His power among us, so that our endeavors align with His promises.

Solomon’s and Hiram’s Builders Prepare Timber and Stones

To build the temple, you must first secure the logistics and materials. Once the material supply chain was resolved, Solomon was naturally relieved. It was an extraordinary breakthrough. Previously, the logistics of transporting massive stones up the mountain was a daunting challenge. If you visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem today, you will see that moving those stones would be a major engineering feat even with modern technology, let alone hauling them up a mountain in ancient times. This solved Solomon's critical bottleneck. The timber and stones were prepared. To build the temple of God, the foundation must be absolutely solid.

I thank God deeply. In my early years of church planting, I fell into a flawed methodology. Every Sunday, I provided lavish spreads of food and drinks at my own expense and effort. The result? We attracted unproductive consumers and freeloaders, not builders. They were not quality timber or solid stones; they were wood, hay, and straw.

Then came the structural reform. I thank God for giving me the wisdom to restructure the church. We demolished the old, dysfunctional model and rebuilt it. Previously, we offered free roasted chicken, duck, and sausages. We phased that out—first to a plate of fruit, then nothing, and eventually, even a bottle of mineral water required a coin in the honesty box. Why? Because the church is an institution designed to train people in the discipline of giving. If you are fundamentally selfish, how can you ever be a channel of blessing?

Today, it is difficult for anyone who joins us not to be blessed, unless they remain stubbornly selfish. Let me be clear: I proudly told a pastor friend of mine that in our church, we do not even grant people the privilege to tithe until they fully comprehend its spiritual significance. Does such a church lack financial resources? Absolutely not. God is not poor. He grants us victory and puts our enemies under our feet.

As we build His glorious church, God provides the necessary wisdom, understanding, and resources. I assure you, across the globe, there are devout believers seeking God. May God hear their cries and lead them to a church that fulfills their destiny. The Chinese Mingding Doctrine is precisely about building a church that empowers people to fulfill their destiny. We do not compromise; we bring only the finest materials to offer to God.

Is it difficult? To quarry and transport such massive stones is incredibly difficult. Where do we find such precious people of God? Today, I say this with great pride: I am immensely proud of our congregation. You should feel a sense of pride too. To be a member here requires meeting exceptionally high standards. Despite my constant sense of urgency, when I look at what we have built, I am deeply proud.

Recently, I met another pastor and shared our weekly schedule: cell group prayer on Monday, church-wide prayer on Tuesday, Bible study followed by prayer on Wednesday, district prayer on Thursday, Bible study followed by prayer on Friday, various group meetings on Saturday, and Sunday service. He was utterly astonished. "How is this possible?" he asked. But have you not realized? When you love God wholeheartedly, you lack no good thing. Serving God alongside a disciplined, destiny-driven congregation running this heavenly race is deeply rewarding. I believe God is preparing quality materials globally, and many "Hirams" will deliver these resources to us.

These are premium materials—cedar, cypress, and massive, costly stones—perfect for building God's glorious church. Some are destined to be foundations, others pillars. These are people of destiny. Excellent. Recently, some members posted in our chat: "I thank God for bringing me here; I have been searching for this for a long time." Why? Because we do not offer superficial entertainment or free meals; we preach destiny. A pastor friend of mine even thought my church had closed down because we changed our name. Today, we are defined by the Mingding Doctrine.

Today, a generation of destiny-driven people is rising. God will channel resources from all over the world to build His glorious church. This is not because of my personal capability, but because you are invaluable assets. Our church is built on solid ground. My pastor friend was deeply impressed that we make all our resources publicly available. Many smaller churches rely on our materials. Once, when our website went down, they called in panic, asking when it would be restored because they needed it for their services. If they use our content to sustain themselves, that is perfectly fine. The Word of God was received freely, and we give it freely. We must possess a broad, strategic vision.

This is the essence of our Mingding Doctrine. A church like ours will never lack resources. With Solomon's wisdom—which is a gift from God—opportunities naturally follow. The timber, the stones, and the foundations were all provided by God. Today, God is presenting us with unprecedented opportunities. We are witnessing Him raise up a people of destiny in every corner of the earth.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, hold fast to this mandate. Hold fast to this destiny. Become precious assets in the eyes of God—premium materials fit to be the foundations and pillars of His temple.

May God bless you all!

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