From Vicar Stefanec  (April)

Dear Trinity,

As we continue examining how Old Testament individuals foreshadow Christ, we now consider Solomon. Solomon was the son of David and succeeded David on the throne of Israel. When David desired to build the temple for God to dwell in, God told him, “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he will be to me a son,” (1 Samuel 7:12-14).

When Solomon becomes king of Israel at the end of David’s life, he reigns with wisdom and righteousness—at first. He puts to death his enemies and is given exceptional wisdom by the grace of God. He builds the temple of God with excellence, and his kingdom is blessed with riches and abundance. However, Solomon is led away from the Lord when he marries foreign wives who lead his heart away from the Lord. He even builds high places for other gods. So, like every man who came before him, Solomon is not ultimately the deliverer of his people.

Yet, there is another, truer Son of David: Christ. Although Solomon was the offspring of David, Christ is the true offspring who came from David’s own body. Yet as the Psalm says, “The Lord said to my Lord…” (Psalm 110:1). Although he is the Son of David, he is the most high God. Although Solomon was the son of David, Christ is the Son of God. Although Solomon put to death his enemies, the true King of Israel put to death sin on his throne of the cross. Although Solomon was given wisdom, Christ is the personification of Wisdom. Although Solomon built the temple of God, Christ’s body is the Temple. Although Solomon’s kingdom was great, Christ’s is greater still and will have no end. Although Solomon fell into idolatry, Christ bore the idolatry of his people and carried it to the grave. Although Solomon’s reign ended when he died, Christ’s reign was inaugurated when he took his last breath. For Christ is the Son promised to David.
As we continue through Lent, let us remember the perfect Son Christ is. As we reflect upon and repent of our sin this season, let us remember that the true Son of David is the sinless one. No man before him resisted sin. No man before him carried your sin to the cross to deliver you from it. So, let us look to our King as the one who defeated death by death, and let us patiently await the final consumption of his kingdom. For there, the peace and abundance will be greater than that of Solomon, and there will be sin no more.
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For Prayer: Heavenly Father, you promised your servant David that his offspring would reign forever. Let us repent of our sin and find our promised rest in his kingdom, so that we may abide in your presence within your kingdom of all eternity. Through Jesus Christ, your Son, Amen.