7-1 Solomon as a Type of Christ

David's  prayers that Solomon would be the Messiah were heard in that  without  doubt  Solomon  was  a superb type of Christ. The promises  to  David clearly had a primary fulfilment in Solomon; there  are  too many similarities between those promises and the life  of  Solomon  to  sensibly  deny  this. Particularly is his Kingdom  typical of that of Christ, and through this fact we can gain  stimulating  insight  into  the  nature of the Millennium. Nearly  all  the  information  we  have  about the Millennium is taught  to  us through type- especially once it is realized that the  majority  of  Isaiah's  well  known  'Kingdom' passages are alluding  back  to  Solomon's reign (notably Is. 60:1-8), and had their  initial  fulfilment in Hezekiah's Kingdom, which was also typical of Christ's. It is clear that the hope of the Kingdom is intended to be the motivating force behind our lives . We cannot believe  in  or  be  motivated by something which we know little about;  knowledge  must  be  related to faith and inspiration to act.  Knowledge  of  Christ and his Kingdom is taught largely by types because it is through types that we can relate to him as a person,  and  to  his coming Kingdom as a physical reality. Just consider  the  following,  put  them all together and you have a convincing and intricate picture of the Kingdom of Christ, through considering Solomon as a type of Christ.

Solomon as a type of Christ


Solomon

Christ

After dedicating the temple, it was filled with the cloud of glory so that the priests could not stand to minister (2 Chron. 5:13,14)

Because of His death, the temple was filled with glory and the Mosaic priesthood ended (Rev. 15:8 cp. 2 Cor. 3:10)

" There was nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not" (2 Chron. 9:2). In this we see clearly Solomon as a type of Christ.

As Christ told us all he knew (Jn. 17:8); consider the implications of this . If the Lord told us all that He knew from the Father, His words deserve a more sustained study and reflection than any of us have given them.

Solomon was fully representative of Israel (1 Kings 11:1,5-7 cp. 33; 8:52; and note the ye...thee confusion of 9:4-7); his prayer was their prayer (2 Chron. 6:21);his worship was theirs (2 Chron. 1:3,5)

As Christ and us

Israel's blessing was dependent on Solomon's obedience (1 Kings 6:12,13) ; their joy was because of the honour God had given Solomon (2 Chron. 7:10)

 As ours. The blessing of others can be dependent upon a third party (e.g. Mk. 2:5) Cp. our response to Christ's

victory and exaltation

God's love for Israel was shown through giving them Solomon as king (2 Chron. 9:8)

Cp. our appreciation of Christ's Kingship?

" I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come  in" , i.e. to rule God's Kingdom

(1 Kings  3:7-9)

Alluded to in Mt. 18:3,4; become a child so you can rule the Kingdom; Christ was the greatest child as he will be the greatest ruler. This sets Solomon up as our example in this aspect. Notice how Sarah’s unspiritual comments “cast out the bondwoman…” and “my Lord being old…”are interpreted positively in the NT

The supreme intellectuality of Solomon (1 Kings 3:12; 4:30-33) which led him to be deeply depressed in Ecclesiastes

In the type, Christ the most intellectual of all men- with the associated sadness and problems. He could have analyzed the surface tension on a glass of water if He wished. His knowledge of others thoughts was perhaps not due to a bolt of Holy Spirit revelation, but die to His great sensitivity that was related to His intelligence.

He asked for wisdom so that he could guide Israel (1 Kings 3: 8-11)

Is. 11:1,2

" The wisdom of God was in the midst of him" (1 Kings 3:28mg)

Col. 2:3- clearly seeing Solomon as a type of Christ

Solomon had God's wisdom and used it to judge Israel; therefore they feared him (1 Kings 3:28)

As Christ (Jn. 5:22)

Sorely tested by materialism, women and pride

Ditto for Christ; he wanted to  take the Kingdom for himself, to have worldly power and glory; and if " my son" in Proverbs is Jesus, he too was tempted by women.

Solomon built the temple of stone already prepared (1 Kings 6:7)

Christ is the builder of the spiritual temple, in which the stones should fit together without strife (Eph. 2:21 alludes to 1 Kings 6:7)

The purpose of the temple was to let all the world know about the God of Israel (1 Kings 8:59,60)

We are the spiritual temple; the  literal temple of the future (Ps. 68:29) will do the same. The stones are shaped so that they might fit together; could it be so that those we now are being fitted in with are those we will work with eternally in an especially close relationship?

The Kingdom Of Solomon As A Type of Christ's Kingdom

Solomon's Kingdom

Christ's Kingdom

Solomon sat on God's throne as King over His Kingdom (2 Chron. 9:8), in Jerusalem

A temple built by Gentiles (2 Chron. 2:17,18)

Ditto for Christ when the Kingdom is re-established. (Jer. 3:17)

Ez.40-48; Zech.6:13

Is.60:10

Israel was at it's largest extent in Solomon's Kingdom; lost land was restored, and the borders re-established (2 Chron. 9:26; 8:4  cp. Josh. 16:3,5); it was also at its political strongest; nations submitted to Solomon (1 Kings 4:20); Israel was the chief of the nations (1 Kings 4:21)

Mic. 4:7

Mic. 4:8

" King over a people like the dust of the earth" (2 Chron.1:9 = Gen. 13:16). Promises to Abraham initially fulfilled (1 Kings 4:20)

 Christ the true King of the Kingdom when the promises to Abraham are fulfilled.

" Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and...fig" (1 Kings 4:25); great fertility (1 Kings 4:22-28)

Mic. 4:4; Ez. 34:28 (security and peace)

Is. 35:1,2

The happiness of Solomon's servants as they sat down to food and wine is stressed; they listened to Solomon's wisdom as they ate; this was the basis of

their happiness. They ate in the presence of observing Gentiles (2 Chron.9:4,7)

This is alluded to in Lk.22:30; Lk.14:15 speaks of us as happy servants.

Rev.19:17 “Come and gather yourselves to the supper of the great God”

After Solomon's ascension, there was judgment and reward; in the form of being able to eat at his table (1 Kings 2:7 cp. 2 Sam.9: 7,10; 19:28)

 

Cp. After Christ's return; the reward is to break bread with him (Lk.14:15; 22:30). Breaking bread with Him now is a sign of joyful fellowship with Him; it shouldn’t be a scary, worrying experience.

The priests were dressed in white linen, praising God with one sound (2 Chron.5:11,12)

 Rev.19:8 . This is possible even now in ecclesial life (Rom.15:6). In this sense we “have eternal life” in that we begin living the type of life we will eternally live right now.

Kingdom ruled by king-priests  (1 Kings 4:2) with 12 deputy rulers (1 Kings  4:7)

who provided food each month (1 Kings 4:27)

Rev.5:10

Mt.19:28

Consider Is.66:23; Ez.47:12;

Rev.22:2

The nations bring " presents" (s.w. sacrifices) to him  (1 Kings  4:21)

The Law re-established in the  Millennium ? Ps.68:29; 76:11; 72:8,10.

The Queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon manifested in the joy of his servants (2 Chron.9:3,4,6)  and therefore she believed.

Jerusalem was the centre of wisdom and worship for the region (1 Kings 4:34; 2 Chron.9:23)

Our response to Christ's wisdom will make the world believe. She represents us: “One thing have I desired…that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life…to inquire in his temple” (Ps. 27:4). Example leads to conversion not just a bald statement of doctrine.

Is.2:2,3; Zech. 14:16

Solomon stressed in Proverbs that wisdom brings joy (3:13; 8:34), even in this life.

So our joy now should be the joy we will have in the Kingdom

Solomon's wisdom concerned " the name of the Lord" (1 Kings 10:1)

Christ's purpose both now and in the Kingdom is to declare God's name (Jn. 17:26)

His wisdom was to guide Israel, but it concerned the natural creation; as if his expositions concerning this were teaching spiritual lessons (1 Kings 4: 29,32,33)- as the Lord's parables.

Will this be how we teach the nations in the Millennium?

The Queen of Sheba poured out her soul to Solomon- although she was a high flying career woman (2 Chron. 9:1,4)

Ditto for the leaders of this world? Conversion results from relationships, and the person trusting is and opening up to us.

The queen of Sheba was an ambassador, one of many (2 Chron. 9:1,23)

" Solomon reigned over all the kings" (2 Chron. 9:26)

The nations will send representatives to Christ  to learn wisdom. The value of spiritual wisdom will then  be appreciated. There will  still be an element of mortal  rulership, with ours  superimposed over it.

The nations traded their material wealth for spiritual instruction, coming annually to Jerusalem for instruction (2 Chron. 9:23,24)

Ditto in the Kingdom? Knowledge of the Kingdom leads to quitting materialism for “the pearl of great price”

Zech. 14:16

Solomon judged the poor, ordinary people (e.g. the two poor prostitutes living in one house). He didn’t burn them, as the Law demanded, but judged with grace.

Ps.72:4,12-14

" The king made (mg. gave) silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones" (2 Chron. 1:15)

No materialism in the Kingdom because such abundance. Spiritual riches (redemption) given  at  Jerusalem  at  the judgment. There  will be a  different set of values then,  as  there was due to the fact  meaningless    in   Solomon's  Kingdom.

" The Queen of Sheba...came to  prove Solomon with hard questions (s.w. riddles- i.e. trick questions)...I believed not... until I came" (2 Chron. 9:1,6) . By seeing the theory turned into practice, the word made flesh, she was converted.

The cynics converted to believers

For all these similarities, however, it is possible to see Solomon as an anti-Christ, as well as Solomon as a type of Christ; like Saul, he was both a type of Christ, and also the very opposite of the true Christ. This point is really brought out in Is. 53:11, where the true Messiah is described as being “satisfied” with the travail or labour of his soul, and will thereby bring forth many children. The Hebrew words used occur in close proximity in several passages in Ecclesiastes, where Solomon speaks of how all his “travail” or “labour” has not “satisfied” him, and that it is all the more vain because his children may well not appreciate his labour and will likely squander it (Ecc. 1:8; 4:8; 5:10; 6:3). Likewise the ‘Babylon’ system of Revelation, replete with it’s feature of 666, is described in terms which unmistakeably apply to Solomon’s Kingdom. This feature of Solomon- being both a type of Christ and yet also the very opposite of the true Christ- reflects the tragic duality which we will observe at such length in our later studies.

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