Solomon, a type of Christ

There are many lessons to be learned from the study of the Old Testament.  Recently, when reading  1Kings, I discovered that Solomon is a type of Christ, or a typology.  A typology is defined by Webster as "a doctrine of theological types; one holding that things in Christian belief are prefigured or symbolized by things in the Old Testament".

Certain elements of Solomon's life are prophetic of Christ's life.  In my reading of 1Kings I discovered six interesting facts about Solomon that pointed to Christ and his ministry in the New Testament. 

1. Chosen by his father (1Kings 1:30).  David had many sons, but only one could be king and David declared that assuredly Solomon would reign after him.  Jesus, too was chosen by his father and declared to be the Son of God at his baptism (Matthew 3:17). 
2. Instructed by his father (1Kings 2:1).  Before he died, David charged his son, Solomon, to carry out his final wishes.  In fact, David had been instructing his son since a child.  We can read these admonitions in the book of Proverbs.  Jesus was always getting away from the crowds so that he could pray and he always did the will of his father (John 5:36).
3. Overcame his enemies (1Kings 2:24).  Solomon carried out his fathers wishes by killing his enemies.  Jesus overcame the enemies of God when he died in our place so that we could be forgiven of our sins and become the children of God  (Romans 5:8-10). 
4. Possessed supernatural wisdom (1Kings 3:28).  The people feared Solomon because they saw that the wisdom of God was in him; there was no one like him.  Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52).
5. Established peace (1Kings 4:24).  Solomon had peace on all sides round about him and every man dwelt in safety.  Peace prevailed under his rule.  Jesus, too, will one day establish a kingdom of peace that will never end because he is the Prince of peace. 
6. Built the Temple (1Kings 5:5).  Solomon fulfilled his fathers desire to build the Temple in Jerusalem which became the center of Jewish worship.  He wanted to make a place for God to dwell with his people.  Jesus built a spiritual temple of believers who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, therefore becoming the dwelling place of God (Ephesians 2:21-22).

It is exciting to see that the Old Testament and the New Testament compliment one another.  God's Word is complete and there are pictures of Jesus through out.  His message of love can be seen from Genesis to Revelation and his salvation is found from cover to cover.

God Speaks Through Dreams & Visions

In my last post entitled. God is Speaking.......Are You Listening?  I introduced the many ways that God speaks to us.   One of those ways is through dreams and visions.  Examples can be found throughout scripture of God using dreams and visions to communicate with people. 

Joseph was hated by his brothers we read in Genesis 37 because of his dreams.  He later interpreted the Egyptian king's dream and became second in command of the whole kingdom.  He was able to see into the future and save his people as well as the Egyptians.  God spoke to Joseph through dreams. 

Years later, Daniel also was promoted to second in command by the king of Babylon and was known for his excellent spirit and knowledge and understanding and interpreting of dreams.  Daniel 5:12

Joel's prophecy in Joel 2:28, tells us that the Holy Spirit would be manifest in that your sons and daughters will prophecy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.  This pouring out of the Holy Spirit took place on the Day of Pentecost as seen in Acts 2.  So we can assume that God will speak to us in dreams.


In Matthew chapters 1 & 2 we read that the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife because the child she was carrying was of the Holy Spirit.  And then later after Jesus' birth the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph again in a dream to warn him to take the child to Egypt because Herod was seeking him to kill him. 

On his second missionary journey the apostle Paul had a vision in the night which must have been like a dream.  A man from Macedonia appeared to him, asking him to come over here.  You can read about this vision in Acts 16:9.  Dreams and visions are one of the ways that God speaks to us.  In the case of Paul, God was leading him in the direction that he would have him go. 


 Was God speaking to me when I awoke that morning with the memory of a dream still lingering in my mind?  Maybe.  Perhaps the point of my dream is to remind us that there are people all around us who think that the idea of God speaking to them is crazy; people who need to know that there is a God in heaven who loves them more than they could ever imagine.  Maybe you or someone you know feels out of control and needs desperately for God to pick them up and cradle them in his arms and care for them.  God is speaking through dreams and visions, but are we listening?

December 21, 2012

Our next door neighbor came over on Saturday to help Larry stain our deck.  "What do you think about all the hype about 2012?" he asked.  Come to find out, he had been watching the documentaries that have been on the History Channel the past months and he was intrigued; talking about the world coming to an end on December 21, 2012.  "You've got to admit," he said, "there has to be some truth to it because of all the different sources that are pointing to that date."  He was referring to the ancient Mayan calendar, the Hopi Indians, Nostradamus, the Bible Code, and scientists who predict a massive Solar storm. 

Larry and I looked at one another with one of those "knowing" looks that couples who have been married a long time use to communicate with each other.  Then later, when we were alone, we continued our discussion of the 2012 Domesday theory.  Neither of us had thought much about it before now; because a lot of the information that you see on TV is speculation, or just plain weird.  We had lumped the 2012 end of the world talk in with paranormal activity and UFO sightings; topics of unverified supposition.

What do I believe about the future and the things that will happen when the world as we know it comes to an end?  Our source of authority is the Bible so that is where I will look for information.  The next event we expect will be the rapture of the Church. See 1Thessalonians 4:13-18.  Christ will claim his Bride (the Church) and we will celebrate the wedding feast for seven years with him in heaven.  See John 14:1-3.  That seven year period will coincide with the Tribulation period here on planet earth.  See Revelation 3:10.  The last three and a half years of the Tribulation period will be a time of great troubles; including war, economic failure, earthquakes, and stars falling from the sky.  After these things Christ will return to earth with the Saints to destroy the Antichrist, imprison Satan, and establish his Millennial kingdom. See Revelation 19:11-20:3.  The events associated with the return of Christ are certain and infallible.  They are well documented through out scripture. 

How does all this fit in with 2012 Doomsday theories?  I'm not sure, but I am confident that there is a day of reckoning coming when life as we know it will drastically change.  Evil has been running rampant ever since Adam & Eve chose to disobey God, but evil will not be allowed to continue indefinitely.  Satan's days are numbered and God will triumph in the end.  If it happens in 2012, so be it.  But my confidence is not in Mayan calendars or the words of a mystic; my confidence is in the certain Word of God. 


In the last words of the Bible, Revelation 22:7,12,20, Jesus says three times, "Behold, I come quickly."  And with these words Jesus reminds us of his greatest promise - his return.  May we have confidence and not be ashamed at his coming.  See 1John 2:28.