At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon built these two buildings—the temple of the Lord and the royal palace— King Solomon gave twenty towns in Galilee to Hiram king of Tyre, because Hiram had supplied him with all the cedar and juniper and gold he wanted. But when Hiram went from Tyre to see the towns that Solomon had given him, he was not pleased with them. “What kind of towns are these you have given me, my brother?” he asked. And he called them the Land of Kabul, a name they have to this day. Now Hiram had sent to the king 120 talents of gold.
1 Kings 9:10-14
Dear God, I just spent some time looking at all of the verses in the Bible that mention Hiram. It doesn’t mention where he came from, but he seemed to be a friend to David and to Solomon, but he also seemed to acknowledge you and worship you. Both 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles record him, at least verbally, giving you praise. His main role in all of the stories seems to be to give David and Solomon whatever they need. The story in the passage above is the only one that records any disenchantment on his part.
I read these verses earlier today and then thought about them while exercising. While thinking bout them, my thoughts went to the residents of the 20 towns and the area between them that were given to Hiram. How did they feel about being traded like a commodity? How would I feel if Presidents Trump or Obama (not trying to be partisan here) just traded California or Texas to Mexico as part of a deal to get more building materials for the National Cathedral and the White House? I don’t think I would feel like my life was worth much.
Then I thought about the prosperity gospel preachers. How are those who were faithful to you and lived in those towns supposed to react to the trade?
Of course, the devaluation of human life continues on today. I think we lose sight of that as middle class (and upper class) Americans. Following your dreams and living your best life now simply isn’t an option for some people. There is still slavery that we don’t seem to be able to eradicate. There are the poor who are just scratching out a living. There are countless scenarios of people who have simply do not have the ability to be in charge of their destiny or make their lives “better.” What are they to do?
The more I spend time with you the deeper it sinks in that your reality is very different from the one my middle class American mind thinks should be. I talked with a friend recently about someone asking her about any big projects she’s working on as a writer. She said that she was just doing the assignments given to her by the different businesses who hire her to write each month, but she didn’t have some big thing she was working towards. I told her I thought that was okay. Sometimes when we try to force a big thing we get out ahead of you.
Father, speak to me today and every day and help me to both be content in the life in which you have me and ready to respond to your call should something come up that needs my attention. Be glorified through me, and help me to be an instrument of your peace to others. And like some of those who lived in the 20 towns Solomon gave to Hiram, help me to separate my expectations of my life from my worship of you. In other words, find me faithful regardless of my circumstances.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen
Emails to God 