44
Prophets and Kings
failed of improving his splendid opportunities for enlightening those
who were continually passing through his territory or tarrying at the
principal cities.
The missionary spirit that God had implanted in the heart of
Solomon and in the hearts of all true Israelites was supplanted by
a spirit of commercialism. The opportunities afforded by contact with
many nations were used for personal aggrandizement. Solomon sought
to strengthen his position politically by building fortified cities at the
gateways of commerce. He rebuilt Gezer, near Joppa, lying along
the road between Egypt and Syria; Beth-horon, to the westward of
Jerusalem, commanding the passes of the highway leading from the
heart of Judea to Gezer and the seacoast; Megiddo, situated on the
caravan road from Damascus to Egypt, and from Jerusalem to the
northward; and “Tadmor in the wilderness” (
2 Chronicles 8:4
), along
the route of caravans from the east. All these cities were strongly
[72]
fortified. The commercial advantages of an outlet at the head of the
Red Sea were developed by the construction of “a navy of ships in
Ezion-geber, ... on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom.”
Trained sailors from Tyre, “with the servants of Solomon,” manned
these vessels on voyages “to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold,”
and “great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.”
Verse 18
;
1
Kings 9:26, 28
;
10:11
.
The revenue of the king and of many of his subjects was greatly in-
creased, but at what a cost! Through the cupidity and shortsightedness
of those to whom had been entrusted the oracles of God, the count-
less multitudes who thronged the highways of travel were allowed to
[73]
remain in ignorance of Jehovah.
In striking contrast to the course pursued by Solomon was
the course followed by Christ when He was on this earth. The
Saviour, though possessing “all power,” never used this power for
self-aggrandizement. No dream of earthly conquest, of worldly great-
ness, marred the perfection of His service for mankind. “Foxes have
holes, and the birds of the air have nests,” He said, “but the Son of
man hath not where to lay His head.”
Matthew 8:20
. Those who, in
response to the call of the hour, have entered the service of the Mas-
ter Worker, may well study His methods. He took advantage of the
opportunities to be found along the great thoroughfares of travel.