1 KINGS 9 (FROM CAC'S NOTES)
1 KINGS 9 (FROM CAC’S NOTES)
Hiram as a general type represents the Gentile as having a great place in relation to what Christ builds, and being largely contributory to it. But I think we see here a typical foreshadowing of the fact that the Gentile would not, in result, appreciate his assigned portion, or rightly value Solomon or the houses he built. Hiram evidently thought more of what he had done for Solomon than he did of Solomon himself and he despised a portion in the land. He represents the Gentile in a very privileged place, an honoured place, but failing to value what was put within his reach. I think the twenty cities would have given him a place in the heavenly land, typically, and a personal part in the house. He never came to Solomon or saw the house so far as we know, so he missed the best that was available at the time. Many are prepared to contribute: Hiram contributed largely, but he did not come himself to Solomon or to the house. One does not doubt that there is much contribution on the part of some who do not know the glory of the true Solomon. They contribute and serve at a distance, and despise what He most delights to give which is a part and portion with Himself in the heavenly land, for Solomon is typically the heavenly One. Solomon would not have been behind Hiram in giving, but Hiram lacked appreciation of what he had been given because he lacked appreciation of Solomon himself. It is the public result in the Gentile profession and “to this day”.
Do the cedar, cypress and gold represent what the Gentiles contribute according to Paul’s ministry? Every [p. 104] man presented perfect in Christ, the offering up of the nations acceptable, the fulness of the nations, according to ministry in Ephesians. That is what the nations contribute according to God. But then all this involves that they take heavenly ground as appreciating it. But if the nations do not continue in goodness they will miss all that has true value. My impression is that what Hiram brings afterwards is the wealth of the nations coming up to Christ as King in Jerusalem but in despising what Solomon gave, Hiram is pre-figuring the want of appreciation of the heavenly which has marked the Gentile profession. The seven assemblies in Asia represent the Gentile animus.
Five of them had left the divine position as counting it of no value. So if we look at the nations with God we see immense contribution: if we look at them as in their actual state they have thought the heavenly of no value.
Pharaoh’s daughter represents what Christ gets for His own heart from the Gentiles. She brings as a dowry with her a Canaanitish city dispossessed and given to her. She does not despise a portion in the land.
Solomon makes the Canaanites subservient. He is able to bring all into service on the principle of a levy, but the children of Israel serve in the positions of trust. Pharaoh’s daughter comes up to her own house. Then he builds Millo as the rampart or citadel. She was put in the city of David provisionally, just as we have come to Mount Zion now, though it is not exactly our own place. When Christ’s building is finished the assembly will have her own place. I think in Kings she has a greater place than Zion: she comes up. In 2 Chronicles 8 it is rather that she is not to dwell in the house of David King of Israel because the place is holy to which the Ark of Jehovah has come. It has the kingdom in view. She is not to dwell in holy places. I think it thus is meant that the Gentiles take a place in the coming time as secondary to Israel as not having a part in the covenant.