And the LORD magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel. 1 Chronicles 29:25 KJV

The LORD highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed on him royal majesty which had not been on any king before him in Israel. 1Chronicles 29:25 NASB

The early years of the reign of Solomon must have been heady days filled with the highest of hopes. Israel now had a sovereign who exceeded all the other kings of the earth in glory and honor. His majesty was unmistakably from God. The nation must have felt it was about to embark on a golden age of peace, prosperity, and prestige. Saul had been a failure and God removed him. David, the warrior king had his share of honor and renown. But he was now gone. Solomon’s military might may not have been that of David’s, but his majesty exceeded even David’s. The sufferings of David had given place to the glories of Solomon; the mediocrity of Saul gave way to the majesty of Solomon.

But there will be a king who will exceed and supersede Solomon in majesty and glory. He will be another king of Israel. But He will be King of kings. Peter and others got a preview of it when they were “eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). I have wondered if we should be writing it as a title, “His Majesty, the King.”

The source of Solomon’s royal majesty was God. In like manner, God will bring forth His Son and magnify Him exceedingly in the sight of not only Israel but the nations: “When He shall come to be glorified in His saints and to be admired in all them that believe” (2 Thess 1:10). All will be in keeping with God’s calendar and time.

God bestowed upon Solomon royal majesty. It was not just majesty, but the majesty befitting a king. Saints will be honored in a coming day; rewards will be dispensed. But only One is deserving of “royal majesty.” It is the very one that we crowned with thorns and traded for a mortal transient earthly ruler named Caesar. God will confer such majesty upon His Son as befits a King, the King of the universe.

Solomon’s glory exceeded that of any before him and very possibly of all who followed. But there is a future King who will eclipse Him in glory and majesty. James, His half-brother could refer to Him as “Our Lord Jesus Christ, the glory” (James 2:1).

The amazing aspect is that grace will place us by His side when He is presented to the eyes of a wondering universe. The words of Carol Noel’s hymn are so fitting:

Brethren this Lord Jesus shall return again,

With His Father’s glory, with His angel train;

For all wreaths of empire meet upon His brow,

And our hearts confess Him King of glory now.

Consider:

It took two kings to give us a picture of the Lord Jesus: Solomon and David. Think about two prophets, two leaders of the nation, and two priests who together give us a complete picture of the Lord Jesus.

 

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