1 Kings 4

Verses 1-7, “So King Solomon was king over all Israel. And these were his officials: Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest; Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder; Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, over the army; Zadok and Abiathar, the priests; Azariah the son of Nathan, over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan, a priest and the king’s friend; Ahishar, over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda, over the labor force. And Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household; each one made provision for one month of the year.”

Solomon was smart enough to know that one man could not run his massive kingdom. Therefore he selected leaders to work under him, who were assigned to different aspects of running the kingdom. Along with the priests and officers, twelve governors were set over the territories surrounding Judah. Their duty was to collect taxes, in the form of grain and livestock, from the people in their territory to provide for the royal household. Each territory was responsible for one month's provision, and it appears as though one-twelfth did not seem harsh to the people.

However, tell someone today that they should consider giving one-tenth of their increase to God's kingdom, and they might just lose their mind. Nearly everyone pays taxes to a government, that is wicked in many ways, and it is simply accepted as what you must do to live in or country because there is a cost to run a government, and it's Biblical. Romans 13:5‭-‬7, “Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.”

Proverbs 3:9‭-‬10, “Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.”  Giving to God with the firstfruits of your increase is honoring Him as the Creator of all things, and the One who provides you with your increase in the first place. Tithing is a statement of faith that you acknowledge where it comes from, and you trust that if you gave it away, He is able to provide again.  Matthew 6:19‭-‬21, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Failure to store up treasure in Heaven shows that you are shortsighted, and your heart is not set on the Kingdom of God, but rather the kingdoms of this world.

Verses 20-25, “Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and rejoicing. So Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. Now Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty kors of fine flour, sixty kors of meal, ten fatted oxen, twenty oxen from the pastures, and one hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fatted fowl. For he had dominion over all the region on this side of the River from Tiphsah even to Gaza, namely over all the kings on this side of the River; and he had peace on every side all around him. And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, each man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan as far as Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.”

Solomon's reign was much different than David's. He enjoyed prosperity and peace with his surrounding neighbors, rather than conflict and war. Solomon's daily provision indicated how large his house was, not that he enjoyed overindulgence. The safety the people enjoyed under Solomon's reign was probably worth the taxes paid to their king. Ultimately God was the One protecting the people and keeping other nations unable to pose any threat to Israel, but Solomon was chosen by God to lead these people, and they submitted to their authority. 

Verses 26-34, “Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. And these governors, each man in his month, provided food for King Solomon and for all who came to King Solomon’s table. There was no lack in their supply. They also brought barley and straw to the proper place, for the horses and steeds, each man according to his charge. And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men— than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five. Also he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree of Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish. And men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to hear the wisdom of Solomon.”

Solomon's wisdom exceeded that of any other man. This is not surprising considering who gave him the wisdom. When you step out of the way and let your God-given gifts shine through, then He gets all the glory which is fitting. Taking credit for something good in you is purely arrogant, and you set yourself up to be humbled by God. And if He can equip you thoroughly, He can certainly humble you thoroughly. Hebrews 13:20‭-‬21, “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”