To Encourage You

2 Samuel 5:11 “And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also carpenters and masons who built David a house.”

The early years of David’s reign over Israel were such a struggle.  Although he had been anointed by Samuel as Israel’s new king many years earlier, he had to wait until King Saul died to begin his reign. In the meantime, he was constantly opposed by Saul. He had to hide from him in caves in the desert and even resort to hiding among Israel’s enemies, the Philistines.  Then, after Saul died, he began his rule by reigning only over the tribe of Judah, for Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, had ascended to the throne to rule all the rest of Israel in Saul’s place.  For seven years this went on, and all the while there was war between David’s house and Saul’s.  Finally, David ascended to the throne and a favorable breeze began to blow.  We are told that it was at this time that “David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him” (2 Samuel 5:10). It was then, like a breath of fresh air, that Hiram, the king of Tyre, came to him and became a tremendous help to him. Unlike the people of Israel who had constantly opposed David, we are told that “Hiram always loved David” (1 Kings 5:1), and he did everything he could to help David as his friend. 

The people of Tyre were known for their skill in the trades. They were gifted carpenters and masons. Later, when Solomon followed David as Israel’s king, Hiram continued to help by sending skilled workers in wood, stone, and metals to help build the temple.  In addition, Tyre was known for its forests, and along with his workforce, Hiram sent cedar and cypress timber for the work (1 Kings 5-7). 

So, what does this mean for you and me?  Is there any lesson here for us?  Well, just as Hiram’s workers blessed David by helping him to build his house, we are called to be “God’s fellow workers” in the work of building the house of God. Paul describes it this way in 1 Corinthians 3: “For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.  Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” 

With these words, Paul is telling us that the church of Jesus Christ is like a great building, a temple, if you will.  Each one of us is a part of that building, and each one of us has a specific role to play in building it up.  We are called to use our spiritual gifts and the resources God has given us to join Him in His work of building His church.  Like Hiram, David’s wonderful friend, we are to work with the Son of David rather than to sit back and watch, or worse, to oppose Him in this great work.  Some of us can teach. Others can encourage. Still others are gifted administrators. And some just know how to do the right thing to help.  But all of us, each and every one, have a role to play and a job we can do.

So, are we doing it? Are we giving the best of ourselves, our abilities, our gifts, our money, and whatever else God has given us to build up the house of God – or are we known as those who do little in the work of the kingdom, or even worse, like David’s enemies, have we had a hand in opposing the work of God and trying to tear it down? May God give us a heart like that of Hiram, this one who loved David and gave himself to help his friend.  May we love the Son of David, who is the much greater king, and do all we can to serve the one Who has said of Himself, “greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).