Solomon: Israel’s Wisest King (32): Solomon’s Fantastic Wealth (I Kings 10:14-29) by Rev. Angus Stewart
I. The Description
II. The Picture
III. The Warning
Psalm singing: 147:3-10; 28:1-5; 72:15-19; 19:9-14 (see below for the words to the Psalms)
Scripture reading: I Kings 10:14-29
Matthew Henry on I Kings 10:14-29: “Now let us remember ... That this was [Solomon] who, having tasted all these enjoyments, wrote a whole book to show the vanity of all worldly things and the vexation of spirit that attends them, their insufficiency to make us happy and the folly of setting our hearts upon them, and to recommend to us the practice of serious godliness, as that which is the whole of man, and will do infinitely more towards the making of us easy and happy than all the wealth and power that he was master of, and which, through the grace of God, is within our reach ...”

Psalm 147:3-10
3 Those that are broken in their heart,
and grieved in their minds,
He healeth, and their painful wounds
he tenderly up-binds.
4 He counts the number of the stars;
he names them ev’ry one.
5 Great is our Lord, and of great pow’r;
his wisdom search can none.
6 The Lord lifts up the meek; and casts
the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the Lord, and give him thanks ;
on harp his praises sound ;
8 Who covereth the heav’n with clouds,
who for the earth below
Prepareth rain, who maketh grass
upon the mountains grow.
9 He gives the beast his food, he feeds
the ravens young that cry.
10 His pleasure not in horses’ strength,
nor in man’s legs, doth lie.

Psalm 28:1-5
1 TO thee I’ll cry, 0 Lord, my rock ;
hold not thy peace to me;
Lest like those that to pit descend
I by thy silence be.
2 The voice hear of my humble pray’rs,
when unto thee I cry;
When to thine holy oracle
I lift mine hands on high.
3 With ill men draw me not away
that work iniquity;
That speak peace to their friends, while in
their hearts doth mischief lie.
4 Give them according to their deeds
and ills endeavoured:
And as their handy-works deserve,
to them be rendered.
5 God shall not build, but them destroy,
who would not understand
The Lord’s own works, nor did regard
the doing of his hand.

Psalm 72:15-19
15 Yea, he shall live, and giv’n to him
shall be of Sheba’s gold :
For him still shall they pray, and he
shall daily be extoll’d.
16 Of corn an handful in the earth
on tops of mountains high,
With prosp’rous fruit shall shake, like trees
on Lebanon that be.
The city shall be flourishing,
her citizens abound
In number shall, like to the grass
that grows upon the ground.
17 His name for ever shall endure ;
last like the sun it shall:
Men shall be bless’d in him, and bless’d
all nations shall him call.
18 Now blessed be the Lord our God,
the God of Israel,
For he alone doth wondrous works,
in glory that excel.
19 And blessed be his glorious name
to all eternity:
The whole earth let his glory fill.
Amen, so let it be.

Psalm 19:9-14
9 Unspotted is the fear of God,
and doth endure for ever:
The judgments of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether.
10 They more than gold, yea, much fine gold,
to be desired are:
Than honey, honey from the comb
that droppeth, sweeter far.
11 Moreover, they thy servant warn
how he his life should frame:
A great reward provided is
for them that keep the same.
12 Who can his errors understand?
0 cleanse thou me within
13 From secret faults. Thy servant keep
from all presumptuous sin :
And do not suffer them to have
dominion over me:
Then, righteous and innocent,
I from much sin shall be.
14 The words which from my mouth proceed,
the thoughts sent from my heart,
Accept, 0 Lord, for thou my strength
and my Redeemer art.