The young Solomon did not have to wait until the death of his father to sit upon his throne. “When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel” (1 Chron. 23:1). The usurpation of Adonijah, not mentioned in the Book of Chronicles, led to a second enthronement. “They made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto Jehovah to be the chief governor.” At this point David’s throne is called “the throne of Jehovah” (1 Chron. 29:22-23). This was a title of exaltation, and it was acknowledged by the Queen of Sheba on the occasion of her visit (2 Chron. 9:8). David’s throne has a place in the ways of God that no other has ever had, or can have. It is the center of divine administration for the earth, and it can only be filled in perfection by the Lord Jesus. It was a sad day for all the nations and for Israel when Jehovah in righteousness was constrained to “make his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground” (Psa. 89:44). “The times of the Gentiles” commenced (Luke 21:24).
A Twofold Picture
The enthronement of Solomon while David yet lived meant that, for the time being, both reigned together. Thus we have a twofold picture of Christ. David typifies Him as the man of war, and Solomon as the man of peace. Our Lord at His appearing will fulfill the David type in His warrior judgments, and afterwards He will fulfill the Solomon type in His sessional judgments. The white horse is the symbol of the one and the throne is the symbol of the other.
Revelation 19:11-21 gives us a vivid description of our Lord coming forth from heaven in His David character. The white horse is the symbol of victorious power, in contrast to the ass’s colt upon which He rode in the day of His lowly grace (Mark 11:7). His name is Faithful and True, for what He was in testimony for God He will also be in the execution of His judgments. “In righteousness He doth judge and make war” (Rev. 19:11). Here at last we have an unquestionably “righteous war.” Throughout the ages men have striven to keep the Man of God’s choice out of His rights, and God has borne with it! The King’s eyes are “a flame of fire” — holy discernment in wrath — and “on His head are many diadems.” Satan has seven (Rev. 12:3), and the Beast ten (Rev. 13:1), but the King of kings and Lord of lords has “many,” for His glory is without limit. Armies follow Him, also riding “upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.” These are the glorified saints, previously “caught up” at His descent into the air (1 Thess. 4:15-17). There is no suggestion of mercy in the terrible vision of Revelation 19. “Out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God.” The fowls of the heavens are angelically summoned to the greatest feast yet known. Kings, captains, mighty men, and horses go down at the word of Him who rides the white horse. The vast hosts of the Roman group of powers will be impotent before Him, and their leaders, the Beast and the False Prophet, will be “cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”
Warrior Judgments
Isaiah 63:1-6 describes another terrible incident in our Lord’s warrior judgments. He comes up from Edom with garments dyed with the blood of the enemies of His redeemed, that is, Israel. These are the northern and eastern powers that will overrun God’s land in the last crisis (Zech. 14:1-3). The groups of Revelation 19 and Isaiah 63 are hostile to each other, each seeking world supremacy, but all are equally opposed to the Christ of God and would frustrate, if they could, the accomplishment of the divine counsels concerning Him. But their schemes are laughable to the Almighty (Psa. 2:4).
There are other fearful incidents in the judgment of the “quick” (living) at the Lord’s appearing upon which we will not dwell. Ezekiel 38-39 speaks of the overthrow of the hordes of Russia and her many allies (or satellites); Isaiah 11:14 tells of the judgment of Edom, Moab and Ammon by Jewish instrumentality, and the following Scriptures suggest much more activity of this painful character: Micah 4:13; 5:8; Ezekiel 25:14; Zechariah 9:13; 14:14; Psalm 149:6-9. All these prophecies bring home to us the solemn meaning of our Lord’s words, “Those Mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before Me” (Luke 19:27).
All Enemies Subdued
David, having subdued all the enemies of Israel round about, bequeathed to Solomon a peaceful throne. Only one military incident is recorded. “Solomon went to Hamath-zobah, and prevailed against it” (2 Chron. 8:3). Then there was profound peace during the remainder of his forty years’ reign. “Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river [Euphrates] unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life” (1 Kings 4:21). But Solomon was no believer in disarmament. It is twice repeated, “Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen, and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem” (1 Kings 10:26; 2 Chron. 1:14). Truly every type fails! When He who is “greater than Solomon” reigns in Jerusalem, men “shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isa. 2:4). His presence will cause “the name of the city from that day” to be Jehovah Shammah — Jehovah is there (Ezek. 48:35). “I, saith Jehovah, I will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her” (Zech. 2:5 JND).
Abundance of Peace
At this point it would be a delight to transcribe the whole of Psalm 72, but we refrain. In days of universal distress such as our own, it is refreshing to the spirit to read that psalm. David began it as a prayer for Solomon, but the Spirit of God soon led him far beyond his immediate successor to the One who will bring all blessing in and establish it upon immutable foundations. David begins with righteousness (in both king and subordinate rulers), and in his seventh verse he arrives at peace — “abundance of peace as long as the moon endureth.” Justice for all, every oppressor broken in pieces, all enemies subjugated, kings from afar bowing low at the feet of David’s greater Son, widespread prosperity, city life purified and made healthy, and men everywhere calling Him blessed — these are the themes of which the psalmist wrote with joy. We need not wonder that he turned to praise. “Blessed be Jehovah God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be His glorious name forever: and let the whole earth be filled with His glory: Amen and Amen. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.” This does not mean that David never prayed after he wrote Psalm 72. What is meant is that from his standpoint as a saint with an earthly calling, he could ask nothing beyond an earth filled with righteousness, peace, and glory under the rule of the Man of God’s pleasure. Heavenly saints look for much more — a “vast universe of bliss,” of which Christ will be “the Center ... and Sun.”
W. W. Fereday (adapted)