Reading: 1 Kings 4:29-5.12

What would we give for the wisdom of Solomon? A king who honoured his father David’s wishes, a king who understood the value of friends and allies. Solomon’s father David had been given the task of battle, but in Solomon’s time, the battles were done – “But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune.” Solomon doesn’t sit back and enjoy this time, but sets about building a temple to God, to fulfil God’s will. This temple will be made of the finest materials, and that includes the finest wood. Our reading tells of the sourcing of this wood from Tyre.

Solomon builds the trust of the ruler of Lebanon, offering fair trade and acknowledging the effort involved with fair payment. He ensures that his people would work with Hiram’s people in the cutting and transporting of the timber for the temple. The two rulers work together for peace and acknowledge this by treaty between their nations.

We could reflect on what this tells us about current Brexit negotiations: getting people’s trust, working out fair reward for effort and enabling nations to work successfully together. What would we give for the wisdom of Solomon on this stage of world affairs?

But instead I am keen to share a different parallel. Here in Heathfield Benefice we have long been praying for growth with the prayer ‘God of Mission’. We ask God to send his Holy Spirit to give vision to our planning, wisdom to our actions and power to our witness. The Benefice has seen its time of battles, and we continue to face disruption from the pandemic, but in many ways this strange time offers us a time of rest (well perhaps not our ministry team!), but certainly a time for reflection, time to consider the temple we should build here in Heathfield.

For this we do not need wood, we have buildings. But we do need co-operation, trust in each other and fairness as we acknowledge the contributions of each parish to our mission. Can our temple acknowledge the needs of those at home, unable to attend church, through our online sharing of God’s word? Can our temple acknowledge the needs of those who do not visit churches, but need God’s word in action? Can we follow Solomon’s example and not rest till we have built it with love and wisdom, fairness and trust?