1 Kings 4:7-19

The Twelve Prefects and the Twelve Apostles.

"And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel." Considering how closely he foreshadows our blessed Lord, the twelve officers of Solomon can hardly fail to remind us of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. It may be instructive to compare their dignities, functions, etc. Observe—

I. THEIR RESPECTIVE POSITIONS . The officers of Solomon were princes ( 1 Kings 4:2 ); the officers of Jesus were peasants and fishermen. Ability, energy, etc; dictated Solomon's choice; humility, dependence, weakness, our] Blessed Lord's ( Matthew 18:3 , Matthew 18:4 ; Matthew 23:11 ; and cf. Matthew 11:11 ). "Not many mighty, not many noble are called," etc. ( 1 Corinthians 1:26 ). "Unlearned and ignorant men" ( Acts 4:13 ).

II. THEIR RESPECTIVE REPUTATIONS . The officers of Solomon were reverenced and feared ; the apostles of our Lord ,were despised and defamed. Each of the twelve prefects was, no doubt, a little potentate. The court of Abinadab in Mahanaim, or Shimei in Benjamin, would be a copy in miniature of that of the king in Jerusalem. And we know what the Eastern tax-gatherer is like, what despotic powers he wields, etc. Witness the Pashas and Valis of Turkey. How different were the twelve apostles. The contrast could not well be greater. "Hated of all men," esteemed "the filth and offscouring of all things; .... a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men" ( 1 Corinthians 4:9-13 ). What the life of an apostle was like we may learn from 2 Corinthians 11:24-29 . "Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled and live delicately are in king's courts" (1 Luke 7:25 ). "Behold, we have forsaken all and followed thee" ( Matthew 19:27 ).

III. THEIR RESPECTIVE JURISDICTIONS . The twelve officers presided over tribes ; the twelve apostles ministered to continents. The whole of Palestine is about the size of Wales, and this strip of territory was divided into twelve parts. Compare with this the apostolic commission, " GO ye into all the world," etc. "Ye shall be witnesses unto me .... unto the uttermost part of the earth" Judaism was tribal religion; the faith of Christ is for humanity.

IV. THEIR RESPECTIVE FUNCTIONS .

1. The twelve officers were receivers-general ; the twelve apostles were general givers. The first took from the people to give to the king: the latter received from their King to bestow on the people. To the former, the subjects of Solomon brought taxes or tribute; the latter have obtained blessings and gifts from their Lord for men. (Cf. Acts 1:8 ; Acts 2:18 ; Acts 8:18 ; 1 Timothy 4:14 ; 2 Timothy 1:6 , etc.) "It is more blessed to give," etc.

2 . The officers nourished the king ( 2 Corinthians 11:27 , Heb.) and his armies : the apostles fed the Church. (Cf. Acts 20:28 .) The 14,000 dependants of the court, the 4000 charioteers, the 12,000 horsemen, all were maintained by the twelve purveyors. Through the apostles, the Lord fed, now 4000, now 7000, and through them, their doctrine and their successors, He still feeds, with word and sacrament, the millions of the Church. So far the comparison is largely in favour of the prefects. As regards this world's gifts and dignities, they bear away the palm. In their lifetime they received their good things and the apostles evil things. But an old authority—it is the dictum of Solon to Croesus (Herod. 1:30-38)—warns us to pronounce on no man's fortune or happiness until we have seen the end. And the real end is not in this world. Let us therefore consider

I. THE NAMES OF SOME OF THE PREFECTS ARE FORGOTTEN ; THE NAMES OF THE APOSTLES ARE IN EVERLASTING REMEMBRANCE . The fame of Solomon's twelve was shortlived. Several of them are now known to us only by their patronymics. Those much dreaded satraps, before whom subjects trembled, their very names are in some cases lost in oblivion. But the apostolic college, every member is still famed, reverenced, loved throughout the whole round world. Their names are heard, Sunday by Sunday, in the Holy Gospel (cf. Matthew 26:18 ). Better still, their "names are written in heaven" ( Luke 10:20 ; cf. Philippians 4:3 ). As to

II. THE TWELVE APOSTLES WILL JUDGE THE TWELVE PREFECTS . In their time, the latter sate on twelve thrones, each in his capital city, ruling the twelve tribes of Israel. But their glory, like that of the Roman general's pageant, "lacked continuance." In the midst of their brief authority

"Comes the blind Fury with the abhorred shears

And slits the thin-spun life."

The dominion of the apostles is in the future. It belongs to the "regeneration." "When the Son of Man"—the true Son of David—"shall sit on the throne of his glory," then shall they "sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes," etc. ( Matthew 19:28 ). The despised fishermen shall judge the high and mighty officers—yes, and magnificent Solomon himself. Even now, it may be, their glory is in part begun.

"Lo, the twelve, majestic princes

In the court of Jesus sit,

Calmly watching all the conflict

Raging still beneath their feet."

Shall we follow the officers of Solomon, or the twelve apostles of the Lamb? Shall we, that is, desire earthly advancement, high position, contemporary fame, or shall we count all as dross that we may "win Christ and be found in Him" ( Philippians 3:8-11 ). "What shall it profit a man, if he gain," etc. We cannot all be ἡγενισισόνες καὶ στρατήγοι , still less can we all wed kings' daughters. But we may all sit with Christ upon His throne ( Revelation 3:21 ); may all receive the crown of life ( Romans 2:10 ); may all be "called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb" ( Revelation 19:7-9 ).