2 Chronicles 2:8-9. "Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon. And my servants will be with your servants, to prepare timber for me in abundance for the house I am to build will be great and wonderful." Solomon is preparing to build the Temple, and this is part of his letter to Huram, the king of Tyre, asking for skilled men, timber, and servants to help with the construction.

King Huram was an ally of Solomon's father, King David, and Solomon writes to him as a friend. His letter is so full of love of the Lord and excitement about the construction of the Temple, that he is unwittingly evangelizing! I wrote about this before in "Solomon Evangelizes." Today, I like the line, "my servants will be with your servants." Huran and the people of Tyre were not Jewish, but Solomon is bringing them in to his wonderful mission nonetheless. He is inspired to build the greatest Temple the world has ever seen, the Temple of the one true God, where God will "dwell" on earth until His Son comes, and Solomon is including gentiles - sharing his joy and mission with them! Huram will respond with the same enthusiasm. He will send skilled men, servants, and timber and will say in his reply, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who made heaven and earth." (2 Chronicles 2:12).

This interaction is an early indication of God's inclusivity; a hint that, even though the Jews are His chosen people, God really wants everyone, in the long run, to be a part of His Kingdom. He set Israel apart from the beginning because he needed a people with whom He had a special relationship, to know Him, and to serve as an example to the world of his love and care. Although, during Solomon's reign, it is not yet time for the gentiles to be brought fully into communion with God, this exchange between Solomon and Huram shows the power and effectiveness of God's plan - when the Jews are living in God's love and will their joy is infectious. Solomon does not win over Huram by force or even by intention. It is the love and joy shown in his letter that makes Huram see the glory of Israel's God.

As Huram's servants work with Solomon's, side by side, constructing the great Temple, they will get to see the world as the Jews did, for a little while at least. They will experience the joy of service to the God who made heaven and earth! That joy and service is how God draws us in, every last one of us.