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While reading the book of kings I stumbled upon the passage of 1kings 4:20-25, which is where I drew my topic from.
Solomon was no doubt one of, if not the most wealthy king in his time, not just in riches but also in wisdom.
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“And Solomon's provision for one day was ... . . ”
The daily food placed on Solomon’s table was staggering. Every single day he served “thirty measures of fine flour” (185 bushels), “threescore measures of meal” (375 bushels), ten stall-fed cattle, twenty pasture-fed cattle, one hundred sheep, many hart (male deer), roebucks (gazelle), fallow-deer (deer), and fatted fowl (raised in stalls).
That constituted a monthly requirement if my calculations is correct of 5,550 bushels of fine flour, 11,250 bushels of meal, 300 stall-fed cattle, 600 pasture-fed cattle, 3,000 sheep, and great numbers of deer, gazelles, and fowls.
Whoa! An abundance, indeed! This is recorded to acquaint us with abundant provision – an abundance provided for those who are part of the household. In Solomon’s case, it indicated a large household as well as an abundant provision for them.
As great as these provisions were, they were but a faint introduction to the glorious provisions that are realized in Christ Jesus.
Isaiah foretold of the abundance the Lord would spread before the people, which he made mention when he said
“And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things (rich food), a feast of wines on the lees (aged wine), of fat things full of marrow (best of meats), of wines on the lees well refined (finest of wines)” [2]
There would be nothing mediocre or average. Nothing would be cheap or incapable of nourishing the soul.
The daily fare would be satisfying, and would be supplied at great cost. In the New Covenant writings, this rich abundance is referred to as
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" [3]
And also
"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:" [4]
Nothing about these provisions is meager, scrimpy, or in small supply.
Nothing about them is not nourishing or unsatisfying.
They are all served up every day – made accessible to the saints of the Most High God. God Himself prepared the table, and often spreads it out
“in the presence” of our enemies” [5]
Jesus still stands on the shore of Divine purpose and cries out to His disciples,
Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord."[6].
When we approach Him by faith, we will still see coals of fire, with nourishing fish and bread to eat as we rightly see in the book of John 21:9-10.
Dear friends, when the Scriptures affirm
“He cares for you”[7],
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more is involved than simply being sympathetic and tender toward you.
His rich and nourishing table is also included – food for the soul.
He serves up a “feast of fat things,” indeed! All around you, there may be people eating spiritual cheese and crackers – but that does not need to be the case with you.
Jesus is not serving little snacks that can be easily eaten in ten or fifteen minutes.
He has spread a remarkably large table before us, and placed no restriction on how much of it we can have.
Like the multitudes He fed with bread and fish, you can eat until you are filled as seen in Mark 8:8.
Finally dear friends, I bid you not to pass by this abundant table.
Come and dine.
Scripture References.
1 1Kings 4:22-23
2 Isaiah 25:6.
3 Ephesians 1:3
4 2 Peter 1:3
5 Psalm 23:5
6 John 21:12
7 1 Peter 5:7