Solomon’s throne was rowdy

“The king also made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with the finest gold. The throne had six steps, and at the back of the throne was a calf’s head, and on each side of the seat were armrests and two lions standing beside the armrests, while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of a step on the six steps. The like of it was never made in any kingdom.” 1 Kings 10:18-20

David sat upon a throne, but Solomon made his own. He designed it. We need not have any doubt that each aspect of its design was brimming full of meaning to Solomon its maker. Its very peculiarness assures us that the brilliant king was behind it. I have no idea what it all means, but it communicates one idea quite clearly: regality. It is a kingly throne, and that means magnificence.

I say again that Solomon designed this throne. He was the sort of man who wanted to have his hand in everything. He was the artist as well as the authority. And this creation of his had no competitors. It was unique among all kingdoms. It glorified the king who sat upon it as its make declared his otherness.

This throne is very much like God’s, for God too is the Maker of his own throne. Where God sits enthroned in heaven was created by him (Paul went there and said it was so unique that we can’t even talk about it here). God made that place (out of nothing and nowhere). The earth, his splendid footstool, is also his creation. God fashions his own throne and fills it with meaning. In fact, the only meaning that creation itself has at all is that God dwells in it.