Have you read 1 Kings 6:1-38? If so, how did you respond to this reading? You might find it interesting if you are a builder! It is a chapter of measurements. It is a construction report. See 2 Timothy 3:16. All scripture is there for a purpose regardless of how we might feel about it. David is past his best. David is very old and can’t keep warm. This is very human and real. They come up with a plan. The beautiful girl is to keep him warm. Nothing sexual happens. David’s family were not a credit to him. David had never rebuked his sons.

1 – Solomon’s temple

The temple is 27 metres (90 feet) long, 9 metres (30 feet) wide and 13.5 (45 feet) metres high. It took about seven and a half years and is finished around 960 BC. Notice the materials that are used:-

• Stonework. This was a holy building site. The stones were cut elsewhere and brought to the building site. (vs. 7). There was to be no stone visible from the inside of the temple. (vs. 18). The master stone builder was also the architect.
• Gold. It is a rare metal. It cannot be manufactured and is totally immune to decay. Gold is very heavy. It is twenty times heavier than water. There is 3,000 tons of gold used in the making of the temple.
• Cedar. (Walls/ceilings). It is very durable, sweet smelling and repellent to moths.
• Olive wood. (Cherubim/Holy of Holies). It is native to the Holy Land and only matures and flowers every seven years. The olive tree was considered to be an immortal tree. Olive wood is unique with no two pieces the same.

God is in the detail. This was a place for the Holy God of all mankind to come down to earth. It had a wow factor. God deserves our best. We need to keep our awe and respect.

2 – The Temple today

Those who are Christians are God’s temple today. It is not a Church building. See 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19 and 2 Corinthians 6:16. What shape is your Temple in? What is your character? Do those who meet you stand in awe and respect? See 1 Corinthians 3:11 & 2 Peter 1:5. We need to build something in our lives. Do you have an altar in your life? Do you sacrifice to the Lord? God wants obedience and commitment. We need godly leadership in the Church. We all have a part to play in God’s building project for you. How is the real building project going? Are you building goodness, love, joy, etc in your life today?

Categories: 1 Kings