SCRIPTURE: 1 KINGS 7
SOLOMON BUILDS HIS PALACE (vs. 1-12)
It took Solomon 13 years to complete the construction of his palace. He built the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon a hundred cubits long, 50 wide and 30 high with four rows of cedar columns supporting trimmed cedar beams. The palace had a throne hall and the Hall of Justice where he judged the people.
THE TEMPLE’S FURNISHINGS (vs. 13-51)
Solomon brought Huram, a skilled an experienced draftsman in bronze from Tyre to do all kinds of bronze work. He finished all the works in the temple for Solomon.
Solomon also made the furnishings that were in the Lord’s temple as follows:
- the golden altar
- the golden table where bread of the Presence was placed
- the lampstands of pure gold (five on the right and five on the left, in front of the inner sanctuary)
- the gold floral work and lamps and tongs
- the pure gold basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes and censers
- the gold sockets for the doors of the innermost room, the Most Holy Place and and for the doors of the main hall of the temple.
When the temple of the Lord was finished, Solomon also brought in the things his father David had dedicated – the silver and gold and the furnishings. He placed them in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple.
THOUGHTS:
Solomon used the best materials and articles and chose only the best craftsmen to build the temple. Today, we have crosses, pulpits, hymnals and communion tables to serve as aids for worship. The instruments of worship may change but the purpose of worship – praising Him, giving honor and glorifying Him – should never change.
God is not impressed with our buildings for He provided everything we put into them. He wants our loving obedience to make the building a blessing.