DBG - April 18 - I Kings 6-7

In this chapter the construction of the Temple is described.

vs. 1-10 – We note the time marker in vs. 1.  Construction begins in the second month of Solomon’s fourth year as king.  It is 480 years since the Passover in Exodus 12.  Reese dates the Passover at 1491 B.C. and the beginning of construction here at 1012 B.C.  The size of the Temple itself is double that of the Tabernacle (60 x 20 cubits vs. 30 x 10 cubits).  There is a porch in front and multi-storied chambered around it for storage.  Verse 7 is one of my favorite details. Everything was pre-cut so that there was no noise of tools on the mount.

vs. 11-13 – When David had attempted to build the Temple, he was stopped by God. Now that Solomon has begun the construction, he receives blessing from God on his labor. Not that the promise is no without some personal responsibility on his part – “if thou walk in my statues…”

vs. 14-36 – Note that the entire inside of the Temple is made of wood overlaid with gold and embossed with designs.  There are two statues of cherubim in the Most Holy Place between with the Ark would sit.  There is no curtain separating the Holy Place and Most Holy Place like in the Tabernacle.  In Solomon’s Temple there are golden doors.

vs. 37-38 - The length of construction was seven years and four months.

In this chapter Solomon’s construction projects continue.

vs. 1-12 – The Temple is not the only construction project that Solomon is engaged in there in Jerusalem.  These are all part of a complex of buildings south of the Temple.  There are his personal palace and a separate palace for Solomon’s Egyptian wife (see 3:1).  There is the “house of the forest of Lebanon” that is a state house and treasury.  There is also a porch of pillars which was a public judgment hall.

vs. 13-51 - Just as God had prepared Bezaleel to oversee the construction of the Tabernacle (Exodus 35:30), He has prepared Hiram (not to be confused with the king) to oversee the construction of the Temple. Two pillars are made for the porch and named Jachin (“He shall establish”) and Boaz (“fleetness” or “strength”). The new brass laver (“molten sea”) would hold over 17,000 gallons of water.  Smaller brass lavers were put on brass carts. Of gold were made the altar of incense, the table of shewbread, ten golden candlesticks and many other implements. While it is not highlighted as much in the account here as compared to that in Chronicles, note in vs. 51 the role David played in preparing for the Temple.

Our reading closes today over thirty years after the idea of building the Temple first entered into David’s heart in I Samuel 7.  So much time and effort had gone into planning and accumulating materials.  God had promised that David that his son would build it, and there was some doubt about that with the succession crisis.  But here we are on the verge of one the greatest moments in the Old Testament.  God had fulfilled His promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and David by establishing His chosen people in the Promised Land and crowning it with the construction of the Temple.  Even though it took hundreds of years to come about, it will be worth the wait.  It always is when you trust in God’s plans.

Our hymn today is “Christ the Sure Foundation”, written by J.M. Neale in 1861.  It looks beyond the imagery of the Tabernacle/Temple to see its fulfillment in Christ.

Christ is made the sure foundation,
Christ the head and cornerstone,
chosen of the Lord, and precious,
binding all the church in one,
holy Zion's help forever,
and her confidence alone.

All that dedicated city,
dearly loved of God on high,
in exultant jubilation
pours perpetual melody,
God the One in Three adoring
in glad hymns eternally.

To this temple, where we call You,
come, O Lord of Hosts, today;
with accustomed lovingkindness,
hear Your servants as they pray;
and Your fullest benediction
shed within its walls alway.

Lord, here grant to all Your servants
what they ask of You to gain,
what they gain from You, forever
with the blessed to retain,
and hereafter in Your glory
evermore with You to reign.

Praise and honor to the Father,
praise and honor to the Son,
praise and honor to the Spirit,
ever Three, and ever One,
one in might, and one in glory,
while unending ages run.