Day 139 - The Building of Solomon's Temple

Today's Reading: 1 Kings 6,7 and 1 Cor. 12

I enjoyed reading today about how Solomon's temple was built. It took seven years! What a special work. It was also interesting to note that the stones were made ready and brought to the site already chiseled to the right shapes and sizes.

1 Kings 6:7 says, "And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so the there was neither hammer nor are nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building."

It's hard to imagine such an impressive structure coming together without any of the typical sounds of hammering and iron striking iron. This really impresses me with the reverence that Solomon had for this house that he was building for God's glory.

Ellen White gives some further insight into the building of the temple:

"Of surpassing beauty and unrivaled splendor was the palatial building which Solomon and his associates erected for God and His worship. Garnished with precious stones, surrounded by spacious courts with magnificent approaches, and lined with carved cedar and burnished gold, the temple structure, with its broidered hangings and rich furnishings, was a fit emblem of the living church of God on earth, which through the ages has been building in accordance with the divine pattern, with materials that have been likened to “gold, silver, precious stones,” “polished after the similitude of a palace.” 1 Corinthians 3:12; Psalm 144:12. Of this spiritual temple Christ is “the chief Cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.” Ephesians 2:20, 21. 

At last the temple planned by King David, and built by Solomon his son, was completed. “All that came into Solomon’s heart to make in the house of the Lord,” he had “prosperously effected.” 2 Chronicles 7:11. And now, in order that the palace crowning the heights of Mount Moriah might indeed be, as David had so much desired, a dwelling place “not for man, but for the Lord God” (1 Chronicles 29:1), there remained the solemn ceremony of formally dedicating it to Jehovah and His worship.  

The spot on which the temple was built had long been regarded as a consecrated place. It was here that Abraham, the father of the faithful, had revealed his willingness to sacrifice his only son in obedience to the command of Jehovah. Here God had renewed with Abraham the covenant of blessing, which included the glorious Messianic promise to the human race of deliverance through the sacrifice of the Son of the Most High. See Genesis 22:9, 16-18. Here it was that when David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to stay the avenging sword of the destroying angel, God had answered him by fire from heaven. See 1 Chronicles 21. And now once more the worshipers of Jehovah were here to meet their God and renew their vows of allegiance to Him. (Prophets and Kings, p. 36-37)

I had forgotten that this temple was built on Mount Moriah! How beautiful to see how this symbolic place was honored of God over the centuries. Today He wishes to dwell in the living temple of our heart. Do we make Him room. Do we reverence His ownership and give care to our bodies as His living temples... ? This is fruit for lots more thought and discussion, another time and day...

Tomorrow's Reading: 1 Kings 8-9 and Psalm 56-57