The Temple Solomon Built

1 Chronicles 28-29, 2 Chronicles 1:1-7:10

“Then Solomon began to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mt. Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David. He began building on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign.”  2 Chronicles 3:1-2

David had wanted to build a temple for God, but God designated David’s son Solomon as the one who should build the temple.  When David heard God’s plan, he began to amass great quantities of materials to go into the building.  After David’s death, Solomon ordered large amounts of wood from Hiram, king of Tyre, and asked Hiram to send him a skilled artisan, which he did. God had given David the design for the temple, and David had passed the plans along to Solomon.  The temple was to be built much like the tabernacle, except on a much grander scale.

Preparations were finished and work on the temple was started during the fourth year of Solomon’s reign. It was a magnificent structure. The labor force was enormous. There were 70,000 carriers, 80,000 stone cutters and 3600 foreman involved in the erection of this building. The construction took seven years.

The dedication of the temple was accompanied by Solomon’s speech to the people and his prayer. These were followed by an enormous offering of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep and goats.  A great public feast that lasted seven days was the final event in the celebration.

After Solomon finished praying, fire from heaven ignited the offerings on the altars and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 Chronicles 7:3 tells us, “When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, ‘He is good. His love endures forever.’”

The Israelites, and especially David and Solomon, had given very lavishly to provide the materials for the temple. They wanted it to be the best, the most beautiful, it could possibly be because it was for God.  How about us? Do we give our best and give lavishly for the causes of Christ?

I heard a minister not long ago say that, when he was a boy and there was a family dinner, the children ate last, and he was grown before he knew chicken had pieces other than wings and backs. Since he has been grown, customs have changed, and now the children eat first. He is still eating the wings and the back, the trimmings. What is God receiving from us? The best of our time, energy, and other resources or what is left over, the trimmings?

“Give of your best to the Master; give of the strength of your youth;

Throw your soul’s fresh, flowing ardor into the battle for truth.

Jesus has set the example, dauntless was he, young and brave:

Give Him your loyal devotion; give Him the best that you have.”

--by Howard B. Grose