Today's Reading:

1 Kings 5
1 Kings 6
2 Chronicles 2
2 Chronicles 3

In the Most Holy Place were two enormous cherubim, made of olive wood and approximately 15 to 16 feet tall, with their wings spread over the Ark of the Covenant like a protective canopy. This sight symbolized God’s holy presence dwelling among His people. Yet God made one thing clear to Solomon while the Temple was being built: obedience is more important than any building or Temple. The Temple itself was meaningless without a heart that follows in His ways.

In the New Testament, Jesus said He is the true Temple (John 2:19-21). After Jesus’ resurrection, the presence of God no longer dwelt in a physical building; the Church (each believer) became the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19). He lives within His people. You and I are the Temple of the Holy Spirit! Peace in our “house” matters more than our success. God does not want an elaborate building; He wants us to prepare our hearts and lives to be devoted to Him.

Have you put out a “Welcome Mat” and prepared a warm home for God’s presence in your heart right now, or has it become cluttered with busyness, sin, or distraction? What is one thing you can do this week to clean out your heart and prepare your inner self so that the Holy Spirit truly feels welcomed and at home within you?

We left off in Kings with Solomon ruling over all Israel, the north and the south, with rest and peace in the land. He had proven his own wisdom from God by discerning the child's true mother. Now he was preparing to build the Temple, his father David had set out to do. The king of Tire (a coastal city in the north) heard Solomon had taken over the reign from his father, David, and was pleased to work with him as allies. Hiram (Huram) had supplied the timber for David’s palace. He would now work with Solomon and supply cut timber, linen, etc. in exchange for food, wheat and olive oil. 2 Chronicles 2:10 also listed wine and barley, these may have been used by the king of Tyre to help supplement the workers’ wages. Hiram did not want the Israelite foreign labor workers in his city, so he suggested that he float the timber down the Mediterranean coastline to Solomon. This treaty created peaceful times in the land.

Solomon had 30,000 men sent to Lebanon in monthly shifts of 10,000. There were 70,000 carriers, 80,000 stonecutters in the hills, and 3,300 foremen to oversee the work. All of the blocks were cut and made off-site. The workers (forced labor) were foreigners. The work was hard, and it was done in a very meticulous and organized way for God. Solomon’s Temple was built on Mount Moriah and was twice the size of the Tabernacle. When the Temple was almost complete, the Lord spoke to Solomon and reminded him that if he kept God’s laws, then He would keep the covenant He made with David.

The temple took 7 years to complete, which was finished around 1,000 BC, and was later destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC. Solomon moved the Ark of the Covenant into the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies). The entire inside was covered in gold. He had two olive wood cherubim made, which were about 15 to 16 feet tall, and their wings spanned the size of the room, looking like a canopy over the Ark.

Remember, Cherubim has 4 faces and 4 wings. An easy reminder is that a chair has 4 legs, which relates to 4 wings. Seraphim have six wings, and both start with the letter “S”.

Solomon’s complex would become enormous, it includes: his palace, his wife’s palace, the Throne Room and the Hall of Pillars. His greed and wealth eventually became a problem. The main Hall was about 90 feet by 30 feet by 45 feet tall and built over the threshing floor bought from Araunah. There were three parts, the Entrance Hall, the Holy Place (main room) and the Most Holy Place which was a perfect cube of 30 feet by 30 feet by 30 feet. The inner courtyard had 3 courses, and there would have also been an outer courtyard.

God’s Temple was not about Solomon’s greatness as a king; it was about displaying the glory of God. A building that represents walking in His ways.

Today's Discussion question:

Have you put out a “Welcome Mat” and prepared a warm home for God’s presence in your heart right now, or has it become cluttered with busyness, sin, or distraction? What is one thing you can do this week to clean out your heart and prepare your inner self so that the Holy Spirit truly feels welcomed and at home within you?

Click here to link to our Facebook group for discussion, questions, and additional content.