Day 162 – 1 Kings 5-6, 2 Chronicles 2-3

Talking Points

• 480 years after the Exodus, King Solomon began to build the temple, the place where the LORD would dwell among the sons of Israel. It was a massive undertaking, requiring seven years to complete.
• The temple is built on Mount Moriah, the place the LORD led Abraham to bring his son, Isaac, to sacrifice. This was the very spot where Abraham worshiped the God who provided the sacrificial ram in place of his son. This very spot would become the center for worship of the one true God. And, this very spot would one day be visited by the Lamb of God — the Lamb whose sacrificial death would provide our redemption!

Thoughts

A great temple is only fitting for a great God! In today’s reading, we see several times, the temple is built not for God, but “for the name of the LORD.” It was to demonstrate to all who would draw near that “greater is our God than all the gods” (1 Chronicles 2:5). As people marveled at its splendor, it was to reflect the majesty of the Lord.

Even the construction effort was breathtakingly monumental. Imagine as 80,000 stonecutters chipped out each brick. 80,000! Imagine 70,000 people carrying the building materials to the mount. I can almost feel the reverent awe that must have been in the air at the actual temple sight. The pieces were assembled in silence. No banging hammers, no clanging tools of iron, just the silent hands of men forming the pieces into place. What anticipation there must have been as the workers saw God’s holy temple taking shape! Yes, a great temple is only fitting for so great a God.

Here’s a crazy thought: God’s Word says that today, believers are temples of that same God. Today, in our lives, acts of great trust exalt His name, replacing the cedars of Lebanon. Steps of great obedience reflect His majesty, replacing hand-carved ornaments. Feats of great boldness declare His glory, more than all the gold inlaid walls. And, yes, today our temples should serve to bring extravagant praise to so great a God!