July 12 - Solomon Builds the Temple

July 12 - Solomon Builds the Temple
1 Kings 6:1-38; 1 Chronicles 3:1-17

Have you ever taken the time to read through one of these passages?  The extravagance and opulence of this home for the Name of the Lord is incredible!

Solomon laid the foundation, set the portico into place, built the walls.  Then, he overlaid the inside with pure gold.  After he paneled the main hall, he covered it with gold.  It says that he adorned the temple with precious stones.  He overlaid the beams, the doorframes, the walls and doors of the temple with gold.

He built the Most Holy Place and overlaid it with gold.  He used gold nails.  He had cherubim sculpted and overlaid each with gold.

He had a curtain woven of blue, purple and crimson yarn into fine linen, with artwork of cherubim worked into it.

Everything that was created for the House of the Lord was created with extravagance in mind.  There was no holding back.  The offerings had poured in to build this temple.  The finest craftsmen were employed, the finest tools and supplies were used.  There was no cost cutting, no arguments about whether or not they could afford the best.  The only thing that mattered was honoring the Lord God.

You know … Paul says that we are now the temple of God.  While some might consider that material wealth and extravagance is necessary to honor God, what He wants most from us is extravagance in our offerings to Him – whether they are material or spiritual, emotional or mental.  We are to be extravagant in the way in which we love Him and show that love to others.

Solomon’s Temple was a grand and glorious place to worship God.  People from all over knew that the Israelites had created this Temple as a home for the God of Creation.

That’s what our temple should be.  Whether we are big or small, wealthy or not, no matter what we look like or can afford … when others see that we worship and honor the God of Creation … with extravagance and generosity … we will match the grandeur of Solomon’s Temple.