1st Kings 7 A HOUSE AND A TEMPLE The palace of Solomon was not a house in the sense that it was only a dwelling place for him and his family. There were three stories to the palace as well as other buildings around it. The ground floor had the great hall where government business would be conducted and Solomon's throne was probably there. In that building there was also an armory where shields, swords and other weapons would be kept. The Palace of the Forest of Lebanon had four rows of cedar columns that extended 150 feet from one end to the other. These held up the cedar beams that held the roof of the building. Sound doctrine and the principles relating to living the Christian life protect and preserve the testimony and life of the house of God. We are built on the sound foundation of "the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone."
The whole building complex included Solomon's place of living, a house for Pharaoh's daughter and likely the harem. The Porch of Judgment (Hall of Justice), the great courtyard and the hall of pillars as well as whatever other buildings were needed would have made an impressive seat of government. It was a massive building project that took nearly twice as long to build as it did to build the temple for the Lord. The whole complex would have been beautiful as well as impressive but did not have the beauty of the temple.
Some of the limestone in that area was able to be cut with saws into the size the builders wanted. Limestone of some kinds get harder when it is exposed to the sun and elements. The intelligence of people in ancient times was such that they were able to create great architectural wonders without all of the equipment we have at our disposal today and believe is necessary to make such buildings. Even the ark built by Noah over a thousand years before the temple was a marvelous work of construction that seems very sophisticated in its design. When God asks for something to be done, he gives the ability and wisdom to do it. We are not left high and dry to do the will of God. The human mind and will has not developed nor deteriorated because of the passing of time. The most worrisome happening in present day society is the moral deterioration that leads people to ruin their God-given intelligence with moral and chemical abuse.
What was important to God then is important to Him now. To a certain extent the decline in morality negatively affects the ability of those who engage in promiscuous living to accomplish what should be normally expected of them. Solomon did his greatest and most significant work in the early years of his reign. The book of Ecclesiastes reads like the musings of a jaded old man who looked at life through jaundiced eyes. Solomon didn't even live to old age because of getting away from what was important to God, and living for what was important to him.
Details in the last part of this chapter are given about the temple furnishings that indicate these were not just arbitrarily made to suit the artistic ability of Hiram. There was a purpose and design to everything that made it suitable to the temple and temple worship. Hiram's mother was from the city of Dan in the north part of Israel and was from the tribe of Naphtali by way of her first husband. Her son, Hiram, was from Tyre where he learned the skills needed by Solomon to do the work to which he was assigned. The results of that labor were quite spectacular as they followed the directions God gave. When we are doing things for our own benefit and pleasure, or are making a project related to our business, we can do it our way. When our labor, service and worship is for God, we must do it His way. In our spiritual life we need to know and follow God's instructions. To contradict, add to or take away from what God says, would not only be rebellious, but also insulting to Him.
There were two twenty-seven-foot pillars around eighteen inches through that were made for the entrance of the temple with chapiters set on top like a crown. In front of the temple was a laver big enough to hold around 12,000 gallons of water. There were movable basins on wheels that were made out of bronze. Tools for the service of the temple were made and each one would have been like a work of art in itself as well as being useful. In the Christian life we should not overlook the small things and consider them unimportant. It takes every person and every gift properly functioning to make the house of God the kind of place of worship the Lord intends.
Ten golden tables on which to hold the Bread of Presence, were made and put in the Holy Place. Five tables were set on each side of the room. Ten lampstands of gold we made as well and five of them were placed on each side of the Holy Place in the main hall. The temple and its furnishings were priceless works of art but more importantly, they were made for God. The house of God of which we are a part in a local church is priceless as well. God takes each individual and puts them in the place He wants to be used as He wants. The exercise of heart of each one enables the glory of the house to bear witness to angels (like the cherubim) and to people that God is in this place. When the temple was completed, all the treasure David had accumulated and stored were brought into the temple and was there for the glory of God.
1Kings 7:13-14. “And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. He was a widow’s son of the tribe of Napthali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.”
SKILL AND EXPERIENCE. Some know a lot but don’t like to work. Some like to work but their skill is limited. When wisdom and understanding come together, The most difficult work can be initiated.
Skill may come from carefully watching others When they use their knowledge for good Repeating a task carefully over and over Makes the resulting effort come out as it should.
Skill may be slow and can be easily discouraged But coupled with experience there is inside A real satisfaction when the result is enjoyed And the laborer can have justified pride.
God uses what we are and can give what we need, To finish a work done for His glory; Not knowing exactly the end, in faith we begin Trusting Him who knows the end of the story.
It is only right that I rise each day With a sense of duty to do some work for Him; Whether it is labor as a steward or learning some way How to present truth and to deal with sin.
Hiram was known as a man of great skill I know men who are skilled in the Word. My place is a laborer with experience in the field Using experience and a little skill for my Lord.
“Father, I know at least some of my limitations – maybe most of them. Help me to be content with what I can do, and encourage those more skilled to use it well. They need the benefit of my experience. Give me wisdom as to how to pass on what I know for Thy glory. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”