29 Solomon Builds God’s Temple [1 Kings 6]
The Bible passage: [1 Kings 6]
The Story:
When David was king, and settled into his palace, he wanted to build a temple for the Lord. God told David that he would not be the one to build the temple because he was a man of war. God said that his son would build a temple after he became king. [1 Chronicles 17:1-15]
Solomon began building the temple four hundred eighty years after the Israelites came out of slavery in Egypt. It was the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel. The temple was built according to the plans that were developed by King David.
The temple that King Solomon built for the Lord was 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high.
He built it with a porch with columns across the front of the temple. The porch was 30 feet wide and 15 feet deep.
The temple was made with recessed, beveled framed windows.
He built a three story group of rooms all around the main building. The first story of rooms was seven and a half feet wide. The second story was nine feet wide. The third story was ten and a half feet wide. The outer rooms were built in such a way that nothing had to be inserted into the temple walls.
The temple was built using finished stones that were cut to size at the quarry, then transported to the construction site. There was never the sound of a hammer or chisel or any other iron tool at the construction site while the temple was being constructed.
The ceiling was constructed using beams and planks made of cedar. The interior walls of the temple were paneled with cedar boards, from the floor to the ceiling. He also overlaid the floor with cypress boards.
There was no stone visible; only cedar. The cedar paneling in the temple was carved with pictures of gourds and flowers.
The Lord spoke to Solomon and told him, “As for this temple you are building for me, if you will live according to My laws and keep all My commandments, I will keep My promise to you, the promise that I made to your father David. I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon My people Israel.”
The back thirty feet of the main building were separated into a separate room by cedar planks. This room was built as an inner sanctuary and was called the Most Holy Place. The interior of the Most Holy Place was completely overlaid with pure gold. The Most Holy Place contained an altar of cedar, which was also overlaid with pure gold. It also contained the Ark of the Covenant.
In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olivewood. Each cherub was fifteen feet tall. The wingspan of each cherub was fifteen feet. The cherubim were placed in such a way that each had one wing touching opposite walls and their other wings touched each other in the middle of the room. The cherubim were overlaid with gold.
Around the walls were carved engraved figures of cherubim and palm trees and flowers.
For the entrance to the inner sanctuary, he made bifold doors of olivewood. The doors were covered with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and flowers. They were overlaid with gold.
The building of the temple was completed in every detail and according to every specification that was given by King David. The complete project took seven years.
The entire nation was called together for a time of dedication of the temple to the Lord. Solomon prayed a lengthy prayer, concluding by asking God to come and fill His temple. When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the offerings and sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. [2 Chronicles 6:12-7:3]
The Lessons:
- Prior to the building of Solomon’s temple, the Ark of the Covenant was housed in the tabernacle that was constructed during the Exodus period after slavery in Egypt. Once the temple was completed, around 960 BC, the Ark of the Covenant was kept in the temple.
- Cherubim are heavenly beings often depicted as winged angels. They serve in various capacities like guarding the way to the tree of life, attending the throne of God, and moving the chariot of His glory. In the context of the temple, they stand guard over the Ark of the Covenant. Cherubim is plural; Cherub is singular.
- When Solomon prayed at the dedication of the temple, God Himself came down and consumed the sacrifices that were being offered.
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