2 Chronicles 8; 1 Kings 9:10-28

What can we ascertain from these passages?

1)  Hiram supplied gold and timber to Solomon for the building of the temple.  In return, Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities.  Hiram wasn't pleased with the cities; however, the relationship continued.  Hiram called the cities Cabul, or "fettered", showing he is the junior partner in this partnership.  He continues to supplies goods to Israel, but this is not an equal partnership and Hiram's resentment is noted.

2)  Solomon used forced labor to build the temple and his kingdom.  These peoples were not Israelites, but Canaanites.  These were what was left of the people that were destroyed during the capture of the promised land.  The writer also links these people will Solomon's Egyptian wife.

3)  Solomon's Egyptian wife is sent to her own home and spends her time there.   She is not to live in the city of David, probably because of her paganism.

4)  Solomon continues to make offerings to the Lord according to the law.

5)  It took twenty years to build the temple and all of Solomon's other building projects.

Solomon is living two lives - his life of dedication to the Lord and his life as a king.  He is beginning to be seen as someone who does not always deal fairly with people.  These two lives could be combined by simply seeking the wisdom of the Lord, but Solomon seems to follow the Lord in the temple and his own wisdom in his other decisions.  We often live double lives - our church life and our secular life.  It's not the right life.  WWJD, what would Jesus do?, was a popular saying when I was in high school.  I think of it to this day.  It reminds me that in ALL my actions I should think of how Jesus would act or respond and do likewise.  I'm not always successful.  Sometimes I let my sin nature take over and do what I want to do. There are always consequences.  The more I experience the consequences of my own way, the more  I seek to follow God's way.  I think that's what our christian walk is all about - figuring out how to trust God in everything.  Being content to follow His way and turn away from our own.  It's a day to day, sometimes minute by minute, choice.  As we continue to read Solomon's story, we will find that not everyone is successful in this walk.  Solomon's tale is a cautionary tale, one of which we should all be mindful.

2 Chronicles 7:1-22; 1 Kings 8:62-9:9

The temple was consecrated at the beginning of the feast of booths.  All of Israel was present to witness the consecration of the temple.  The offerings were consumed by a fire from heaven and God speaks to Solomon telling him that He has chosen the temple as His place of sacrifice.

God one again warns the people that if they turn from Him and decide to follow another way, they will be taken into captivity.  Why does God keep issuing this warning?  Well, He knows the hearts of His people.  We grow lazy and complacent.  We forget that our blessings come from the Lord and begin to build up our own worth and value.  We start to buck against the system and look for ways in which to get our own sinful way.  It happens time and time and time again.  So, once again, God is telling us, "I am here.  I know what's best.  I will protect you and guide you.  I will listen to you and council you.  However, if you ignore me and choose your own way, you will reap the consequences of your actions." Sound harsh?  Well, hold off judgment for now.  Let's continue to read about Solomon's choices and make a decision then. 

2 Chronicles 6:12-42, 1 Kings 8:22-61

Solomon now prays for grace and mercy.  Notice his acknowledgment that there is consequences for sin. However, when we repent and seek God's forgiveness, He will forgive us.  I like that Solomon emphasizes that we are not perfect, we will make poor choices.  We sin.  However, this is a relationship, not a dictatorship.  God understands perfectly exactly who we are.  He knows our hearts, He knows our struggles, but He doesn't turn away from us.  He is right there, waiting for us to come back and acknowledge our mistakes.  Repenting isn't just saying sorry for what we've done wrong.  It's understanding that God's ways are better than our own ways.

Also notice that here in the Old Testament, anyone who seeks God is heard by God.  It wasn't only those with Israeli blood that are accepted by God.  I love that.  I know a lot of times we think of the Old Testament as being just about a certain family, but the Old Testament, in fact the Bible in general, is about the relationship between man and God - it's past, present, and future.

2 Chronicles 5:2-14, 6:1-11; 1 Kings 8:1-21

The temple has been completed.  With great fanfare and celebrating, Solomon brings the ark from the city of David to the temple.  Notice we are given an accounting of what the ark holds - the two tablets that Moses put there.  These are the tablets on which the Lord wrote the commandments.  After the ark was placed in the Most Holy of Holies, the glory of the Lord filled the temple.  Solomon then spoke to the people, reminding them of the promises of God.

This event took place during the Feast of Booths, also known as Sukkot, a feast in which the people of Israel live in tents for seven days to remind them of the exodus.  It takes place five days after the Day of Atonement in the fall after the harvest.  It is one of three pilgrim feasts, which was to be celebrated in Jerusalem with offerings brought to the temple.  Although mostly unknown to many modern day Christians, Sukkot has messianic significance.  Many scholars believe that Jesus was born during Sukkot.  Given that Sukkot is a time of remembering God's deliverance of the Israelites from bondage in Egypt, it is fitting that Jesus would have been born during this feast since He is the deliverer of the world.

Of the three pilgrim feasts:  Passover, Pentecost, and Sukkot, Jesus was crucified on Passover, ascended into heaven on Pentecost, and His first and second coming occur on Sukkot.  Check out this link for more information about Sukkot, or the Feast of Booths:  http://www.gotquestions.org/Feast-of-Tabernacles.html



 

2 Chronicles 3:1-5:1; 1 Kings 6:1-7:51

2 Chronicles gives a very technical history of the building of the temple, measurements, descriptions, etc.  
Let's take a closer look at 1 Kings:
verse 7:  tells us that the temple was built with reverence.  No tool of iron, nor ax, nor hammer was heard in the temple.  It took more work, yet, the builders knew this was to be a holy place, and they treated it as such.
verses 11-13: God tells Solomon that He will dwell with the people under the condition that they will obey His Word.  This is the same condition God gave to the people at Mt. Sinai.  Buildings do not change the relationship between God and His people. As my study Bible states, "God is not as impressed with structures as He is with obedience."Once again, it is emphasized that this building is just a place.  Why does God keep reminding the people of this?  Because we are proud.  We quickly become impressed with shiny things and turn our attention away from God.  It is very easy to turn worship of God into worship of the temple.
verse 38 - it took seven years to build the temple.

verse 7:1-12 Now 1 Kings moves onto Solomon's house.  It took 13 years for Solomon to complete his own house, and it was completed entirely.  The temple is not yet complete, as the interior is still being worked on and it is not being used.  This shows Solomon's divided heart - he spent much more time building his own house than he did God's house.  Solomon's house was bigger than the temple.  He also built a special house to please his Egyptian wife.

7:13-51 - Back to the temple:  The interior furnishings and vessels are completed.  The treasuries are filled.

2 Chronicles 2:1-18; 1 Kings 5:1-18

Solomon is preparing to build the temple.  This is an account of the number of workers needed and the arrangements made for the timber.  Some might question the benefit in reading this passage.  I can give two reasons:
1.  The details provide validity to the telling.  The Bible is full of small details that provide records for the events in history.  Names, places, dates, lists - these can and have been used to verify the credibility of the Bible.  How cool is that?
2.  There are life lessons in this passage:
     - Reputation - Solomon approaches the king of Tyre based on his previous relationship with King David. Whether business or friendship, the relationships we build with others speak of our character.  But our   reputation also helps to define non-Christian's opinions of God's character.  If you're known to be a Christian, your actions define your relationship with Christ much more than your words.  Are you showing others God's work in your life?  Or are you showing them your flesh?
     - Look at verse 6 - this verse is key to understanding the purpose of the temple.  The temple is not for    God, but for man.  It is not to contain God, nor is it to house Him.  The temple is a place for man to
 approach God.  Solomon isn't constructing a building of his choosing.  He is being used by God to bring about God's plan.  He shows humility and faith by listening to God, not by trying to do great things.  This is an example of faith and works working together.  Solomon's actions are determined by his faith.  It's a good lesson for us all.