God didn’t care only about the appearance of the exterior of the Temple, but also the interior. The text of 1 Kings 6:14-38 tells the reader about the carvings, woodwork, gold and furnishings that could be seen inside its walls, all of which were designed to reflect something of God’s love of beauty, His evident glory and His all surpassing holiness. And yet, while the Temple is with us no longer, God’s interest in beauty, glory and holiness remains – all combined so wonderfully together in the cross of our Saviour, Jesus.
Message
Outline
• Getting to know you by seeing your house! • The same is true for God… • Progress in the building of the Temple… • Note from the text how the interior reflects…
God’s perspective on beauty (v.14-18)
God’s expression of glory (v.19-22)
God’s character as holy (v.23-38)
The God of beauty, glory and holiness… His beauty, glory and holiness in another place!
There’s no doubt that the Temple built by King Solomon stands as one of the most important buildings ever constructed. The Temple would stand for all to see that the God of Israel was glorious, and that He lived among His people. In the text of 1 Kings 6:1-13, we are introduced to the size and the layout of the Temple under God’s instructions. But God wasn’t interested in the mere ‘shell’ of the building alone. This text also tells of the heart matters that Solomon needed to get right so he could walk before the Lord.
Message
Outline
• The Temple of Solomon! • So much detail • Psalm 127: 1 ‘Unless the Lord builds the house…’ • Note from the text the…
Promises that were fulfilled (v.1)
Details that were recorded (v.2-10)
Responsibilities that were encouraged (v.11-13)
And what are you building? Where Solomon failed….!
“All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall. Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him, crown him, crown him, crown him Lord of all.“
It would be interesting to know if Edward Perronet (1721-1792) wrote this much-loved hymn after being inspired by watching a coronation service in his day, although in the end it doesn’t really make much difference. The Scriptures are already full of coronations – just think of Samuel’s anointing of Saul (1 Samuel 10:1) and fairly soon after of David (1 Samuel 16:13) and you’ve got the fiirst two covered – on occasions hardly anything at all like the service now underway for Charles III – but that’s what they were. Both Saul and David were anointed Kings over God’s people.
The rest of the Old Testament reveals that there were many Kings of both Israel and Judah, from Solomon, (David’s son and heir) right down to Zedekiah. Not all of them were ‘good’ (in the sense that they loved and served the Lord God with all their heart) and many of them were intent on following their own will and disregarding God as much as He would allow them to. Yes, reading through the lives and deeds of the Kings of Israel and Judah leaves a lot to be desired. Where was the True King, so longed for and promised? Where was the One who would bring lasting peace and joy to the people of God?
It is with a sense of irony that we read in John’s gospel, “He (Jesus) was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.” (John 1:10). Nothing truer could be spoken. Though Jesus was that True King, He neither looked like nor lived like a King. With no royal carriage or palace or robes or even coronation ceremony, you could be almost understand why the people failed to see that He was a King at all. But He was and He was a King with a difference. These were His words to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36) and by this He reminded all in authority that their kingdoms will one day bow and give way to His. But not yet. His coronation service is still coming. And when it does, the glory and grandeur of it will be seen by all, not just by many. The writer to the Hebrews reminds us of this fact, that in the present, “we do not yet see everything in subjection to Him” (Hebrews 2:9) But when we see Him next there’ll be no doubt as to who will bear the crown of the Kingdom that will have no end.
One of the most important aspects of Solomon’s reign as King was the construction of the Temple of the Lord. This great and significant work was something that God had forbidden King David from doing, but had made clear that David’s son would complete the task. And what a task it was! With the help of King Hiram of Tyre, the gathering of the raw materials was a project of note in itself. As Solomon poits us to Jesus, we are reminded that Jesus gathers His people in to be His new Temple. People of raw material – being transformed into ‘living stones’ that make up His glorious body – the church.
Message
Outline
• The most notable building ever built? • Modern day? Taj Mahal? Sydney Opera house? • Moving on to Solomon and the Temple of the Lord • Note from the text…
The conversations that led to cooperation (v.1-9)
The cooperation that led to contracts (v.10-18)
The contracts that led to construction (v.13-18)
The Church – the new Temple Being ‘living stones’ for the glory of the builder!
With his throne and kingdom now well established, the text of 1 Kings 4:1-34, explains for readers the way in which Solomon’s kingdom was organized and structured. This was most necessary because of the size of the projects being overseen and the vast wealth that the King had amassed. The text also informs us that Solomon’s wisdom just kept of growing and was soon to be known throughout the world. All this blessing and prosperity reminds us of the greatness of the Kingdom that Jesus will bring in – that He will share with His people, blessings not created by taxes and forced labour but by and because of His great grace.
Message
Outline
• That conflict between leaders and voters.. • The kingdom under Saul, David and now Solomon • Further details about the king’s wisdom • Note from the text… 1.The people of the King’s portfolios (v.1-19)
2. The vastness of the King’s wealth (v.20-28)
3. The extent of the King’s wisdom (v.29-34)
God’s promises to Abraham being fulfilled God’s better promises to us in Christ still to come!
With the previous part of the chapter telling us how God blessed Solomon with wisdom, the text of 1 Kings 3:16-28 gives us some information as to how that wisdom was expressed in Solomon’s life as king. Called upon to give a ruling in a case where it was ‘she said’ versus ‘she said’, the King quickly saw through the confusion to see a way of making the facts plain. The story reminds us that one day we will all need to appear before the throne of Christ to be judged by Him. There is only one safe place to be – on His side already!
Message
Outline
• Like the challenge of a good riddle? • A real life circumstance! • Solomon’s wisdom is from the Lord • Note from the text… 1.The evidence of the case presented to the King (v.16-21)
The judgment of the case as determined by the King (v.22-27)
The fame of this case that glorified the King (v.28)
How not to apply this story Only one safe place to stand before the Judge!
John’s account of the resurrection traces the conclusions that Mary Magdalene reached over the moved stone and the missing body of Jesus. Even though Peter and John also visited the tomb and saw all that Mary had described, it wasn’t until Jesus spoke to her that Mary knew he was alive. The evidence for the resurrection abounds. It is not a lack of evidence that cause people to disbelieve the gospel accounts, but a lack of faith in the testimony of God’s Word, even though God promises salvation to those who do believe! (Romans 10:9-10)
There is often something contradictory in all of us – and this certainly was the case with King Solomon. The text of 1 Kings 3:1-15 records both good and bad aspects of Solomon in his early days as king. The bad was seen in the seeds that he sowed that would later produce some ungodly fruit. The good was seen in that ‘he loved the Lord’ and that God bestowed upon him super-abundant grace, even an open cheque to ‘ask for whatever he wanted’. It’s good to remember that Jesus also had the ear of His Father. He could have asked to be rescued from the hands of evil men. But He chose to stay the course. There was no mixture of good and bad in Him.
• The contradictory person of Solomon • Encouraging for us! • Seeds have a habit of growing… • Note from the text… 1.Bad seeds that grew into bad fruit (v.1-3)
Good seeds that grew into good fruit (v.4-15)
The church – a ‘mixed bag’ That question – put to Jesus!
History tells us that people from all over the world have done all sorts of strange things in order to achieve salvation. A German monk, named Martin Luther was one of those. But any effort to ‘save ourselves’ will be wasted.
Funnily enough, this is what the Pharisees said to Jesus while he was on the cross. ‘Come down now from the cross, save yourself and we will believe you’, they said. But Jesus didn’t come down. And he didn’t do that because He was busy saving us!
See, the bad news the Bible presents about us is that ‘all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23), but the good news the Bible also presents is that Jesus said he came “not to call the righteous but sinners.” (Mark 2:17) and all through his life he welcomed the less than perfect, even extending forgiveness to them.
If we do not know these things for ourselves, it will not be because He is not willing, but because we have not come to Him to receive them!
This Easter, take note that Jesus came to bring a salvation that can’t be earned… but can be received as a free gift. Have you done that?
