After Solomon firmly established his rule, he began work on what was his crowing achievement, the construction of the temple. His palace, a residence for Pharaoh’s daughter, a hall of justice, and other building projects receive little recognition in the account.
Several chapters of Israel’s history are devoted to the construction of the temple, making this a history with God at its core.
Inherited Good Will
David knew that he would not be qualified to build Him a temple, but his son would have the honor. Nevertheless, he did all he could to help Solomon with the vast undertaking.
King Hiram of Tyre was a friend of Solomon’s father and proved to be an excellent aid to the son.
Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying, “You know that my father David could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, until he put them under the soles of his feet.
But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune.
So I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord said to my father David, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.’
Therefore command that cedars from the Lebanon be cut for me. My servants will join your servants, and I will give you whatever wages you set for your servants, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.” (1 Kings 5:2-6).
Hiram had access to raw materials that were needed in the construction project, and Solomon had food that Hiram’s kingdom needed. The two entered into an alliance that benefitted both nations.
I don’t know the size of Solomon’s temple, but to give you a perspective of the size of this project, Herod’s temple complex comprised one-fourth of all of Jerusalem. Clearly, temple building was a massive undertaking. The record lays the success at the feet of the Lord.
So the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he had promised him (1 Kings 5:12).
The Tent and Temple
The structure of the temple was based on the architectural design of the tent or tabernacle. The temple was permanent, whereas the tent was movable. The fact that God met His people in these structures outshines any other aspect of their construction.
God has condescended to meet His people in various structures:
- A tent that served as God’s tabernacle for many generations
- Solomon’s magnificent temple that took seven years to complete
- A simple building that was constructed after the exile
- The massive and lavish temple constructed under Herod’s reign
- The end-time house of God
From God’s perspective, there is no difference. Whether it is a tent or a stone structure, meeting with God is what is most important.
How can sinful humans have communion with a holy God? The events at the tent and the temple are pictures of God’s loving sacrifice for us all.
But when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation),
He entered once for all into the holy place, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.
For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified,
How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God! (Hebrews 9:11-14).
Two words jump off of the page of Hebrews 9 for me. “Eternal redemption” refers to the fact that Jesus’ death on the cross sets us free from slavery to sin and restores us to friendship with God.
Whether it was the tent in the wilderness or the temple in Jerusalem, the sacrifices revealed our need for redemption. These sacrifices had to be repeated over-and-over, but Jesus’ sacrifice was a once-and-for-all event that set us free for eternity.
Worship is the other word that captures my attention in this passage. Our eternal redemption is not a “ticket” to heaven that can be tucked in our pocket as fire insurance for another day.
Whether it is the tent, temple, or Jesus’ work on our behalf, the ultimate gift is the ability to worship God. God has no greater gift for humans than the ability to have a relationship with Him.
What took Solomon seven years to complete and Jesus His life on the cross has, at its finest expression, the ability to have a loving relationship with God.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 