1 Kings 5
-This chapter deals with some of the logistics of building
the Temple of the LORD as He had told King David in previous times. Solomon was
now established as the rightful king with peace and rest on every side from the
wars and troubles during the time of King David. The enemies had been subdued
and now it was time to build a House for the God of Israel, the One True and
Living God (1 Kings 5:3-5).
-Hiram, the king of Tyre, is very helpful in the
construction project of the Temple as we see here in the text. He had always
been a friend of David and rejoiced greatly upon hearing the news that the LORD
had given a wise son as king over the great people of Israel (1 Kings 5:1, 7).
He was more than willing to help negotiate a covenant to provide raw materials
in exchange for food for his household with Solomon (1 Kings 5:6, 8-12).
-Solomon organized a forced labor force of nearly 200,000 at
least, who rotated up to the north to work the timber, transport, and do the
masonry with the stone (1 Kings 5:13-15). There were 3,300 chief deputies over
the project and ruling the people doing the work. The rocks near Jerusalem were
quarried as “great stones” and “costly stones” to lay the foundation of the
Temple area as “cut stones (1 Kings 5:16-17).” For more on the enormous size
and construction of the Jerusalem Temple see:
It is incredible what this ancient culture was able to
manufacture! “So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the Gebalites
(also called Byblos, these people were located north of what is now Beirut, in
the cedar forest, these men were Phoenicians, probably skilled as ship builders
and employed for this project) cut them, and prepared the timbers and the
stones to build the house (1 Kings 5:18).”
-*Application* Jesus said, “if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, 'Move
from here to there,' and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you
(Matthew 17:20).” This has
spiritual significance obviously to us, but there are sometimes some literal
and physical applications. We see here in the text that Solomon had a call, a
vision, and a dream that was implemented into action at a certain point in
time. Mountains of stone, literally over a million pounds each, and incredible
amounts of timber were “moved” for the purpose of having a place where God
could reside among His people. While the conditions had to align and all the
necessary raw materials secured, God had given His Word and it was to be
fulfilled through the son of David. What Word has the LORD given you for your
life? Are you being obedient to allow Him to do the impossible to make His call
a literal reality? “Ask, and it will be given, seek, and you will find, knock,
and the door will be opened unto you (Matthew 7:7).”
Verse to Memorize: 1
Kings 5:5
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