Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Solomon decides to do what David tasked him with doing and build a temple to the Lord God Almighty. Hiram had sent Solomon a congratulations message on becoming king. David and Hiram had enjoyed a great relationship. Solomon thanked him and asked for materials and craftsmen that he could build the temple that David longed to see built. Hiram agreed if Solomon would feed his men. Every year Hiram got 115,000 gallons of olive oil and 7.5 million pounds of wheat. They made a treaty together and lived in peace.

Solomon raised up a labour force of thirty thousand men (30,000). He also raised seventy thousand men (70,000) to carry burdens and eighty thousand (80,000) to hew rock in the mountain quarries. He ALSO had three thousand three hundred (3,300) officers to watch over them – about a one to fifty-five ratio. They hewed and worked the stones at the quarry, transported them completed to the temple site, and then put them in place without the sound of a single hammer ringing out in Jerusalem.

“It happened in the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites went out from the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s rule over Israel, the month of Ziv (that is the second month), that he began to build the house for Yahweh.” (1 Kings 6:1)

Solomon’s temple was twice as big as the tabernacle, but it was heavy on showiness and light on symbology. In the New Covenant, it doesn’t say Jesus came and ‘templed’ with us but ‘tabernacled’ with us (John 1:14). It’s said that the Way was the gate that leads into the courtyard. The Truth was the door into the Holy Place, and the Life was the gap in the curtain into the Most Holy place. The specific layout, the way they conducted day to day operations, the sacrifices, and all of it was designed to show God and His Way to the people. So they would understand the Messiah when He came to be our sacrifice. So they would understand the need to approach God HIS way with reverence. The Temple, while gorgeous, seems to be the human version of God’s simplicity. However, God called it a fine idea and didn’t object. I’m not knocking the temple, but I wonder if they needed it.

God spoke to Solomon (probably through a prophet or priest) and told him again to follow God’s statues, keep His commandments, and execute God’s judgments. To walk in His ways. If Solomon would do that, then God would perform the word He spoke to David and would dwell in this Temple and among the people of Israel and not forsake them. God’s living among the people was on Solomon’s shoulders. Seems rough, but the people would follow Solomon’s example – at least on the surface. We see it later with other kings. God wanted a godly man being king and an example to the nation and the world around them. Solomon heard the Lord and he finished the Temple.

I’d like to point out that this was really David’s temple. He gave Solomon the plans. He saved up the majority of the materials. He gave a massive sum of money toward the building of the Temple. Solomon just kind of and supervised. I don’t think David gets enough credit for what he did with the Temple, but it comes up again in Chronicles and we get to see a little more.

Solomon finished the temple in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul (the 8th month). It took a total of seven (7) years to complete it all.

Summary

Key Players: God, Solomon, Hiram

Key Themes: Temple, Friendship, Obedience, Labour force

Key Verse(s): 1 Kings 5:1, 7, 12; 6:1, 11-14, 37-38