Fear No Fear

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

It took seven years to build the Temple. Solomon took thirteen years to build his house. He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon – which was completely symmetrical and made entirely of cedar from Lebanon (hence the name). It was where he pronounced his judgments. He also built his wife, the daughter of Pharaoh, a house outside the city (favouritism and also outside because she was NOT a convert to Judaism and unclean). These were big projects, but Solomon had prioritized the building of the Temple, which was good.

As part of this process he hired Hiram from Tyre (not the ruler). He was a worker in brass on a master’s level. Among other things, he built two massive pillars for the porch of the Temple. The one on the right was called Jachin (he will establish), and the one on the left was called Boaz (in strength). He made the great sea and the basins for the priest’s washings, and where they washed the animals. He made pots and shovels and design work and everything you could think of. Solomon also brought into the Temple everything David had set aside for it – the gold and the silver.

“All the men of Israel assembled before King Solomon at the festival in the month of Ethnaim, that is, the seventh month.” (1 Kings 8:2)

When it was all done, Solomon gathered all the elders together and called all the men of Israel, and they brought the ark up from the tabernacle – making sacrifices all along the way – and installed everything in the Temple. It was carried properly, according to the Law. The ark was put into the Holy of Holies, under the wings of the cherubim statues, and the wings of the cherubim spread over the place of the ark. The staves by which the ark was transported projected out and could be seen in the sanctuary in front of the Holy of Holies, but not from outside the building (some translations say they were removed, but the Hebrew scriptures are very specific). This was in accordance with Exodus 25:15, which states that the staves are forbidden to be removed from the rings of the ark. Since the Holy of Holies was completely dark, they would serve to guide the high priest toward the ark when he went in to service.

When the priests came out, the cloud of the Lord (Exodus 13:21) descended on it and no one could go in to minister because the cloud was so thick. This also had happened at the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34). The king blessed all the congregation of Israel. He gave a great speech to the people. Then he turned and prayed a prayer of worship and acknowledgement of God’s covenant, mercy, grace, and judgment.

Solomon prayed for the Lord to judge between parties, condemning the guilty and defending the innocent. He prayed for the Lord to always hear the prayer of repentance and forgive their sins. He petitioned the Lord for rain, sending it when people repented and sought the Lord in his temple. He prayed the Lord would look into the hearts of men during times of plague and pestilence, and hear their prayers. He prayed for the non-Israelite, for the Lord to move among them. He prayed the Lord grant Israel victory when they fought. The seventh thing he prayed for was the people of Israel, when their sins would cause them to be carried away captive. For the Lord to forgive them. For the Lord to acknowledge their repentance. And for the Lord to lift them up again, forgiven of their sin. He closed by blessing the Lord and worshipping Him for all He had done for Israel and the House of David.

Then they offered sacrifices of peace offerings: twenty-two thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. These Solomon offered up out of his herds. And there wasn’t enough space in the Temple. It’s supposed temporary altars were set up, perhaps throughout Israel. In any case, Solomon held a great feast throughout all the territory of Israel for fourteen days – two groups of seven – and then on the day after, he sent them home with joy and gladness in their hearts. Everyone was full of what God had done for David and for the nation.

Summary

Key Players: God, Solomon, Hiram (not the king)

Key Themes: Temple, Building, Dedication, Prayer

Key Verse(s): 1 Kings 7:1-2, 8,13-14, 51; 8:1-5, 10, 65-66