Mon.’s Devo -Building the Temple

Read: 1 Kings 5:1-6:38, Acts 7:1-29, Ps. 127:1-5, Pr. 16:28-30 Solomon didn’t use his position to get something for free. He could have demanded that Hiram give him cedar since he was the king and had a much more powerful kingdom. Instead, he gave Hiram what he wanted in exchange. It was a fair trade. Hiram gave Solomon all the cedar he needed to build the temple and Solomon gave Hiram wheat and oil. Solomon sent his own men to cut the cedars and haul them home. They worked one month away and two months at home. No work was done in the temple itself. It was all done outside and brought in. The cedar was covered with gold. What a picture of the temple of God in our hearts. Our salvation was not built on works, but grace. Everything God has put into our hearts is a sweet smelling aroma to Him. He covers it with His glory. The cedar was the sweet-smelling aroma and it was covered with gold, the picture of glory. The angels in the Holy of Holies were seven and a half feet tall and wide. They were a picture of God’s holy presence. It took seven years to build it just like it will take 7,000 years to complete God’s promises about earth. In Acts, Stephen is giving his speech before the Sanhedrin. He starts at the beginning of the whole Jewish nation and is telling them of their history. I’m sure everyone was fine about what he was saying…so far. Lord, our Psalms goes right along with the building of the temple. Unless You build the house, we labor in vain. Please let our labor be fruitful and according to Your plan.