Sat.’s Devo -Building the Temple

Read: 2 Chronicles 1:1-3:17; Romans 6:1-23; Psalm 16:1-11; Proverbs 19:20-21
Solomon met with all his officials and leaders and with anyone else who wanted to come in Gibeon. That was where the tent of meeting from the days of Moses was. David had only brought up the ark to Jerusalem, but the rest of the tabernacle was still in Gibeon. Solomon offered one thousand burnt offerings on the bronze altar. That night, God responded. He came to Solomon and asked Solomon what he wanted because it would be granted. Solomon thanked the Lord for being so kind to his father, David, and asked for discernment and wisdom to govern this great multitude of people.
God was so pleased with his selfless desire that he told him he would do that and add to it riches, honor, and wealth.
Solomon went back to Jerusalem and began building the temple and his kingdom. Everything in the temple was covered with gold to show the glory of God. It was to be a picture of the garden of Eden where God and man dwelt together as friends. There were palm trees, cherubim’s and chain designs. Even the nails were made of gold. Solomon had commissioned cedars from Hiram, the king of Tyre and a craftsman to do all his design work. In exchange, Solomon gave them grain, wine, and oil.
The manual labor was done by all the foreign captives from the battles they had won. Some carried the water and others cut the stones.
Two gold cherubim were carved to sit on the mercy seat. Their wings spread from one wall to the other in the Holy of Holies which gives us a visual picture of being under God’s wings.
In Romans, Paul gives us a better picture of grace. It is not the license to sin and be forgiven, it is the power not to sin. We were once enslaved to sin, but now through the blood of Jesus we have been given the power not to sin. So why would we go back to that lifestyle whose only reward is death and pain. God’s grace is the power to live an abundant life in Christ whose reward is life and freedom.
Lord, help us to live in your abundant freedom to walk in righteousness, not under the power of sin.