Thurs.’s Devo - The Glory of the Temple

Read: 1 Kings 7:1-51; Acts 7:30-50; Psalm 128:1-6: Proverbs 16:31-33 Solomon’s buildings were ornate and magnificent. It took Hiram and his crew 13 years to build Solomon’s palace. He also built the Palace of the forest of Lebanon with the dimensions of 100-50-30 in cubits. He built the Hall of Pillars whose dimensions were 50-30 in cubits. He made a porch with a throne where he would judge the people. All these are smaller versions of heaven’s structures. He also made a house like his for Pharoah’s daughter he married from Egypt. She represents for the Bride of Christ. We are all from Egypt and were bought with a price. God redeemed us and grafted us into his family. The foundation of his court was made of costly stones. Some of the stones were 18 feet long. Three layers of stone would be laid and then a layer of cedar, then three more layers of stone. His master craftsman was Tiram from Tyre whose mother was from the tribe of Naphtali. He was gifted in working with bronze, wood and gold. He made to huge pillars that were 27 feet tall and 18 feet in circumference ornately decorated. He cast a huge basin for the priests with was 15 feet across and 7.5 feet deep. It was filled with water and placed on a base of 12 bronze oxen all facing outward. It held 11,000 gallons of water. He also made 10 bronze water carts which were moveable on wheels and decorated with lions, oxen and cherubim. Each cart had smaller bronze basins and were placed to the north and south side of the Temple. Hiram also made all the utensils and the altar, table of Shewbread, menorahs, etc. There were storerooms for the rest of the gifts David had given to the Lord from his spoils of war. In Acts, Stephen continued his account of the history of the Hebrew nation. Today he told the story of Moses and how God sent Moses went back to deliver his people out of Egypt. They carried their false idols with them even when God showed them how they should worship him. God gave Moses the measurements in proportion to the exact replica of the Temple in heaven along with all the furniture they would need. They carried this Tabernacle with them all through the wilderness and finally God gave them a king. David made arrangements for a permanent Temple and Solomon built it. Lord, you are the builder of heaven and earth and yet you choose to build a temple in each of us and fill it with your presence. Thank you for choosing us to carry your glory and your presence. May we carry it in awe and reverence.