Fri.’s Devo - Solomon’s Buildings

Read: 1 Kings 7:1-51; Acts 7:30-50; Psalm 128:1-6; Proverbs 16:31-33 It took Solomon 7 years to build the Temple and 13 years to his own palace. He also built other building like the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon which was 11,250 square feet with 45 feet tall ceilings. Inside were three rows of cedar pillars to probably look like a forest of trees. He built the Hall of Pillars which was 3,375 square feet. The porch was held up by a row of pillars. He built a throne room which he called the Hall of Justice which was where the legal matters were carried out. His own living quarters was behind this hall. He also built a similar living quarters for Pharoah’s daughter, his wife. All of his buildings were made of polished stone. Their foundation was also stone. Some of the foundation stones were 15 feet long. Just imagine having to transport these stones from the quarry to the building site on a hill. Solomon hired a man named Huram from Tyre who was not the same as King Hiram. This man’s mother was a Jew from Nathtali and his father had been a bronze craftsman from Tyre. He was talented in bronze. He came and made the pillars with its capitals, the huge basin they called the Sea, ten water carts and the utensils needed in the Temple. The detail was amazingly intricate and beautiful. When Solomon had completed the Temple he brought all the gifts David had dedicated to the Lord and put them in the treasury rooms in the Temple. In Acts, Stephen continued his history lesson. God called Moses from the desert near Mount Sinai and called him back to Egypt to deliver his people. He sent Moses back to deliver the same people who had rejected him as their leader. He delivered them through signs and wonders. He led them out of Egypt, through the Red Sea and through the wilderness for forty years. Moses was the one who spoke of a Prophet that God would raise up. The people of Israel rejected Moses again and chose to worship the gods of the heavens and earth so God promised to send them into exile into Babylon. The children of Israel carried the Tabernacle with them through the desert and it stayed with them until they were given God’s king, David. David’s son, Solomon built the Temple for God even though he never asked for one. Heaven is God’s throne and earth is his footstool. Lord, may we learn from the mistakes of the people who have gone before us. May we not reject you for the gods of this world that have no power. You are the Lord of Lords and we worship you.