Sat.’s Devo - Setting Up Solomon’s Kingdom

Read: 2 Chronicles 1:1-3:17; Romans 6:1-23; Psalm 16:1-11; Proverbs 19:20-21 Solomon gathered all the leaders of Israel to Gibeon where the Tabernacle of Moses was. The Ark had already been moved but the bronze altar where they offered sacrifices was still in Gibeon. He offered 1,000 burnt offerings on it. *** That night, God appeared to Solomon and asked him what he wanted. Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge and discernment to lead the people of God. God was very pleased with his request. He told him he would grant his request and add to that riches and honor. *** Solomon returned to Jerusalem and built up a huge army of horses and chariots. He enlisted 153,600 foreigners to get stone from the quarry and to build the Temple to honor the name of the Lord and a royal palace for himself. He sent a message to King Hiram at Tyre asking for cedar logs and a master craftsman to supervise the work. In exchange he would give him wheat, barley, wine and oil. *** Hiram sent him Huram-abi as the master craftsman and Solomon began to build the Temple on the threshing floor of Araunah on Mount Moriah. He began on the second day of the second month of his fourth year as king. *** The foundation of the Temple was 90 feet long and 30 feet wide. The walls were made of cedar and had carvings of cherubim, palm trees and chains and decorated with jewels. The inside of the Temple was overlaid in pure gold. *** The Most Holy Place was 30 feet by 30 feet. It was overlaid with gold. Two figures of cherubim were placed in the Most Holy Place. They stood side by side with their wings outstretched. Their total wingspan was the width of the room and they were overlaid in gold. The entrance of the Holy of Holies was a curtain made of fine linen decorated with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and embroidered with figures of cherubim. *** Two pillars 27 feet tall were set up at the entrance of the Temple one to the south and one to the north. They were named Jakin (“God will establish”) and Boaz (“in him is strength”). *** In Romans, Paul as answering the question of the day. There was much false teaching about sinning to show God’s grace. Paul taught this was absurd since when we become saved, our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ and sin loses its power in our lives. We died to our sins so that we might live resurrected lives that bring glory to him. *** Paul explained to them that they didn’t gave to give in to sinful desires or serve sin anymore. They could choose to give themselves completely to God and enjoy their new life in Christ. Our bodies were meant to glorify God and live under the freedom of God’s grace. *** If we choose to keep on sinning then we become its slave. We are a slave to who or whatever we choose to obey. We can choose to obey God who give us life or sin who give us death. We are no longer slaves to sin but can choose to become a slave to righteous living and become holy. Lord, may we live our lives so that we can join David in saying, “Every good thing I have comes from you. You are our Master!”