Sun.’s Devo - The Splendor of the Temple

Read: 2 Chronicles 1:1-3:17; Romans6:1-23; Psalm 16:1-11; Proverbs 19:29-21 All the leaders of Israel were called to meet Solomon at the tabernacle in Gibeon. They offered 1,000 offerings to the Lord on the bronze altar. *** That night the Lord appeared to Solomon and asked him what he wanted. Solomon said that he wanted wisdom and discernment to lead the people of Israel. God was pleased with his request and added wealth, long life and fame to it. *** Solomon returned to Jerusalem and built up his army. He also built the Temple, hiring Tyre’s best craftsman to help. He repaid Tyre with grain, wine and olive oil. Solomon used foreigners to do all his labor. *** The Temple was built on top of Mount Moriah on the threshing floor of Araunah. All the decorations inside the Temple was to give the appearance of the garden of Eden with cherubim, trees and flowers. It was overlaid in gold to reflect God’s glory. *** The angels on the mercy seat faced one another in a kneeling position with their wings spread over the mercy seat, but Solomon had two very large cherubim made to stand in the Most Holy Place. They faced the entrance with their wings spread wide touching both walls. These angels were being reserved for the right time. A curtain hung in front of it keeping the people from seeing the glory of God’s presence. That curtain was torn by God when Jesus died on the cross as an invitation for all to come and receive God’s mercy. *** Two pillars were made to stand at the entrance of the temple. The people entered between them. The one on the south was named Jakin which means “he establishes” and the other named Boaz which means “in him is strength.” *** In Romans, Paul erases every excuse we have to sin. We are no longer sin’s slave. We are free to walk in righteousness. We are commanded to give ourselves completely to God and to glorify God with our bodies. We choose what and who we obey. We can choose to obey God and be a slave to righteousness and become holy. *** Lord, thank you for making us holy because of your sacrifice for our sins. What a gift!