Wed.’s Devo - God’s Temple

Read: 1 Kings 7:1-51; Acts 7:30-50; Psalm 128:1-6; Proverbs 16:31-33 It took Solomon seven years to build the temple and 13 to build his own house. Then, he built the House of Forests to look like a forest. It was made of cedar and had windows between the pillars so that you felt like you were outside. He also built the Hall of Pillars and a Hall of the Throne also known as the Hall of Judgment. He made another Hall of Judgment for the Pharaoh’s daughter who he had married. *** All of his buildings had their foundations of costly stones and their walls were made of cedar. *** Solomon sent for Hiram of Tyre whose mother was from the tribe of Naphtali and his father from Tyre. He was not the Hiram who was king of Tyre. This Hiram was skilled in working with bronze. He did all of Solomon’s bronze work. He made the casts for the pillars for the entrance into the Temple. They were huge and very ornate. The one on the south was named Jachin and the one on the north called Boaz. Jachin means ‘he will establish.’ Boaz means ‘in him is strength.’ *** Hiram also designed and made the sea which was the basin to hold the water so the priest could wash before and after they sacrificed. The sea sat on the backs of 12 bronze oxen. Three oxen faced north, three east, three south and three faced west. He made 10 stands with panels that had lions, oxen and cherubim carved on them. They were used to hold smaller basins were on wheels like a chariot. Five of them were set on the south side of the house and five on the north. *** Hiram also made pots and shovels. When his work was finished, he had made so many that they couldn’t keep account of their weight. *** Solomon also had made the vessels to be used in the Temple: the golden altar, the golden table for the bread of the Presence, the lamp stands - five for the south side and five for the north side and all the utensils needed for the Temple. *** When the work was finished, Solomon brought in all the silver, gold and vessels that David had dedicated to the Lord and put them in treasury rooms in the house of the Lord. *** In Acts, Stephen was in the middle of his history lesson. God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and told him to return to Egypt and deliver his people out of bondage. Stephen made it clear that the same people who had rejected Moses were the same people he was to save. He was making the point that it was the same with Jesus. They had rejected Jesus, but could still save them. *** Moses led them out of Egypt with signs and wonders and told them that God was going to raise up a prophet like him from among them. Moses, like Jesus, had gone up on a mountain and received God’s laws for the people. Jesus would go up on the mountain often to receive his commands from the Lord. While Moses was up on the mountain speaking with God, the people were down on the ground making a golden calf to take God’s place. They worshiped false gods throughout their walk in the wilderness, in spite of the fact that God had given them a tent of witness to worship him. *** Israel continued in this state till David arose who pleased the Lord and asked to build a dwelling place for God on earth. It was his son, Solomon who built the Temple. But, God doesn’t dwell in a building - the whole earth is his footstool. He is the creator of everything and is all-encompassing. *** Lord, thank you that your love is long-suffering and perfect. Thank you that you love us even when we reject you and your laws. May we faithfully follow you as your witnesses to the world. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who enables us to walk in righteousness and holiness.