Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule:
1 Kings 5-9
1 Kings 6-7 contain a great amount of details, many of them confusing. It is impossible to reconstruct the temple, except in broad outline. The author of 1 Kings wants to help us form in our minds an impression of the glory and splendor of this building that bears the name of the Lord. It is important to realize that the building itself was built following a God-given design. Nothing about this design was accidental. It was richly significant and symbolic of the requirements for approaching a holy God.
The temple was not an innovation but a culmination. It stands as one of the landmark events of Israel’s history, so important that its construction must be dated by the greatest event in Israel’s history. The project began in the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites had come out of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign. Most significantly, the temple connects the temple to the exodus. God intended to bring His people out of Egypt into a land of rest, but Israel’s sin meant there had been a long delay. Now the nation was at rest, and the temple was to become a reality. God is faithful to his promises.
Solomon assumed responsibility for producing the various objects made of gold. Solomon was probably the supervisor of this work, not the craftsman. Gold was in such abundance that we read of gold sockets for the doors(which must mean gold-plated, since gold itself would not be strong enough). All of this is intended to leave us breathless with the glory of the temple, a place worthy of the God who would place his name there. Only the finest is worthy of him! We, as Christians, need to remember this glory as we ponder that we, both as congregations and as individuals, are described as “God’s temple.”
Prayer Requests:
Personal
- Lord, please help me to live in such a way that my life will bring glory to your name.
- Lord, please help me to remember that your presence deserves holiness and purity of life.
- Lord, please help me to lead Faith Baptist Church so that your glory and majesty can be seen.
Political
- Representative Gregory Markkanen – District 110 – Hancock
- Senator Ed McBroom – District 038 – Vulcan
- Senator Sean McCann – District 020 – Kalamazoo