Today’s reading takes us back to Solomon’s narrative. Solomon builds the Temple! This has been a long time coming. The Temple is impressive—astounding!
Between 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles, we discover that nearly 200,000 people were employed over seven years to build a 90-foot-long, 30-foot-wide, and 45-foot-tall building. The foundation stones were quarried at a distance from the site, with some of the stones weighing over 500 tons. This building contained three levels, and the interior was overlaid in gold—over 23 tons of fine gold. There were intricate carvings. Only the finest wood and woodwork were used. In short, no building on this earth was as impressive as Solomon’s Temple. It was simply astounding!
Amidst these and many more mind-bending descriptions of the Temple, notice what God says to Solomon. “Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes and obey my rules and keep all my commandments and walk in them, then I will establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father. And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel.” (1 Kings 6:12–13, ESV) Not to pop Solomon’s balloon, but notice what mattered to God—obedience!
No temple, no matter how impressive and astounding, can substitute for obedience. We learned from Saul’s life that sacrifice could not substitute for obedience. God would dwell among His people, Temple or no Temple if they obeyed Him. What a lesson to highlight the importance of obedience in our lives. Do we look upon obedience to God with the same astonishment we had for this Temple?
Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from 1 Kings 5-6; 2 Chronicles 2-3.