1 Kings 7-8
The Dedication of the Temple
Intro: One of the most unusual houses in the world is the “Winchester House” located in San Jose, California – 1922
A) The house was under construction for 40 years, and when they had stopped construction there was enough building materials left over to continue another 40 years....
B) The cost was $5 million a Huge amount in the early 1900’s
1) It had 2,000 doors... 1,500,000 panes of glass... 47 fire places... 150 rooms and there are no more than10 rooms on any given level
C) Every staircase has 13 steps...... Every hallway is exactly 2ft. wide
Many of the doors lead outside to a drop sometimes of 50ft.
1) There are over 4,000 buttons... Some with a function... but most do nothing
This home was constructed by a Mrs. Winchester... the wife of the man who had founded the Winchester guns.
A) After the death of her husband, she felt guilt over the deaths attributed to her husbands guns and became involved in the occult
B) She was told by a spirit that she would never die as long as she kept building the house... So she kept on building year after year.
C) Teddy Roosevelt came to visit the house during his presidency but she would not come out to meet the president and would not allow the president to come inside.... STRANGE
D) Yet she kept on building until she died- She spent ALL of her energies... All of her resources for NOTHING
1) The project that she poured her life into is NOTHING more than an ODDITY today {Guided tours – Halloween / Friday 13th Flashlight tours
Here in 1 Kings we have been looking at Solomon’s construction project
Building a temple for God – No expense spared
A) Ch. 6 ended by telling us it took seven yrs to Build
B) But as we come to v.1 of Chapter 7 – We have a brief interruption in the Story Here we learn that Solomon built another great house –
1) Palace for himself – again no expense spared {took 13 yrs
C) Why did it take him twice as long to build his own house?
D) I believe that at this time Solomon is at the height of his personal
relationship with the Lord.....
1) So that when he came to the building of the Temple, he had an
URGENCY to complete the house of the Lord
E) But when it came to his own house, Solomon had LITTLE URGENCY to complete it... Thus it took him almost TWICE as long.
1) Solomon had his Priorities right.
Solomon was being DILIGENT to take care of the Lord’s house FIRST and foremost
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
A) How about YOU and ME? Do we allow the Holy Spirit to search us out and then be able to say: “Lord, I am seeking FIRST your Kingdom”
B) IF you are putting YOUR house before God’s, THEN you will find your
life being frustrated and your house will be a monstrosity like Mrs.
Winchester’s
C) Solomon had his priorities right... And the Lord did indeed ADD to his life
I want to make a few Observations about the building of Solomon’s house before we move into Chapter 8 Dedication of the temple. RD v.1-8a
A) So much magnificent cedar wood from Lebanon was used to build Solomon's palace that they called it the "House of the Forest of Lebanon."
B) Walking in the richly paneled walls of the palace was like walking in a forest.
1) The forty-five pillars set in the House of the Forest of Lebanon also gave the impression of being in a majestic forest.
C) 1 Kings 10:16-17 mentions 500 gold shields that were hung in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Isaiah specifically called this building an armory in Isaiah 22:8.
V.8b-12 Solomon also made a house like this hall for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken as wife. All these were of costly stones cut to size, trimmed with saws, inside and out, from the foundation to the eaves, and also on the outside to the great court. The foundation was of costly stones, large stones, some ten cubits and some eight cubits. And above were costly stones, hewn to size, and cedar wood. The great court was enclosed with three rows of hewn stones and a row of cedar beams. So were the inner court of the house of the Lord and the vestibule of the temple.
Verse 8 - AFTER he had finished his house, he built house for his wife
A) As we read through this section we find that once he finished the house for his wife, he finished several civil buildings that were related to his ruling over Israel
B) NOTE; in this we see DIVINE ORDER in the life and affairs of man
1.) He built the Temple.... the place of worship {Focus first is on God’s Kingdom above all else.
C) IN the book of Haggai – The Lord rebuked the people of Israel – because they spent so much time energy and money in building their own homes
1) The temple of God – laid in ruins
D) God wants us to be KINGDOM MINDED!
2.) He built his own house
3.) He built his wife’s house
Important before I can minister to my wife I have to have to be built up – I have to have something in me to Give – Built up his house / Wife’s house
4.) He built his occupation
A) The Problem with a lot of men – this is the place where they want to start and only focus their occupation.
B) NOTE: We TALK a lot about priorities.... BUT - looking back on this last week, HOW did YOU measure up?
V.13 Now King Solomon sent and brought Huram from Tyre. He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a bronze worker; he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill in working with all kinds of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and did all his work.
Huram from Tyre: This man was half Israeli and half Gentile, and he was the best craftsman around. Solomon hired him to do all his work - that is, the fine artistic work of the palace and especially the temple.
A) This is something interesting to me in reading thru the word – Is how often the Lord makes a point to mention the names of Craftsmen.
B) He specifically mentions those who worked with their hands in making the Tab and its instruments in Exodus
C) Tells me two things – #1 those who work in Practical ways are of Value to the Lord
D) #2 – God is blessed when gifted people Craftsmen are using their gifts for his glory.
Now the rest of the Chapter gives us a detailed account of Huram’s work –
A) This also amazes me – why does the Lord take the time to tell us about all of the intricate details of building projects –
B) What was used? The design? The materials? Again stresses how the Lord is into details – into order
C) Teaches us that the Spirit filled and spirit led life is not a come-what-may kind of life. –
1) God is into detail and order –
D) There are times when He will ask us to step out in faith – but then he wants to order our steps along the way.
Prov 16:9 A man's heart plans his way, - But the LORD directs his steps.
Now I am going to let you read the details of Huram’s work on your own but before we move into Ch.8 – Notice one more thing.
A) V.21 – Two Pillars
21 Then he set up the pillars by the vestibule [ PORCH] of the temple; he set up the pillar on the right and called its name Jachin, and he set up the pillar on the left and called its name Boaz.
B) Two Pillars
1) The one on the right was given the name 'Jachin,' meaning 'He shall establish,' and the one on the left the name 'Boaz,' meaning 'in strength.' "
C) These two pillars were to be an ever-present reminder to each successive king of the fact that he was ruling by God's appointment and by his grace, and that in God lay his strength.
D) Just so ought believers today to be ever mindful of God's grace in their lives and of their utter dependence on him."
So Every time someone came to the house of the Lord in the days of Solomon they said, "Look! There is 'He Shall Establish.' And there is 'In Him Is Strength.'"
A) It set them in the right frame of mind to worship the Lord.
B) When the crowds gathered at the morning and evening sacrifice to worship the Lord, the Levites led the people standing in front of the temple with these two great, bronze pillars behind them.
C) It was always before them: He Shall Establish and In Him Is Strength.
1) Great things to be reminded of!
Ch.8 Time to dedicate the temple. Not open yet. RD V.1-13
Solomon waited 11mths to dedicate and open the temple. It was finished in the 8th month but it wasn’t opened to until the 7th month. 11 months later
A) Two reasons – One was " he chose this time with common respect to his people's convenience, because now they had gathered in all their fruits, and now they were come up to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of tabernacles."
B) 2nd Was many believe this was the Year of Jubilee – which made it very special
C) Solomon didn’t make the same mistake his Dad did yrs earlier bringing the Ark back to Jerusalem.
1) Solomon made sure that everything was transported the right way, by the Priest
Verse 10-11 is amazing – Once the Priest set things in order: God responded in a way to put his seal of approval on the project.
A) The Cloud represented God’s Glory – filled the temple – so much so that the priest could not continue to minister because of the Glory of the Lord
B) Awesome experience.
C) Lesson: God did not need the temple – There is no place that can contain him – But the temple needed God. It needed his Glory
1) The only thing that would make this building a bonafide House of God is that the Glory of God filled.
D) Without that it would only be a pretty building. – You only have to look at the many Dead Churches that fill Europe – Beautiful Buildings
1) Great Metropolitan Chapel in London – Beautiful Building – Spurgeon Preached there
Every Sunday 6,000 pp packed that Place to hear the Word – today maybe 100
E) Or Westminster Chapel – G Campbell Morgan – L. Jones – Incredible Bible Teachers/ Thousands gathered weekly to hear the Word – Today almost empty
1) Ichabod – the Glory has departed
F) What happened – what caused the Lord to remove his glory?
1) Simple – They forsook the teaching and the following of the Word of God.
It is God’s Presence in a Church that makes it the House of God
A) Place where His word is taught – His name is glorified – People are pointed to Him – God’s glory will be manifested in that kind of Place.
B) JN 15 In this the Father is Glorified that you Bear much Fruit!
C) At this point Solomon turns to speak to the People RD V.14-21
David had had it in his heart to build a temple for the name of the Lord – Although the Lord had not granted his desire – he did not ignore his longing.
A) God Credited David for his Desires!
B) Lesson: God graciously honors not only the accomplishments of our hands – but also the intentions of our hearts when they are submitted to His direction.
C) The Building of the temple was a testimony to the reality that the God of Israel is a God who keeps his Promises.
Next Solomon Prays – to the Lord RD V. 22-30
A) When Solomon begin his Prayer in v.22 Standing –ends it in v.54 Kneeling
B) That is what happens in the Presence of God – Humbled in his sight and glory
1) Good thing – God resist the proud but gives grace to the humble.
C) Solomon Begins his Prayer with Adoration – talking about the greatness of God
1) He cannot be contained in a temple made with hands
D) God who keeps His Promises!
E) This temple would be a place where God would hear the Prayers of his people
1) A place where the weary and the needy and the sinner can run for shelter, forgiveness and encouragement.
Beginning in v.31 Solomon describes those who might come seeking the Lord
A) In doing so – He reveals that the temple was a place for sinners to come and get right with God
B) His prayer reveals some of the effects of sin – as well as the sinner’s refuge in the Lord.
C) Picture of what the Church is to be.
31 "When anyone sins against his neighbor, STRIFE and is forced to take an oath, and comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this temple,32 then hear in heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked, bringing his way on his head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.
C) Sin causes STRIFE: But this was to be a place where Strife was dealt with – forgiveness and restoration was made. {James where do wars …….
33 "When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and when they turn back to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication to You in this temple, 34 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to their fathers.
Sin causes DEFEAT – Rebellion causes defeat
A) But when a sinner turns to the Lord in true REPENTENCE –
Forgiveness and restoration are the Result.
35 "When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them, 36 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.
Sin Causes Dryness in our souls –
A) But when a sinner turns to the Lord – in true repentance the HS rains down upon their life and refreshes them.
37 "When there is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is;38 whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple:39 then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men),40 that they may fear You all the days that they live in the land which You gave to our fathers.
Sin causes famine and Pestilence – Problem of all kinds
A) Notice how he puts this when each one knows the plague in his heart seeks you – Forgiveness is there
Further insight into the temples uses RD V. 41-43
A) A place where the foreigner can come to learn about God – Not just for Israel –
RD V. 44-45
A) Place where those who are going into Battle can find strength and confidence
RD V. 46- 53
Sin causes captivity –
Forgiveness and Freedom are the Result when the Sinner runs to the Lord in Repentance.
The Church is a place where Strife gets healed!
The Defeated get built up and restored
Those who are Dry get refreshed.
Those who are Hungry get fed.
Those who are Foreigners find a home and family.
Those who are in the Battle find strength and a refuge.
Those who are captives get set free.
The one Condition for experiencing the Lord’s touch in those areas is confessing and repenting of sin.
A) God is not interested in those who want to play Church – This people honors me with the mouths but their hearts are far
B) Nor is He interested in those who want to play Religion – all into the ritual and the Sacrifice
1) God says I prefer obedience over Sacrifice.
C) So the temple was a place for sinners to come and get right with God
1) That is the purpose of the Church as well.
RD V. 54-66 Wrap up