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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You told Solomon during the construction of the temple, “If you will walk in my statutes and obey my rules…I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel” (1 Kgs 6:11–13). This shows me that you cared more about the integrity of Solomon’s heart than the beauty of your temple. I praise you today as the God who desires most of all that His children love Him with all their hearts and follow faithfully in His ways. Hallelujah! Today in Your Word Today you told me about the beginning of the construction of your temple. The building of the temple is the story of a friendship between a Jew and a Gentile: Solomon and Hiram. They formed a partnership of mutual benefit, and the citizens of both their nations labored side-by-side to build your temple. Solomon proudly claimed you as his own, “the Lord my God,” and declared you to be “greater than all gods.” Hiram echoed this truth: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who made heaven and earth.” Even if he was only being polite, I’m sure he took notice of how you had blessed your people. This is what you always wanted Israel to be: a shining light of holiness and godliness to the surrounding nations. Oh that my life would be a beacon in the midst of a wicked and perverse generation! Solomon displayed the wisdom you had given him as construction began. “He drafted three times the number of workers needed for the project and arranged their schedules so they didn’t have to be away from home for more than a month at a time. This showed his concern for the welfare of his workers and the importance he placed on family life.”[1] It also reminds me that the strength of a nation depends on the strength of its families. The builders constructed the temple in reverent silence (“neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the house”), and they used only the finest materials (the gold overlay in the Most Holy Place was around 2 mm thick!). This teaches me the importance of honoring you with my best. Reflection There is a tendency in all of us to find satisfaction in the furnishings and fixtures of worship, but those who worship you must worship in spirit and in truth. Am I so caught up in the buildings and projects and doings of the Kingdom that I neglect the holiness of heart that you desire? Request Father, remind me that true success is not found in the physical things that I accomplish for your Kingdom, but in the integrity of my heart and the hearts of those to whom I minister. Thanksgiving Thank you for the promise that you will abide with those whose lives are in harmony with your Word. May my heart always be a temple of purity and piety for you! In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “Live Out Thy Life Within Me” — Frances R. Havergal. Meditation Verse: 2 Chronicles 2:5. |
[1] (Chronological Life Application Study Bible NLT. Tyndale House Publishers.)