1 Kings Chapter 7

We ended last chapter with Solomon finishing the building of the temple of God.

And start this chapter with details of Solomon’s personal house and other buildings before returning to further details of things that Solomon had done for the temple.

How many years did Solomon take to build the temple? And how many years did he take to build his own house?

I am sure like many, we are immediately drawn to the contrast of 7 years and 13 years.

Does that mean Solomon esteemed the building of his own house above that of God’s? Or did it mean that he focused most of his attention on building God’s temple that resulted in his house taking a much longer time to be built? What do you think?

But I want to focus on what was almost a footnote that was almost lost amidst of all the splendour and beauty of what was done for the temple.

We read about how Solomon got Huram, the master craftsman from Tyre to add to the majesty of the temple. Huge bronze pillars with intricate detailing. Sea and oxen, carts and lavers… and all the other furnishings of gold. And when all was done, the chapter ended with this:

So all the work that King Solomon had done for the house of the Lord was finished; and Solomon brought in the things which his father David had dedicated: the silver and the gold and the furnishings. He put them in the treasuries of the house of the Lord.

~ 1 Kings 7:51 ~

If we had read this chapter quickly, we would have almost missed this one detail. Solomon brought in the things which his father David had dedicated into the treasuries of the house of the Lord.

Almost lost in the greatness of Solomon’s wealth and possessions being used for the temple of God, we have the gold and silver that David had prepared long ago for the day that the temple of God, that he longed to build, was completed.

³ Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold and silver:

~ 1 Chronicles 29:3 ~

Now, I am very sure that the artefacts that David had prepared was not fantastic as compared to what Solomon had put into the temple.

But here we have a great example, not just to Solomon but to us, of how to cheerfully give to God and prioritized thanksgiving to God with his material possessions.

Remember what Jesus said to His disciples?

¹⁹ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

~ Matt 6:19-21 ~

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

David’s heart was clearly in God and with God. And so when he became king, he did not think about enjoying his wealth and possessions. Instead, he kept his treasures for the house of God. His treasure was for where his heart was.

What about us today? Can we say the same?

Are our investments heaven-centred or our treasures surround us in this world instead?

Since all treasure we store in heaven is safe from moth, rust and thieves but all treasure on earth will one day disappear, should not our hearts be more focused on heaven?

I recently heard this beautiful Christian song “Where Your Treasure Is” and just want to share it.

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