1 Kings 7

Bible Passage:  1 Kings 7

Ever heard of the sound of hammer to chisel,
and the clanging sound of metal against metal,
or the chugging sound of machines working?
It all makes quite a noisy racket especially if it’s just next door,
but you know no hammer or chisel or any iron tool was heard
in the temple while it was being built (1 Kings 6:7).

So Solomon took seven years in building the temple.
Yesterday we looked at how the temple was built,
how the best materials were offered to build the house of the Lord,
and a lot of effort is given to detail as shared by thechosen.
It was a beautiful and glorious physical building if you imagine it,
but the real glory and holiness is at the heart of worship-within our hearts.

Though Solomon took thirteen years to build his own house,
while he only took seven years to build the holy temple of God,
because he proposed to start with the building God’s house first,
God blessed him because God came before all things.
It’s like everything in our lives starts with God,
and everything finds its purpose in Him (Col 1:16b).

Then King Solomon sent for Huram the craftsmen,
a bronze worker from Tyre,
filled with wisdom and understanding and skill in working
with all kinds of bronze work and he did all his work for Solomon.
Our life’s purpose is to serve God the way He made us,
therefore we must know what talents He gives us to serve Him.

So Huram set up two bronze pillars for the temple,
located in front of the temple and standing very tall.
The bronze was purified with fire and the pillars were hollow.
Two rows of pomegranates and shapes of lilies were on these pillars.
One pillar was called ‘Jachin’ and the other ‘Boaz’.

So what do these pillars mean for us?

These pillars are like us believers of the church (Rev 3:12).
as the pillars can be seen from afar we should bear witness for the Lord.
Purified and hollow, we need to undergo trials and be humble.
The pomegranates and lilies denote that we should bear much fruit–pure and humble.
‘Jachin’ meaning we need to rely on the Lord for strength,
and ‘Boaz’ meaning we need to rely on the Lord for power.

Then there were all the articles for the temple made of bronze,
the Sea and the oxen where the priests could wash,
and the ten carts and the ten lavers,
and pots, shovels and bowls-there was so many articles!
It might seem like a lot of things we must do for the Lord,
but it really all starts in our hearts.

It might be really busy or noisy in our lives right now,
but whatever it might be,
we still need to set a space and place for God.
Set aside some time to quieten down right now.
A point to ponder for today:

What am I doing to worship God?

Solomon built a temple for God…
Hurum offered his service…
I need to be more familiar with His words;
worship is far more than music or vain repetitions and routines.
prayer is a form of worship or it may be offering my help to others.
God is pleased with worship that is heartfelt and doctrinal.
To worship God with a pure and humble heart means,
being free of sin and having a clear conscience,
thinking about myself less and thinking more about Him and others.