Building the Lord's House
[ READ ] 1 Kings 6:1–13
Solomon Builds the Temple
1 In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the Lord. 2 The house that King Solomon built for the Lord was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. 3 The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long, equal to the width of the house, and ten cubits deep in front of the house. 4 And he made for the house windows with recessed frames. 5 He also built a structure against the wall of the house, running around the walls of the house, both the nave and the inner sanctuary. And he made side chambers all around. 6 The lowest story was five cubits broad, the middle one was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad. For around the outside of the house he made offsets on the wall in order that the supporting beams should not be inserted into the walls of the house.
7 When the house was built, it was with stone prepared at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was being built.
8 The entrance for the lowest story was on the south side of the house, and one went up by stairs to the middle story, and from the middle story to the third. 9 So he built the house and finished it, and he made the ceiling of the house of beams and planks of cedar. 10 He built the structure against the whole house, five cubits high, and it was joined to the house with timbers of cedar.
11 Now the word of the Lord came to Solomon, 12 “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. 13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel.”
1 In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the Lord. 2 The house that King Solomon built for the Lord was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. 3 The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long, equal to the width of the house, and ten cubits deep in front of the house. 4 And he made for the house windows with recessed frames. 5 He also built a structure against the wall of the house, running around the walls of the house, both the nave and the inner sanctuary. And he made side chambers all around. 6 The lowest story was five cubits broad, the middle one was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad. For around the outside of the house he made offsets on the wall in order that the supporting beams should not be inserted into the walls of the house.
7 When the house was built, it was with stone prepared at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was being built.
8 The entrance for the lowest story was on the south side of the house, and one went up by stairs to the middle story, and from the middle story to the third. 9 So he built the house and finished it, and he made the ceiling of the house of beams and planks of cedar. 10 He built the structure against the whole house, five cubits high, and it was joined to the house with timbers of cedar.
11 Now the word of the Lord came to Solomon, 12 “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. 13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel.”
As I read passages such as I Kings 6, there is a temptation to lose my way in the cubits, stones and cedar wood, and the recessed windows and the curiosity of the breadth of third story chambers being larger than the lowest story. God interrupts this construction narrative with a word for Solomon (verses 11-13). We find our heavenly Father is more interested in how Solomon will build and conduct his life than the temple he will spend seven years and a fortune building.
In verse 12 we find an “if you will… then I will…” promise from God. Notice the threefold pattern: if you will walk, obey, and keep my statutes, rules, and commandments. With this threefold “if,” God reinforces that Solomon is to commit to wholeheartedly follow his ways. Then God promises a threefold result of establishing his word, dwelling with him, and not forsaking. The dwelling with and not forsaking are promised not only to Solomon, but also to the people of Israel. Here God provides Solomon the key in answer to his prayer for wisdom in order to lead the people of Israel (I Kings 3). Solomon gets true wisdom; connect to my wisdom, just follow me. God’s conditional promise of his presence among his people foreshadows what we find so often in I and II Kings: as goes the king, so go the people.
- Gary Gunther
In verse 12 we find an “if you will… then I will…” promise from God. Notice the threefold pattern: if you will walk, obey, and keep my statutes, rules, and commandments. With this threefold “if,” God reinforces that Solomon is to commit to wholeheartedly follow his ways. Then God promises a threefold result of establishing his word, dwelling with him, and not forsaking. The dwelling with and not forsaking are promised not only to Solomon, but also to the people of Israel. Here God provides Solomon the key in answer to his prayer for wisdom in order to lead the people of Israel (I Kings 3). Solomon gets true wisdom; connect to my wisdom, just follow me. God’s conditional promise of his presence among his people foreshadows what we find so often in I and II Kings: as goes the king, so go the people.
- Gary Gunther
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What are some ways Solomon could have kept himself focused on God’s ways?
+ How can I keep myself focused on God’s ways?
+ Why does God not make building this temple a top priority? In addition to 1 Kings 6, see 2 Samuel 7.
+ What are some ways Solomon could have kept himself focused on God’s ways?
+ How can I keep myself focused on God’s ways?
+ Why does God not make building this temple a top priority? In addition to 1 Kings 6, see 2 Samuel 7.
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ In what ways or in what areas do I struggle to obey God? Is struggling with sin our lot in life or is there another way?
+ For a New Testament parallel see John 14:15-24 on the relationship of obedience, love and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ In what ways or in what areas do I struggle to obey God? Is struggling with sin our lot in life or is there another way?
+ For a New Testament parallel see John 14:15-24 on the relationship of obedience, love and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, help me to walk in your ways and to keep my eyes on you. May I delight to obey your commandments out of my deep and abiding love for you. When I wander, restore me and fill me with your Holy Spirit. May I be a light in this world to bring glory to you.
+ Pray with me:
Father, help me to walk in your ways and to keep my eyes on you. May I delight to obey your commandments out of my deep and abiding love for you. When I wander, restore me and fill me with your Holy Spirit. May I be a light in this world to bring glory to you.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ What story of obeying God and experiencing his blessing do you have that encourages you and would encourage others?
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ What story of obeying God and experiencing his blessing do you have that encourages you and would encourage others?
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