Solomon's Palace Complex
[ READ ] 1 Kings 7:1–12
Solomon Builds His Palace
1 Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished his entire house.
2 He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was a hundred cubits and its breadth fifty cubits and its height thirty cubits, and it was built on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars. 3 And it was covered with cedar above the chambers that were on the forty-five pillars, fifteen in each row. 4 There were window frames in three rows, and window opposite window in three tiers. 5 All the doorways and windows had square frames, and window was opposite window in three tiers.
6 And he made the Hall of Pillars; its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth thirty cubits. There was a porch in front with pillars, and a canopy in front of them.
7 And he made the Hall of the Throne where he was to pronounce judgment, even the Hall of Judgment. It was finished with cedar from floor to rafters.
8 His own house where he was to dwell, in the other court at the back of the hall, was of like workmanship. Solomon also made a house like this hall for Pharaoh's daughter whom he had taken in marriage.
9 All these were made of costly stones, cut according to measure, sawed with saws, back and front, even from the foundation to the coping, and from the outside to the great court. 10 The foundation was of costly stones, huge stones, stones of eight and ten cubits. 11 And above were costly stones, cut according to measurement, and cedar. 12 The great court had three courses of cut stone all around, and a course of cedar beams; so had the inner court of the house of the Lord and the vestibule of the house.
1 Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished his entire house.
2 He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was a hundred cubits and its breadth fifty cubits and its height thirty cubits, and it was built on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars. 3 And it was covered with cedar above the chambers that were on the forty-five pillars, fifteen in each row. 4 There were window frames in three rows, and window opposite window in three tiers. 5 All the doorways and windows had square frames, and window was opposite window in three tiers.
6 And he made the Hall of Pillars; its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth thirty cubits. There was a porch in front with pillars, and a canopy in front of them.
7 And he made the Hall of the Throne where he was to pronounce judgment, even the Hall of Judgment. It was finished with cedar from floor to rafters.
8 His own house where he was to dwell, in the other court at the back of the hall, was of like workmanship. Solomon also made a house like this hall for Pharaoh's daughter whom he had taken in marriage.
9 All these were made of costly stones, cut according to measure, sawed with saws, back and front, even from the foundation to the coping, and from the outside to the great court. 10 The foundation was of costly stones, huge stones, stones of eight and ten cubits. 11 And above were costly stones, cut according to measurement, and cedar. 12 The great court had three courses of cut stone all around, and a course of cedar beams; so had the inner court of the house of the Lord and the vestibule of the house.
The first thing I noticed reading these verses is the fact that King Solomon spent 13 years working to build his own palace, while only 7 building the Lord’s temple. At first I thought to myself, Now, why couldn’t this have been the other way around so I could just write a good word about giving more time and effort to God first, and less to ourselves?
But then it struck me… Solomon wasn’t rushing through to get to his own glory, but had more urgency for God’s glory. It was dire that not only his people have a place to honor the Lord, but that his Lord God be given a house to dwell in as soon as possible. If I told my parents, for example, “Hey, Quentin and I want to build you a house near us so we can spend more time with you”, we wouldn’t be dilly dallying to get it done. If we want to give this gift in an effort to show our love, we would be doing it to the best of our ability, giving it all our time and effort, and trying to get it ready at the earliest convenience. Perhaps Solomon was willing to spend more time on his palace because when the Lord dwells with you, you don’t have to worry about providing for yourself. You can trust that the God of the Universe, who provides storehouses for the sparrows of the air, will provide a dwelling place for you in perfect timing as well.
Let us continue on in urgency and desperation to spread the name of Jesus. If we now are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, then His temple goes everywhere that we go. Step into every room you enter with that knowledge and confidence. Then remember that even if it takes 13 years (or so, so many more) to build your house, it was in a moment’s notice that He began to dwell in the temple that is the body He’s given you first.
- Danielle Parker
But then it struck me… Solomon wasn’t rushing through to get to his own glory, but had more urgency for God’s glory. It was dire that not only his people have a place to honor the Lord, but that his Lord God be given a house to dwell in as soon as possible. If I told my parents, for example, “Hey, Quentin and I want to build you a house near us so we can spend more time with you”, we wouldn’t be dilly dallying to get it done. If we want to give this gift in an effort to show our love, we would be doing it to the best of our ability, giving it all our time and effort, and trying to get it ready at the earliest convenience. Perhaps Solomon was willing to spend more time on his palace because when the Lord dwells with you, you don’t have to worry about providing for yourself. You can trust that the God of the Universe, who provides storehouses for the sparrows of the air, will provide a dwelling place for you in perfect timing as well.
Let us continue on in urgency and desperation to spread the name of Jesus. If we now are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, then His temple goes everywhere that we go. Step into every room you enter with that knowledge and confidence. Then remember that even if it takes 13 years (or so, so many more) to build your house, it was in a moment’s notice that He began to dwell in the temple that is the body He’s given you first.
- Danielle Parker
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ The word for for “costly” as it’s written in verses 9-11 is also translated as “precious”, “rare”, or “valuable” in English, though in the original text is the Hebrew word yaqar. This is the same word used in 1 Samuel 3:1 “the word of the Lord was rare (yaqar) in those days”, Psalm 116:15 “Precious (yaqar) in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints”, and many other places. What does it say that the Lord gave materials as precious as His thoughts towards us for Solomon to use in building his palace?
+ The word for for “costly” as it’s written in verses 9-11 is also translated as “precious”, “rare”, or “valuable” in English, though in the original text is the Hebrew word yaqar. This is the same word used in 1 Samuel 3:1 “the word of the Lord was rare (yaqar) in those days”, Psalm 116:15 “Precious (yaqar) in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints”, and many other places. What does it say that the Lord gave materials as precious as His thoughts towards us for Solomon to use in building his palace?
[ 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?
+ Where could you press on with deeper urgency to build the Lord’s house, trusting that He is building yours for you in due timing?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where could you press on with deeper urgency to build the Lord’s house, trusting that He is building yours for you in due timing?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, thank You for providing all that I need in the timing that I need it. There has never been a moment where You have been late, missing, or absent. I trust that if Your word says that You are dressing the lilies, providing for the sparrows, and care much more for me, then I don’t have to worry about the time it takes to get where You’re taking me. I love You, Lord. Help to focus on Your temple first and to trust the timing You have set aside for me. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, thank You for providing all that I need in the timing that I need it. There has never been a moment where You have been late, missing, or absent. I trust that if Your word says that You are dressing the lilies, providing for the sparrows, and care much more for me, then I don’t have to worry about the time it takes to get where You’re taking me. I love You, Lord. Help to focus on Your temple first and to trust the timing You have set aside for me. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.
[ 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.
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.
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