The Temple Furnishings Completed
[ READ ] 1 Kings 6:14–38
38 And he made ten basins of bronze. Each basin held forty baths, each basin measured four cubits, and there was a basin for each of the ten stands. 39 And he set the stands, five on the south side of the house, and five on the north side of the house. And he set the sea at the southeast corner of the house.
40 Hiram also made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram finished all the work that he did for King Solomon on the house of the Lord: 41 the two pillars, the two bowls of the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars, and the two latticeworks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars; 42 and the four hundred pomegranates for the two latticeworks, two rows of pomegranates for each latticework, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars; 43 the ten stands, and the ten basins on the stands; 44 and the one sea, and the twelve oxen underneath the sea.
45 Now the pots, the shovels, and the basins, all these vessels in the house of the Lord, which Hiram made for King Solomon, were of burnished bronze. 46 In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarethan. 47 And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because there were so many of them; the weight of the bronze was not ascertained.
48 So Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of the Lord: the golden altar, the golden table for the bread of the Presence, 49 the lampstands of pure gold, five on the south side and five on the north, before the inner sanctuary; the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of gold; 50 the cups, snuffers, basins, dishes for incense, and fire pans, of pure gold; and the sockets of gold, for the doors of the innermost part of the house, the Most Holy Place, and for the doors of the nave of the temple.
51 Thus all the work that King Solomon did on the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, the silver, the gold, and the vessels, and stored them in the treasuries of the house of the Lord.
40 Hiram also made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram finished all the work that he did for King Solomon on the house of the Lord: 41 the two pillars, the two bowls of the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars, and the two latticeworks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars; 42 and the four hundred pomegranates for the two latticeworks, two rows of pomegranates for each latticework, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars; 43 the ten stands, and the ten basins on the stands; 44 and the one sea, and the twelve oxen underneath the sea.
45 Now the pots, the shovels, and the basins, all these vessels in the house of the Lord, which Hiram made for King Solomon, were of burnished bronze. 46 In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarethan. 47 And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because there were so many of them; the weight of the bronze was not ascertained.
48 So Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of the Lord: the golden altar, the golden table for the bread of the Presence, 49 the lampstands of pure gold, five on the south side and five on the north, before the inner sanctuary; the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of gold; 50 the cups, snuffers, basins, dishes for incense, and fire pans, of pure gold; and the sockets of gold, for the doors of the innermost part of the house, the Most Holy Place, and for the doors of the nave of the temple.
51 Thus all the work that King Solomon did on the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, the silver, the gold, and the vessels, and stored them in the treasuries of the house of the Lord.
1. God cares about the details of work done for Him.
Ten basins, ten stands, pots, shovels, bowls, lampstands, tongs, hinges, doors. Though far less dramatic than the killing of Adonijah, the details of the temple’s interior suggest that work offered to God does not have to be spectacular to matter. Hiram’s craftsmanship was part of worship just as surely as the priests’ sacrifices were. Paul writes in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
2. Preparation precedes worship.
Verses 38–40 emphasize the basins and implements required before the temple could function as intended. Before sacrifice, prayer, and celebration came an enormous amount of preparation. Someone had to cast the bronze, polish it, position it, and make the tools. Much of what enables worship happens before anyone sees it. Similarly, before Jesus shared the Passover with His disciples, Peter and John were sent ahead to make the necessary preparations. Luke 22:13 tells us, “They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.”
3. God is honored by both beauty and utility.
The temple contained magnificent gold lampstands and elaborate decorations, but also shovels, bowls, basins, and hinges. Some things were beautiful; some were simply necessary. All of them belonged in the house of God. This is reminiscent of what Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:20: “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.”
4. Finish what God has given you to do.
“Thus all the work that King Solomon did on the house of the LORD was finished.” Again, this brings to mind Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
- Jason Rimmer
Ten basins, ten stands, pots, shovels, bowls, lampstands, tongs, hinges, doors. Though far less dramatic than the killing of Adonijah, the details of the temple’s interior suggest that work offered to God does not have to be spectacular to matter. Hiram’s craftsmanship was part of worship just as surely as the priests’ sacrifices were. Paul writes in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
2. Preparation precedes worship.
Verses 38–40 emphasize the basins and implements required before the temple could function as intended. Before sacrifice, prayer, and celebration came an enormous amount of preparation. Someone had to cast the bronze, polish it, position it, and make the tools. Much of what enables worship happens before anyone sees it. Similarly, before Jesus shared the Passover with His disciples, Peter and John were sent ahead to make the necessary preparations. Luke 22:13 tells us, “They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.”
3. God is honored by both beauty and utility.
The temple contained magnificent gold lampstands and elaborate decorations, but also shovels, bowls, basins, and hinges. Some things were beautiful; some were simply necessary. All of them belonged in the house of God. This is reminiscent of what Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:20: “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.”
4. Finish what God has given you to do.
“Thus all the work that King Solomon did on the house of the LORD was finished.” Again, this brings to mind Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
- Jason Rimmer
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Do I strive for quality workmanship for the unseen work in my life as well as that which is seen and evaluated?
+ Do I strive for quality workmanship for the unseen work in my life as well as that which is seen and evaluated?
[ 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?
+ What work has been assigned to me that is unfinished? Have I prayed for the Master to make it clear to me what that work is?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What work has been assigned to me that is unfinished? Have I prayed for the Master to make it clear to me what that work is?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, help me to see and know the work you have for me. May I do it for your glory and honor as an act of praise and devotion. Show me how I may be useful in your work here among the people with whom I interact.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, help me to see and know the work you have for me. May I do it for your glory and honor as an act of praise and devotion. Show me how I may be useful in your work here among the people with whom I interact.
[ 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.
+ Is there a spiritual mentor with whom I could discuss this passage?
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.
+ Is there a spiritual mentor with whom I could discuss this passage?
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