Preparations to Build the Temple
[ READ ] 1 Kings 5:1–18
Preparations for Building the Temple
1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram always loved David. 2 And Solomon sent word to Hiram, 3 “You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. 4 But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune. 5 And so I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord said to David my father, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.’ 6 Now therefore command that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. And my servants will join your servants, and I will pay you for your servants such wages as you set, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”
7 As soon as Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the Lord this day, who has given to David a wise son to be over this great people.” 8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message that you have sent to me. I am ready to do all you desire in the matter of cedar and cypress timber. 9 My servants shall bring it down to the sea from Lebanon, and I will make it into rafts to go by sea to the place you direct. And I will have them broken up there, and you shall receive it. And you shall meet my wishes by providing food for my household.” 10 So Hiram supplied Solomon with all the timber of cedar and cypress that he desired, 11 while Solomon gave Hiram 20,000 cors of wheat as food for his household, and 20,000 cors of beaten oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year. 12 And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.
13 King Solomon drafted forced labor out of all Israel, and the draft numbered 30,000 men. 14 And he sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in shifts. They would be a month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the draft. 15 Solomon also had 70,000 burden-bearers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hill country, 16 besides Solomon's 3,300 chief officers who were over the work, who had charge of the people who carried on the work. 17 At the king's command they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones. 18 So Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the men of Gebal did the cutting and prepared the timber and the stone to build the house.
1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram always loved David. 2 And Solomon sent word to Hiram, 3 “You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. 4 But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune. 5 And so I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord said to David my father, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.’ 6 Now therefore command that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. And my servants will join your servants, and I will pay you for your servants such wages as you set, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”
7 As soon as Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the Lord this day, who has given to David a wise son to be over this great people.” 8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message that you have sent to me. I am ready to do all you desire in the matter of cedar and cypress timber. 9 My servants shall bring it down to the sea from Lebanon, and I will make it into rafts to go by sea to the place you direct. And I will have them broken up there, and you shall receive it. And you shall meet my wishes by providing food for my household.” 10 So Hiram supplied Solomon with all the timber of cedar and cypress that he desired, 11 while Solomon gave Hiram 20,000 cors of wheat as food for his household, and 20,000 cors of beaten oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year. 12 And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.
13 King Solomon drafted forced labor out of all Israel, and the draft numbered 30,000 men. 14 And he sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in shifts. They would be a month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the draft. 15 Solomon also had 70,000 burden-bearers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hill country, 16 besides Solomon's 3,300 chief officers who were over the work, who had charge of the people who carried on the work. 17 At the king's command they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones. 18 So Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the men of Gebal did the cutting and prepared the timber and the stone to build the house.
One of the most striking aspects of the Temple construction’s preparation period is the emphasis the author of 1 Kings places on the quality of the materials that Solomon procures for the Temple. The cedars of Lebanon were known for their outstanding quality. As far as building materials went – this truly was as good as it got. So Solomon procures cedars from Lebanon.
He does not stop there. Solomon takes his reverent desire for perfect craftmanship a step further – he enlists the aid of Hiram, the king of Tyre, and the Sidonians, who were Hiram’s subjects. Why?
Solomon humbly answers that question for us himself in his entreaty to Hiram: “there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”
It is not enough for Solomon that the timber is of the highest quality. Every aspect of this project must emanate excellence. This was, after all, a temple for the Most High God.
Verse 17 is the ultimate presentation of Solomon’s instinct for reverent excellence. “At the king's command they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones.” One expositor reads this verse as follows: “He would do everything like himself, generously, and therefore would have some of the costliest stones laid, or buried rather, on the foundation – though, being out of sight, worse might have served.”
Even the largely hidden foundation received great, costly, carefully worked stone! Solomon did not reserve costly craftsmanship only for the visible portions of the Temple. Clearly, Solomon is not doing this work for the praise of man, but for the glory of God – why else would one expend this sort of time-consuming and expensive masonry on a foundation that would lay buried and inaccessible until the day the Temple was toppled in 586BC?
In Solomon’s reverent service, we see an image of the gospel church. Christ, our foundation, is an elect and precious stone. Upon this stone, we build our structure of hope, our worship, our service. With Christ, then, as our precious foundation, let our hands and feet produce works that are reverently excellent – regardless of their prominence in the eyes of man.
- Kidus Kebede
He does not stop there. Solomon takes his reverent desire for perfect craftmanship a step further – he enlists the aid of Hiram, the king of Tyre, and the Sidonians, who were Hiram’s subjects. Why?
Solomon humbly answers that question for us himself in his entreaty to Hiram: “there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”
It is not enough for Solomon that the timber is of the highest quality. Every aspect of this project must emanate excellence. This was, after all, a temple for the Most High God.
Verse 17 is the ultimate presentation of Solomon’s instinct for reverent excellence. “At the king's command they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones.” One expositor reads this verse as follows: “He would do everything like himself, generously, and therefore would have some of the costliest stones laid, or buried rather, on the foundation – though, being out of sight, worse might have served.”
Even the largely hidden foundation received great, costly, carefully worked stone! Solomon did not reserve costly craftsmanship only for the visible portions of the Temple. Clearly, Solomon is not doing this work for the praise of man, but for the glory of God – why else would one expend this sort of time-consuming and expensive masonry on a foundation that would lay buried and inaccessible until the day the Temple was toppled in 586BC?
In Solomon’s reverent service, we see an image of the gospel church. Christ, our foundation, is an elect and precious stone. Upon this stone, we build our structure of hope, our worship, our service. With Christ, then, as our precious foundation, let our hands and feet produce works that are reverently excellent – regardless of their prominence in the eyes of man.
- Kidus Kebede
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What is the significance of verse 12, and its placement directly after a description of Solomon’s excellent display of diplomacy?
+ Reread verse 7. Notice that this is Hiram, a gentile, glorifying God. Why do we think Hiram chooses to recognize the power of the one true God?
+ What is the significance of verse 12, and its placement directly after a description of Solomon’s excellent display of diplomacy?
+ Reread verse 7. Notice that this is Hiram, a gentile, glorifying God. Why do we think Hiram chooses to recognize the power of the one true God?
[ 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?
+ Verse 17 highlights a beautiful concept – faithfulness before God when people are not watching. Are you faithful in your daily work? Does your daily rhythm glorify God? Do you show up to work on time – even if your boss isn’t watching? Do you turn a blind eye when your colleagues struggle, or do you extend a hand of help – regardless of whether leadership recognizes your efforts?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Verse 17 highlights a beautiful concept – faithfulness before God when people are not watching. Are you faithful in your daily work? Does your daily rhythm glorify God? Do you show up to work on time – even if your boss isn’t watching? Do you turn a blind eye when your colleagues struggle, or do you extend a hand of help – regardless of whether leadership recognizes your efforts?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God – have mercy on me, a sinner. Help me glorify you in all that I do, regardless of the work’s prominence in the eyes of man. I know that faithful stewardship of the resources that you have given me – including, but not limited to, my talents, monetary resources, time, and mental bandwidth – glorifies your holy name. Help me produce excellent things with the abilities and resources you have given me. Amen.
+ Pray with me:
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God – have mercy on me, a sinner. Help me glorify you in all that I do, regardless of the work’s prominence in the eyes of man. I know that faithful stewardship of the resources that you have given me – including, but not limited to, my talents, monetary resources, time, and mental bandwidth – glorifies your holy name. Help me produce excellent things with the abilities and resources you have given me. 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.
+ What are some ways that we can glorify God in our daily rhythms? This doesn’t have to be something that is explicitly church or ministry connected – every avenue of your life can be excellently stewarded for the glory of God!
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 are some ways that we can glorify God in our daily rhythms? This doesn’t have to be something that is explicitly church or ministry connected – every avenue of your life can be excellently stewarded for the glory of God!
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