TOPIC: “BUILDING THE

TEMPLE”
1 KINGS 5-8
These chapters record the fulfillment of God’s promise that Solomon would build a temple to
the glory of God ( 2 Sam. 7:12-16 and see Kings 8: 15-21). That this was a gigantic undertaking
for so young a king , it is not difficult to imagine ; but the Lord had given him assurance , and
Solomon trusted the Lord ( see 6 :11-14). The parallel passages are found in 1 Chr. 22 ; 2 Chr.
7.
1. PREPARATION – CH. 5
1. David was the man who started the entire project . God approved the project but made it clear that Solomon
would do the actual work . David had the plans ( 1 Chr. 28:11-21) and the costly materials all ready ( 1 Chr. 22:5
, 14-16) He encourage his son in the work and assured him that God would faithfully assist him ( 1 Chr. 28:1-
21).
2. Hiram the Gentile king of Tyre , agreed to supply the wood and the skillful men to do the work . Solomon in
turn paid him 130,000 bushels of wheat and 120 gallons of pure olive oil each year . See also 1 Kings 9 :10-14.
3. Israel provided the manpower through a part time enlistment or “ draft” . The heavy “ slave work “ was done
by the Canaanites , 150,000 of them ( 5:15 and 9:20-22); while 30,000 Jews did the other work “ in courses” .
There would be 10,000 a month on the job and then home for two months . This levy represented about
1/40th of the available men in the land , so it was not oppressive ; and the service was temporary.
• The building of the temple represented the co-operatives efforts of many people , both Jews and Gentiles . The
materials secured were the very finest : great and costly stones that would endure , and precious metals that
would give glory to the house . It reminds us of Paul’s admonition concerning the local church in 1 Cor. 3 that we
build with “ gold , silver , precious stones “ and not “ wood , hay , and stubble” ( 3:10-23) . While God does not
dwell in material temples today ( Acts 17:24) this is no reason why the work we do for Him should be cheap or
shoddy.
2. CONSTRUCTION - 6-7
• Please check your Bible Dictionary for the floor plan of the temple . You will note that the entire “ temple
area” included more buildings than the temple proper ( 7:1-12) . Solomon built the temple first: the project
required seven years (6:38) . Then he built the king’s house and the other structures and courts that made
up the temple area (9:10) the entire time was 20 years.
• It is not necessary to go into all the details of the construction of the temple . You will note that the
dimensions of the temple proper were double that of the tabernacle; so the temple itself was not a huge
structure . The temple were made of cut of stone , overlayed with wood , overlayed with gold , and
embellish with precious stones. In 6:7 we note that the stones were pre cut at the quarry and silently fitted
into place . The stonecutters were following God’s plans, so everything fit together . This is a good example
for Christian workers to follow today as we assist in the building of His Temple , The Church ( Eph. 2:19-22,
and see 1 Pt. 2:5-8) .
• The Temple was larger and more elaborate than the tabernacle . It was not a temporary tent with skins for
covering ; rather , it was not a magnificent stone building that could not be move . There were both
windows and a floor in the temple ( 6:4 and 6:15) ; both of these were lacking in the tabernacle . Solomon
added two cherubim to the holy of holies ( 6:23-30) and placed the ark under them . Instead of a dusty
outer court , the temple had a beautiful porch (7:1-12) with two pillars (13-22) called “Jachin”( He will
establish the house) and “Boaz“( In Him is strength) .
• Strength and stability belonged to the Lord , and now would belong to His people
as they settled in their land. Instead of the small laver , they made a large “molten
sea” ( 7:23-26) which stood upon twelve oxen . They also made ten portable brass
lavers (7 :27-39) to use throughout the temple area . We are told in 2 Chr. 4:1 that
the altar of brass was equal to the size to the holy of holies there were ten candle
sticks instead of one ( 2 Chr. 4:7-8) as well as the ten tables for the bread.
• The NT does not give us as much instruction as to the meaning of the temple as it
does the tabernacle . Some see the tabernacle as a picture of Christ in His
humility on earth , and the temple as a type of His present ministry in glory ,
building the “ Holy temple” of living stones. Or, the tabernacle typifies our pilgrim
life today , while the Temple ( a permanent building ) typifies the glorious reign
with Christ when He returns . It is too bad that the Jews trusted the presence of
their temple instead of the promises of the Lord ; for less than 500 years , this
temple was destroyed as the Jews went into captivity for their sins. In 6:11-13 ,
God reminded Solomon that the important thing was obeying His Word , not
building a great temple.
3. DEDICATION -8
• God filled the temple with His glory when the ark was brought in ( 1-11) . In later years
, Ezekiel would see that glory depart ( Ezek. 8-11) . Solomon addressed the people
( 12-21) and reminded them of God’s faithfulness to keep His promises . Then he
prayed to the Lord on behalf of his family (22-30) , those who sinned ( 31-40) , the
Gentile strangers ( 41 -43 ) , and the exiled nation (44-53) . The Key thought of his
prayer is that God might hear their cries and be merciful to them in spite of their sins .
Solomon makes it clear in his prayer that the condition of Israel’s heart was more
important than the presence of the temple . He knew that sin would bring chastening ,
but that repentance would bring forgiveness and blessing . It was more important to
dedicate the people than the building.
• Vss. 44-53 certainly did not come true ; for Israel was taken captive because of their
sins, and God brought them back to their land to rebuild their temple and serve God
again . This prayer and promise will also be fulfilled in this latter days as Israel goes
back to her land in unbelief.
• After the prayer , Solomon blessed the people ( 54-61) and exhorted them to have
their hearts right with God . Note the king is concerned that the other nations know
the truth of the Lord ( vs. 60, and see 41-43). It is too bad that Israel did not fulfill her
mission to take the truth to the Gentiles. The celebration lasted 14 days (65) , with the
first week taken up with sacrifices , feast , and the official dedication ceremonies . In
the second week , the people went back to their tents to rejoice in the Lord . In 9:1-9 ,
God appeared to Solomon to remind him that with his privileges came great
responsibilities : that He would establish his throne forever if the people followed the
Lord in obedience ; but He would cut of the nation if they sinned . Unfortunately , the
nation lapsed into sin and unbelief , and the prophecy 9:6-9 came true. The beautiful
and costly temple was plundered and destroyed in 586 BC when the Babylonian took
the people captive
• God originally dwelt in the tabernacle ( Ex. 40:34) , then Solomon’s temple . The glory
of God then came to earth in the Person of Jesus Christ ( 1:12-14) . Today , every true
Christian is the temple of God ( 1 Cor. 6:19) as is the Church collection ( Eph. 2:21) .
There will be a future Jewish temple during the tribulation period (2 Thess. 2:1-12) in
which the Anti Christ will demand worship. There will also be a glorious temple during
the thousand year reign of Christ. ( Ezek. 40-48).