Sermon - Audio1 Kings 7, 2 Chronicles 4 - Audio
1 Kings 7, 2 Chronicles 4 - Reading
Daily Insights - Please Comment
Today's readings record the building of the Solomon's palace and decoration the temple built to YHWH. The reading is a bit tedious, but very visual in places. Pay special attention to the artistic furnishing of the place.
Fun Fact: Isaac Newton studied and wrote extensively upon the Temple of Solomon. He dedicated an entire chapter of The Chonology of Ancient Kingdoms to his observations regarding it. Newton was intrigued by the temple's sacred geometry and believed that it was designed by King Solomon with privileged eyes and divine guidance.
Note: There is a lot of overlap, so I will not provide separate notes on the two chapters.
1 Kings 7.1-12 Solomon builds his palace.
It takes almost twice as long for Solomon to build his palace as it did the temple. Remember that chapter divisions didn't occur until medieval times so 1 Kings 6.38 would read right next to 7.1. This may be a subtle critique of Solomon's priorities. “He built the temple in seven years, but as for his own house, he built it thirteen years and completed all of it (literally).” The royal complex, which comprised of several building, appears to be considerably larger than the temple. The “House of the Forest of Lebanon” ie the palace treasury and armory is alone larger than the temple. We also hear about an entire palace built especially for Pharaoh's daughter whom he had married. “This text raises some questions about Solomon's worldly ambition. It is a reflection of the vanity of Solomon and the dangerously compromising character of his reign (New Interpreters Bible Commentary.”
1 Kings 7.13-51 and 2 Chronicles 4: Solomon builds the temple
Bronze Pillars:
pomegranates (on top of the pillars): symbol of fertility. God is the God of our whole person: including our sexuality.
Lilly (on the top of the pillars): a symbol of beauty. We find references to lilies in Song of Songs. In his excellent book Simply Christian,NT write points to the beauty we see around us as an echo of God.
Sea of cast metal: a large metal basin designed to contain water, representing the forces of chaos subdued and brought to order by the Lord, who is Creator of the world
Movable Stands: evidently used to cut up sacrificed animals. This explains their very “animal” decorations. The lion and the bull are symbols of nobility and strength.
Palm trees (on the stands): represent victory.
Hiram from Tyre: an interesting thing to think about is that wile account of the work of Hiram for the temple parallels to some extent that of the work of Bezalel for the tabernacle (Ex. 36–38), and we are doubtless intended to note the broader parallel between the construction of the tabernacle and the building of the temple. However, while the tabernacle and its equipment were commanded in detail by God (Ex. 25–27, especially 25:9), no such claim is made here for the temple or its furnishings. (New Bible Commentary)
Make sure to read this passage alongside Stephen's sermon in Acts 7.47-48: But it was Solomon who built a house for him. “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.” Paul also calls the church (not the building) God's temple in several places. 1 Corinthians 3.16: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” This is far more profound than the most luxurious building of gold, bronze, and cedar.
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