Solomon had a commission from his father, David, to build a temple for the Lord in Jerusalem. From the time of Moses until now, the Ark of the Covenant and the priests of the Lord served in a Tabernacle, a big tent. David wanted to build God a permanent house, but God had told him "no". Now, Solomon had been granted the privilege of building the house for the Lord.
II Chronicles 2:1- And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.
Solomon knew what the house would look like, and he also knew that he was going to need some very skilled workmen to make it just right.
II Chronicles 2:3-5,7-9- And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal with me. Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel. And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide. Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants, Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great.
Solomon sent to a friend of his father's and asked him to help with some skilled workmen and lumber. In return, Solomon would give him food for his house and some cities.
I Kings 5:7, 10-11- And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people. So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire. And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.
I Kings 5:17-18- And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.
II Chronicles 3:1- Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
Do you remember when the Lord sent the destroying angel to kill people because of David's sin? David bought a threshingfloor and offered sacrifices to the Lord to appease His wrath. This threshingfloor was the location that Solomon chose to build the temple. It was located in Mount Moriah.
I Kings 6:1, 11-14- And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD. And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying, Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father: And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel. So Solomon built the house, and finished it.
It took Solomon seven years to build the temple. It was a beautiful place! It had gold walls and stone floors. It had pillars with beautiful artwork weaved into curtains. There was a place for the Ark of the covenant and the wash basins. The altar was set on top of brass oxen. It was an amazing sight!
I Kings 7:51- So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the LORD.
II Chronicles 8:16- Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was perfected.
Solomon got everything exactly how it should be. Then he gathered the people together to bring the Ark of the Covenant from the Tabernacle to the Temple.
II Chronicles 5:2-3, 5- Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month. And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up.
So the priests carried the ark and the Levites brought the holy vessels. Once they got to the temple, they put it in a section called the Holiest of Holies. That's where the ark was to stay. It would be used once a year to sacrifice for the sin of the entire nation!
II Chronicles 5:10- There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.
The ark contained the stone tablets with the 10 commandments on them that Moses had received from the Lord on Mt. Sinai.
I Kings 8:10-11- And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.
God wanted to show Solomon that He accepted this temple. So He filled it with a cloud. Not a cloud like you see in the sky. This was a special cloud that was full of God's glory!
Solomon was so awe struck that he raised his hands to heaven, fell on his knees, and started praising the Lord. He then asked God to hear anyone who would pray towards this temple. This is important because that meant God would hear even if you weren't able to make it to the temple.
II Chronicles 7:1-3- Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house. And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
Do you think you'd be a little scared if you saw fire fall down from heaven? I would be. I bet the children of Israel were a little bit afraid, too!
I Kings 8:64-66- The same day did the king hallow the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings: because the brasen altar that was before the LORD was too little to receive the burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings. And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days. On the eighth day he sent the people away: and they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people.
The people sacrificed and feasted for 2 weeks to praise the Lord.
I Kings 9:1-3- And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do, That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon. And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
Just in case Solomon wasn't certain that the cloud of glory or the fire from heaven was God's consent, God appeared to Solomon in a dream again. He told Solomon that He heard his prayer and that His name would dwell in the temple.
He then warned Solomon that if he worshiped false gods that He would punish him and the nation of Israel. He said that if they turned from serving Him and worshiped idols that He would destroy that temple and put the whole nation in captivity in a foreign land. He also promised that He would bring them back to the Promised Land if they turned from their sins, repented, and started to worship Him again.
Malachi 3:6- For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
God still wants His children to worship only Him. Jesus told the devil that when Satan wanted Him to worship at his feet.
Luke 4:8- And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Jesus also warned us about trying to love God and the world.
Matthew 6:24- No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
You can't serve two separate things. You'll love and obey one more than the other! The children of Israel hadn't yet learned this lesson.
