Highlights In Today's Reading:
Solomon makes great plans for the construction of the Temple. Check out how many years it took to build God's House and how many years to build his own palace. It came to pass in the . . . fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel . . . he began to build the House of the Lord. . . . And in the eleventh year . . . was the House finished (6:1,38).
Although the building was beautiful to behold, the real glory of the Temple was deep within. In like manner, the indwelling presence of Jehovah is the life and the inspiration of all who know Him as Savior and Lord. God desires to display His priceless gold, silver, and precious stones of love, joy, peace, and gentleness through every believer. The heaven of heavens is not able to contain Jehovah and yet He dwells within the heart of each believer. Solomon's Temple was not a large structure compared to some of today's massive worship centers. Its beauty was not in its intricate workmanship and the excessive costliness of its materials. Its true glory was in God's Presence in the Holy of Holies. The Temple was the only structure on earth ever to be the dwelling place of the Sovereign Creator and Holy God.
Solomon's Temple with all its gold was insignificant in comparison to the least Christian who is more precious to our Heavenly Father than all of earth's treasures. The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are (I Corinthians 3:17). The erection of the Temple paralleled spiritually the building of the believer's character, for we are as lively stones . . . built up a spiritual house . . . acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (I Peter 2:5). The erection of the Temple was a noiseless work for its massive stones were quarried and cut nearby. There was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the House, while it was in building (I Kings 6:7). This silence was the design of God and illustrates the unnoticed manner in which God carries on His purpose of grace within the Christian.
There is much noise and confusion in the world, but quietness and sweet harmony exist in the heart where Christ dwells. The hammers of contention or frustration should never be heard within any House of God.
Today every Christian is the Temple of God and His glory dwells within every believer. The miracle of the new birth and the indwelling Holy Spirit makes a clear distinction between the Christian and the unsaved, who cannot share in His glory.
God's indwelling presence is experienced by those who submit to Him. Just think! The God of Heaven lives within every Christian. In Christ ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit (Ephesians 2:22).
Christ as a Son over His own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end (Hebrews 3:6).
Thought for Today:
The beauty of our church doesn't mean true worship exists there. Only the presence of God brings real true Spirit-filled worship. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before Him, all the earth (Psalm 96:9).
Christ Revealed:
Through the Temple (I Kings 6). Christ is the true Temple (John 2:21). Through Christ all may have access to God (Romans 5:12-21). Through Him we . . . have access by one Spirit unto the Father (Ephesians 2:18).
Word Studies:
5:3 under the soles of his feet =could not build the Temple under his control; 5:4 evil occurrent =evil happenings, no one to oppose; 5:13 levy =forced labor; 6:2 a cubit =about 18 inches; 6:5 oracle =Holy of Holies. Oracle in I Kings 8:8-9 =inner sanctuary, location of the two tables of stone. God cannot be separated from His Word whether spoken or written; 6:38 month (of) Bul =October/November; 7:4 ranks =rows; 7:9 coping =the top, the highest course of stone; 7:14 cunning =skilled.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for The English International Shortwave Radio Broadcasts in honor of Maria Rosten • Staff: Mary Kay Wagner • Government Official: Rep. Fred Upton (MI) • Country: Malaysia (22.7 million) in Southeast Asia • Major languages: Malay and English • All Christian witness to Muslims is illegal • 58% Muslim; 23% Buddhist/Taoist/Chinese; 8% Christian; 6% Hindu; 5% Sikh/Animist/Other • Prayer Suggestion: Pray and fast in secret so that only the Lord knows (Acts 10:30).
Optional Reading: Acts 24
Memory Verse for the Week: James 1:22