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"Glory
Fills The Temple" • 12.11.16 • Calvary Christian
Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- Our study last week concluded with the
summary of Solomon's activity related to the Temple. He was seven years in
building it. Chapter 7:1.
Text
• I Kings 7:1 : "But Solomon took
thirteen years to build his own house; so he finished all his house." :
The first word of chapter 7,
translated "but," can also be translated "and" providing us
with the perfect microcosm of the ambiguity that Solomon's life presents us
with!
- If the author's intent was to use the word
"and," this would be a matter of sequence. However, if he meant to
employ "but," we have a matter of contradiction.
- Either way, it took him twice as long to
complete his own house than it did the Temple of God. There are several
reasonable explanations, beginning with the dedicated Temple workforce.
- Nearly half a million men were attached to it
and there were set plans that God gave to Solomon that he adhered to. When it
came to his own house, he was unrestricted.
- Aside from these considerations, this verse
presents us with a certain imbalance in Solomon's life. I keep hearing the
Spirit say, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also!"
- Solomon's personal investment of time is more
telling than he would probably feel comfortable expressing. What would your
time expenditure reveal? What about your finances?
- We might claim a deep abiding love for the
Lord but do our actions contradict our statements? Solomon's actions thus far are
not clearly displaying a love priority for the Lord.
- If anything, he certainly gained a love for
construction. I'll let you read verse 2-12
on your own. When you do, you'll learn of four building projects that Solomon completed.
- Verses 2-5
describe the House of the Forest of Lebanon, named for the amount of cedar that
was used. Verse 6 speaks of the Hall
of Pillars. Verse 7 seven speaks of
the Hall of Judgment.
- Verse 8
tells us that he had a replica of the Hall Of Judgment made inside his own home
and then another one for Pharaoh's daughter to live in.
- Verses 9-12
detail the process of the stone work that Solomon's workers employed. In
every project, the greatest attention to detail was observed and no corner was
cut. Verse 13.
• I Kings
7:13,14 : "Now King Solomon sent and brought Huram from Tyre. He was the son of a widow from the
tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a bronze worker; he was
filled with wisdom and understanding and skill in working with all kinds of
bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and did all his work." : Huram was half Jewish, but a full metal smith worker, thanks to
his Phonecian Father.
-
It's interesting to me that Huram's pedigree is revealed. The Spirit of God
leaves this for us.
-
This young man did not have the best start. His parents were mixed in terms of
their relationship to God. Here he is, in the pages of scripture, responsible
for remarkable service to God.
-
When it came to working with bronze, he was full of wisdom, understanding and
skill. Whatever gifting he had naturally, had been turned into expert skill.
-
Solomon wouldn't trust the work of the Temple to anyone less. Huram was the
best.
-
How did Solomon find out about him? Proverbs
18:16 tells us that "a man's
gift makes room for him and brings him before great men!" Perhaps
Solomon was thinking of Huram.
-
When God gave the plans for the Tabernacle, He also gave men to Moses with
similar qualifications. Bezelel and Aholiab were men of understanding. (Exodus 36:1)
-
When God calls a person to a ministry or to a great work, He also grants gifted
men and women to fulfill the work!
-
Today, in this church age, God has called and equipped similarly gifted people
to complete His work. You are the ones who are being prepared for every good
work of service.
-
I can't help but wonder if Huram ever thought of quitting or at least cutting a
few corners. I wonder how many pieces of bronze lay in his workshop that had
been deemed worthless.
-
And yet, when he received the call, It was his perseverance in perfecting his
craft that set him apart from other artisans of the time! I believe there is an
application for us.
-
Treat every ministry opportunity that you have with the same kind of respect
and the King will eventually come calling on you to serve Him! Verse 15 explores Huram's first works.
•
I Kings 7:15-22 : "And he cast two pillars of bronze,
each one eighteen cubits high, and a line of twelve cubits measured the
circumference of each. Then he made two capitals of cast bronze, to set on the tops of
the pillars. The height of one capital was five cubits, and the height of the
other capital was five cubits. He made a lattice network, with wreaths of chainwork, for the
capitals which were on top of the pillars: seven chains for one capital and
seven for the other capital. So he made the pillars, and two rows of pomegranates above the
network all around to cover the capitals that were on top; and thus he did for
the other capital. The
capitals which were on top of the pillars in the hall were in the shape of
lilies, four cubits. The capitals
on the two pillars also had pomegranates above, by the convex surface which was
next to the network; and there were two hundred such pomegranates in rows on
each of the capitals all around. Then he set
up the pillars by the vestibule of the temple; he set up the pillar on the
right and called its name Jachin, and he set up the pillar on the left and
called its name Boaz. The tops of
the pillars were in the shape of lilies. So the work of the pillars was finished." : These two pillars stood 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference!
They are as stunning as they are massive.
-
They were placed at the entrance of the Temple and were given the names Jachin and
Boaz.
-
Jachin means "He will establish," and Boaz means, "strength."
Those that would come into the presence of God to worship, would be established
in strength.
-
Tradition has it that the capitals on the top of the pillars were filled with
oil and lit like torches in the night. If that is the case, we are left with a
wonderful picture.
-
Those that come into the house of God, who are established in the strength of
the Most High, will shine forth with the power of the Holy Spirit!
•
I Kings 7:23-26 : "And he made the Sea of cast bronze,
ten cubits from one brim to the other; it was completely round. Its height was
five cubits, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference. Below its brim were ornamental buds
encircling it all around, ten to a cubit, all the way around the Sea. The
ornamental buds were cast in two rows when it was cast. It stood on twelve oxen: three looking toward the north,
three looking toward the west, three looking toward the south, and three
looking toward the east; the Sea was set upon them, and all their back parts
pointed inward. It was a handbreadth thick;
and its brim was shaped like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It
contained two thousand baths." : Huram's
second work was the Sea of Bronze which was a very large water basin. It was 15
feet in every direction, nearly 8 feet deep and 3 inches thick.
-
When it was full, it held 11,000 gallons of water! An average pool today holds
about 13,000 gallons of water!
-
It stood on the backs of these 12 bronze carved oxen, which suspended the Sea
in air.
-
These giant details were awe-inspiring, but as you looked closer, you'd see the
inside decorated as well! Nothing was done simply for the sake of function.
-
In nearly every verse, you find function and beauty linked together! Why was
the brim shaped like the brim of a lily blossom? Because that is what God put
into the mind of Huram.
-
There isn't any doubt that there were certain parts of the plan that were
scripted. But you can't deny a person's creativity!
-
Huram had to love the ability to put his own creative stamp on the Temple
furnishings. God's people are never limited to form and function.
-
The best serve the Lord with as much of their personality as possible! Verse 27.
•
I Kings 7:27-40a : "He also made ten carts of bronze;
four cubits was the length of each cart, four cubits its width, and three
cubits its height. And this was the design of the carts: They had panels, and the
panels were between frames; on the panels that were between the frames were lions, oxen, and
cherubim. And on the frames was a pedestal on top. Below the lions and oxen
were wreaths of plaited work. Every cart had four bronze wheels and axles of bronze, and its
four feet had supports. Under the laver were supports of cast bronze beside
each wreath. Its
opening inside the crown at the top was one cubit in diameter; and the opening
was round, shaped like a pedestal, one and a half cubits in outside diameter;
and also on the opening were engravings, but the panels were square, not round. Under the panels were the four
wheels, and the axles of the wheels were joined to the cart. The height of a
wheel was one and a half cubits. The workmanship of the wheels was like the workmanship of a
chariot wheel; their axle pins, their rims, their spokes, and their hubs were
all of cast bronze. And there were four supports at the four corners of each cart;
its supports were part of the cart itself. On the top of the cart, at the
height of half a cubit, it was perfectly round. And on the top of the cart, its
flanges and its panels were of the same casting. On the plates of its flanges and on
its panels he engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, wherever there was a
clear space on each, with wreaths all around. Thus he made the ten carts. All of
them were of the same mold, one measure, and one shape. Then he made ten lavers of bronze;
each laver contained forty baths, and each laver was four cubits. On each of
the ten carts was a laver. And he put five
carts on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house.
He set the Sea on the right side of the house, toward the southeast. Huram made the lavers and the shovels and the bowls." : The bronze carts are for carrying water to and from the Bronze
sea.
-
They were 6 feet long, 6 feet wide and 4 feet tall. The author goes into such
detail because as he observed them, they were not simple in any way.
-
These were creative engineering feats of his day and he shares with you out of
an admiration for the craft that Huram was displaying.
-
You and I might be tempted to say, "Let's just get some run of the mill
carts for transporting water. What's the big deal!?"
-
But when you have something that's to be done for the house of the Lord, that
won't do! I adjure you, when it comes to the things of the Lord, to avoid an
uninspired effort.
-
Huram engraved things of beauty upon the cart, so that the closer you looked,
the more your were stunned at the craftsmanship. "Look at those lions,
oxen and cherubim!"
-
The carts carried the water to the five bronze stations on either side of the
house and were used for the ceremonial washings that the priests had to
observe. Verse 40b.
•
I Kings 7:40b-47 : "So Huram finished doing all the
work that he was to do for King Solomon for the house of the Lord: the two pillars, the two
bowl-shaped capitals that were on top of the two pillars; the two networks
covering the two bowl-shaped capitals which were on top of the pillars; four hundred pomegranates for the
two networks (two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two
bowl-shaped capitals that were on top of the pillars); the ten carts, and ten lavers on
the carts; one Sea,
and twelve oxen under the Sea; the pots, the shovels, and the bowls. All these articles which Huram made
for King Solomon for the house of the Lord were of burnished bronze. In the plain of Jordan the king had them cast in clay
molds, between Succoth and Zaretan. And
Solomon did not weigh all the articles, because there were so many; the weight
of the bronze was not determined." : Huram
began this project and saw it through to the end!
-
Look at this list. We've read it all and are still provided with a summary. You
and I are definitely straining at the question. "Why did you leave this
here for us Lord?"
-
I bet Huram is happy that it's here! I bet he's ecstatic that the Lord records
it all for us!
-
Doesn't it make you think, that if God took the time to recognize all of these
details of Huram's work, that He might do the same with regard to what you do
for Him!?
-
Nothing is insignificant. Nothing is forgotten by God! Keep that in mind as you
serve Him!
-
As with the gold, so with the bronze. The amount of gold and bronze used in the
Temple's construction was unfathomable.
-
There was neither a way nor a desire to weigh it out! When you are doing
something for the Name of the Lord God, it really seems to be the message that
no expense should deter you.
-
And neither should the difficulty of the task! Did you notice where the bronze
had been initially cast? In the area of Succoth and Zaretan.
-
This area was north of Jerusalem and west of the Jordan river. It's very near
the area where the Jordan river was stopped up for the people of Israel to
cross over into Canaan.
-
The materials were purchased in that area and assembled there, and then they
carried these incredibly heavy bronze works up into the highest point of
Israel! What a feat!
•
I Kings 7:48-51 : "Thus Solomon had all the
furnishings made for the house of the Lord: the altar of gold, and the table of gold on which was the
showbread; the
lampstands of pure gold, five on the right side and five on the left in front
of the inner sanctuary, with the flowers and the lamps and the wick-trimmers of
gold; the
basins, the trimmers, the bowls, the ladles, and the censers of pure gold; and
the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner room (the Most Holy Place)
and for the doors of the main hall of the temple. So all the work that King Solomon had
done for the house of the Lord was finished; and Solomon brought in the things which his
father David had dedicated: the silver and the gold and the furnishings. He put
them in the treasuries of the house of the Lord." : The author completes this
section with the articles that were directly related to the worship of the
Lord.
-
These items were not made by Huram, but were commissioned by Solomon for the
inside of the house. The altar of gold is not to be confused with the brazen
altar where sacrifices took place.
-
This was the altar of incense which filled the house with the scent that would
come to represent the prayers of the saints.
-
The table of gold for the showbread is counted here as a singular table, but
was in fact 10 tables according to II
Chronicles 4:8.
-
The bread of the presence was laid here on a weekly basis, symbolizing
communion between God and His priests. The bread, like our fellowship with God,
was to remain fresh.
-
If your walk with the Lord has grown stale, it might be wise to consider why
that is the case? Begin by noting what is different about your habits or
friendships because it's not God's fault!
-
It is quite the picture, as God could certainly inbue the bread with a quality
of perpetual "freshness," but He does not. It is the priest who is to
continually change out the bread.
-
It is our duty to keep our hearts and lives sensitive, fresh, unto the Lord
God!
-
Finally, he notes that there were 10 lampstands divided equally along the sides
of the inner sanctuary, which provided just enough light for the priests to
work by.
-
These lamps wouldn't provide a flood type light, but the priests could easily
mark their steps by the light that was provided. As the day grew dark, that
light would be all the more sufficient!
-
What a great illustration for us! God grants us just enough light that we may
walk with Him. When the days grow more and more dim because of wickedness, His
light shines with greater clarity!
-
Everything else that was made, from the wick trimmers to the censers to the
hinges, was made of gold. Whatever had been left of David's treasury was
brought into the house of the Lord.
•
I Kings 8:1-9 : "Now Solomon assembled the elders of
Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chief fathers of the children of
Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the
covenant of the Lord from the City of David, which is
Zion. Therefore
all the men of Israel assembled with King Solomon at the feast in the month of
Ethanim, which is the seventh month. So all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the
ark. Then they
brought up the ark of the Lord, the tabernacle of meeting, and all the holy furnishings that
were in the tabernacle. The priests and the Levites brought them up. Also King Solomon, and all the
congregation of Israel who were assembled with him, were with him before the
ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be counted or numbered for
multitude. Then the
priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the inner
sanctuary of the temple, to the Most Holy Place, under the wings of the
cherubim. For the
cherubim spread their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim
overshadowed the ark and its poles. The poles extended so that the ends of the poles could be seen
from the holy place, in front of the inner sanctuary; but they could not be
seen from outside. And they are there to this day. Nothing was in the ark except the
two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children
of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt." : At the end of chapter 6,
we are told that everything pertaining to the temple was completed in the 8th
month of Bul.
-
This section takes us to the 7th month of the next year. 11 months have passed
from the completion of the temple to the transportation of the Ark of the
Covenant.
-
It took that long to plan for what we are about to see. Thankfully, Solomon had
learned from his Father's mistake, and had the priests carry the ark upon their
shoulders, as the Bible decrees.
-
This procession was full of worship and celebration. Solomon, like his Father
before him, sacrificed an unknown amount of animals in worship to the Lord.
-
When the priests came to the temple, they laid the ark in it's resting place. Right
over the ark stood the awesome 8 feet tall cherubim, with their wings
outstretched.
-
The poles stayed in the ark and were seen from the holy place. The ark at this
time contained only the two tables of the Mosaic law, the 10 commandments.
-
Hebrews 9:4 tells us that
originally, the ark held a pot of manna, as well as Aaron's rod that had
budded. Nobody knows what became of those implements, but the tablets remained.
•
I Kings 8:10-13 : "And it came to pass, when the
priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not
continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. Then Solomon spoke: 'The Lord said He would dwell in
the dark cloud. I have surely built You an
exalted house, and a place for You to dwell in
forever.'" : Right after the priests delivered
the ark, the cloud filled the house of the Lord.
-
This is the moment of truth. Solomon could build a house, but would God honor
it with His presence? If not, it would be a giant gold box devoid of any power
at all!
-
But the cloud, the shekinah glory of God's presence enveloped the Temple and
caused the priests to have to leave. They left because the power of God's
holiness exposed their wretchedness!
-
Solomon affirms that God would dwell, to the people of Israel, in thick
darkness. Here, we see the same manifestation that Moses drew near to in Exodus 20:21 on the mountain of Horeb.
-
The same God that gave Israel His law is now found in Israel's Temple,
overwhelming the area with His presence, once again overshadowing the Ark of
the Covenant!
-
Solomon recognizes that this was now an exalted house. Before it was a
wonderful piece of architecture and magnificent for it's golden splendor. But
now, it was exalted above those standards!
-
It was now a high and holy place for the Lord to dwell or literally settle in
for all eternity!
Conclusion
- How does one
close this section of scripture? The presence of Almighty God enveloped a
physical location on Earth and the people best equipped to respond had to
scatter!
- God would
dwell among His people, but it was a fearful thing because of the disparity
present between God's righteousness and the Priest's sinfulness.
- However
impressive this moment in time is and how monumental this building was, I'm
happy to live on this side of the Cross!
- Jesus, our
true Temple, has come to dwell with humankind, not simply exposing our sin, but
taking it upon Himself!
- Jesus is not
obscured in a cloud of glory, but is clearly the object of our worship
affection! Because of His righteousness imputed to our account, we need not
shrivel away in His presence!
- Rather,
because of His grace, every genuine believer is invited to boldly come and have
access to the Throne of Grace! Is this not a better covenant? I don't think
there's any argument!
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