Most of us will not be involved with building a temple like that of Solomon or even a place of worship of any kind. We could easily look at the surface of the text in 2 Chronicles 3 and say, “that is nice”, but not really appreciate how to apply it in our lives. Look beyond the temple itself to the heart and minds of those building it. Consider they put forth their best effort and attitude to honor and glorify Yahweh. They did not give Him their “leftovers”. He was their main focus and got prioritized.
As you read, ask yourself, “Do I give God my best, my first fruits of time and effort and attention and money, or do I fit Him in when I have time?”
The Temple Construction in Jerusalem
1Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 2He began to build on the second day in the second month of the fourth year of his reign.
Dimensions and Materials of the Temple
3Now these are the foundations which Solomon laid for building the house of God. The length in cubits, according to the old standard was sixty cubits, and the width twenty cubits. 4The porch which was in front of the house was as long as the width of the house, twenty cubits, and the height 120; and inside he overlaid it with pure gold. 5He overlaid the main room with cypress wood and overlaid it with fine gold, and ornamented it with palm trees and chains. 6Further, he adorned the house with precious stones; and the gold was gold from Parvaim. 7He also overlaid the house with gold—the beams, the thresholds and its walls and its doors; and he carved cherubim on the walls.
8Now he made the room of the holy of holies: its length across the width of the house was twenty cubits, and its width was twenty cubits; and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to 600 talents. 9The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He also overlaid the upper rooms with gold.
10Then he made two sculptured cherubim in the room of the holy of holies and overlaid them with gold. 11The wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits; the wing of one, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house, and its other wing, of five cubits, touched the wing of the other cherub. 12The wing of the other cherub, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house; and its other wing of five cubits was attached to the wing of the first cherub. 13The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits, and they stood on their feet facing the main room. 14He made the veil of violet, purple, crimson and fine linen, and he worked cherubim on it.
15He also made two pillars for the front of the house, thirty-five cubits high, and the capital on the top of each was five cubits. 16He made chains in the inner sanctuary and placed them on the tops of the pillars; and he made one hundred pomegranates and placed them on the chains. 17He erected the pillars in front of the temple, one on the right and the other on the left, and named the one on the right Jachin and the one on the left Boaz.
Solomon made honoring God his focal point to build the temple. He was not just “doing it on the side” or “fitting it in” to his schedule. We each need to ask ourselves if we are doing the same. I will admit there is more I can do to prioritize prayer time. For example, sometimes when I am setting aside time, I allow distractions. I am not completely focused on Him. It is good to come to Him even if I am distracted, but it is better to set aside time where I am not distracted to come to Him.
Ask God to help show you where you are not putting him first and help you to make changes to do so. He is worthy of our best.
I invite you to pray with me:
Father, thank You for Your patience with me when I come to You even with distractions. Help me to set time aside undistracted to focus on You and come before You in prayer and study of Your word. Help me to joyfully give You my best in attitude, heart, time, effort and money. Amen.
Shalom
Devotion by John in service to Christ
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