SOLOMON GAVE ORDERS TO BUILD THE TEMPLE

PROCLAMATION

“Solomon gave orders to build a temple for the name of The Lord and a royal palace for himself.”  2 Chronicles 2:1 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

It was during the fourth year of his reign as king, that Solomon began to build the temple of The Lord. (1 Kings 6:1)  This temple, which King David wanted to build, (2 Samuel 7:2 and 7:12-13) that King Solomon built was to be the resting place for the arc of the covenant of The Lord. (1 Kings 6:19)  The temple was built in relative quiet and silence, as if working on it was a religious exercise, there was no hammering, sawing, or chiseling done at the site of the temple. (1 Kings 6:7)  The entire inner sanctuary was overlaid with gold. (1 Kings 6:19-22)  It took them seven years to complete building the temple. (1 Kings 6:38)  Solomon used 153,600 foreigners to build the temple, 70,000 carpenters, 80,000 stone cutters, and 3,600 foremen to oversee them and keep them working. (2 Chronicles 2:17-18)  The building of the temple is also recorded in The Bible Book of First Kings. (1 Kings 5:1-18 and 6:1-38)

APPLICATION

The temple which King Solomon had built was not intended to be a house for The Lord God to live in.  The Holy Spirit of God is omni-present, He is everywhere all at the same time.  The body of each believer is a temple of God and The Holy Spirit of God dwells within each of us. (John 14:17 and 1 Corinthians 3:16)  We did not build our temple, God did when He formed us in our mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13-16)  However, we are responsible for the upkeep and care of our bodies and we should be very careful regarding how we treat God’s temple.  When we abuse our body, we are destroying God’s temple.