"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT JESUS, HIS CHURCH, AND YOU"
1st Kings 7:1 But Solomon took thirteen years to build his own house; so he finished all his house.
1st Kings 7:2 Now King Solomon sent and brought Huram from Tyre.
1st Kings 7:3 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.
1st Kings 7:48 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;
1st Kings 7:51 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.
Some explanatory thoughts/application/questions, and a prayer:
This chapter, 1st Kings 7, deals primarily with the fact of Solomon building his own house, and it ends with a mention that He also built the house of the Lord, the beautiful temple of God. There is a man named Huram who is mentioned, and he had the wisdom and understanding and skill in building. And, this man did all the work.
Solomon provided all the furnishings both for his own home, and for the house of the Lord. The chapter comes to and end, telling us that all the work was finished. I'd like to draw some comparisons and applications today from this story. May they be an encouragement to you.
1. Solomon, in a sense is a type of Christ building the church.
And Jesus of course is the one who said, Matthew 16:18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Jesus is indeed the builder of the church, and it's His church, He purchased it. and You as a christian are part of His church. And, He is seeking to build you also, build you up into a mature Godly, God honoring believer.
2. Solomon is like Jesus in calling people and using them to help build His church.
1st Kings 7:2 Now King Solomon sent and brought Huram from Tyre.
This man Huram was called by Solomon to do the work of building, and he was skilled and had understanding in how to build and and he worked and accomplished his work.
God's church is actually not brick and mortar, but people. And as a person is saved, they are also gifted by God to perform certain functions within the body, and as they use their spiritual gifts, the body is built up and made strong in love. See the two scriptures below.
Ephesians 4:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--
Ephesians 4:16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
3. Solomon's temple was beautiful beyond compare, and so is the love of God that is part of building up the church of God.
There is nothing more beautiful in this world, than to see the work of God taking place in person's life, and ultimately, that work is revealed in the fruit of the Spirit
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
4. Solomon eventually finished building the temple, and one day, Jesus will also finish building His church.
1st Kings 7:51 So all the work that King Solomon had done for the house of the LORD was finished;
When God's work of calling out a people to make us His church, His work will be done in that sense. And, He then will come and get His church and take us to heaven.
God is also seeking to finish His work in You as an individual, and He wants you to finish the work He has given you to do.
John 17:4 “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
Heb 13:21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
2nd Tim 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
5. Solomon brought all the precious things and put them into the house of the LORD.
1st Kings 7:51 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.
You are precious in the eyes of the Lord. He has already saved you, (if you are born again) and He has placed you in His body, the church. But, one day, He is going to place you into heaven itself. You are His treasure, and He will bring you into something more beautiful than the temple Solomon built, or even the beauty of the body of Christ, and the fruit of the Spirit, it will be the beautiful new Jerusalem coming out of heaven, that is described for us in the last chapters of Revelation. You are headed for that place. God is going to bring you there.
6. Solomon was busy building, and so is Jesus at this very moment.
John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
John 14:2 “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
He is busy right now in heaven building, and preparing a place for us, and He is going to come back and get us when it's the right time. And, then, we will be with Him face to face forever, and ever. Praise the Lord.
Some questions:
1. Do you see how God uses people to help build up His church, the body of Christ?
2. Can you imagine what a weak body it would be, if there were no workers, working and serving in love?
3. Do you know that God has a work for you to do in building up His church, the body of Christ.
4. Do you know that God uses the gifts He has given you to use you in doing that work?
5. Do you know that God actually calls each and every christian to be busy serving the Lord and using their gifts?
6, Are you involved in your local church serving under God's direction, being a blessing to the rest of the body?
7. If you don't know how to get started, just ask the Lord to show You and He will. Will you ask Him?
A prayer:
Father, it's such a blessing to see that really everything in the Bible in one way or another points us to Jesus Christ. Either by types or direct explanation and teaching about Jesus. There are so many wonderful stories that can help us draw spiritual nutrition for our souls. Thank You for this one today. And, thank You Lord that You are at work this very day, building up Your body. May You find us available and at Your service to use the gifts You have given us. In Jesus name. Amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
