Building God’s Temple – I'm Following Jesus

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Monday, June 11, 2018
Chapters: II Chronicles 2-3, I Kings 5-6
Message: Building God’s Temple

Hello My Friend,

Foundation, That on which any thing stands, and by which it is supported. A house can be made of some of the most valuable materials, but without a good foundation, it is worthless. It can appear beautiful on the outside, and even contain the most valuable possessions on the inside, but it is only a matter of time when it will be destroyed without the proper foundation. A saved, born again soul, one who has received Jesus Christ as their Saviour, has the most valuable possession they hold living inside them, Him. We can build a perfect house for God, but if we are not supported by the foundation of Christ, it is worthless. “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” – II Timothy 2:19-21.

In the first four years of his reign, Solomon’s heart was strong for God, he wrote most of the Proverbs during this time. Before David died he gave Solomon the plans to have the first temple for God built, so in the fourth year of his reign he fulfilled that plan. He contacted the king of Tyre, and good friend of David’s.

“Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel. And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods. But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him? Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide. Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants, Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great. And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.” – II Chronicles 2:4-10.

“that I should build him an house,” Solomon expresses humility here, “Who am I that I should build a house for the one and only Almighty God?” A church or house of worship does not contain God, in fact, God does not dwell at all in a building with four walls, He dwells within every believer who accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour. However, we do need a place to come together to worship Him, and it is more than just sitting in a pew, it is being with others who are likeminded and can help build our faith, we may even be an encouragement to those who are struggling. “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” – James 5:13-16.

Jesus, the supporter of every born again soul, sustains us and keeps us upright, but we are not super humans, we cannot handle everything on our own, we need the help of other willing and Godly Christians to help build us up. The king of Tyre was elated that Solomon asked for his help in building the temple, eagerly accepting.

“And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David. And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir. My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household. So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire. And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year. And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.” – I Kings 5:1,8-12.

“and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.” Whenever we do something for God we can expect to be provided for. While it is important to work otherwise we would not eat, it is more important to realize that we are not working for earthly treasures, but for heavenly. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21.

It took about seven and a half years for the temple to be completed, but every detail was precise, everything that went into the temple was pure and only of the best quality. The furniture and amount of items in the temple, compared with that of the Tabernacle, showed that God’s church would be enlarged and multiplied greatly.

“Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. And he began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign. Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits. And the porch that was in the front of the house, the length of it was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height was an hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold.” – II Chronicles 3:1-4.

“where the LORD appeared unto David his father,” This was when the disease was in the land and thousands of people were dying from the plague, David bought the threshingfloor to build an altar there and give offerings to God. This is why we do not remove the landmarks of our forefathers, history is not meant to offend or hide what happened, but to preserve and or correct for today. God wants us to move forward, pressing toward His mark, but He never wants us to forget we are, but sinners saved by grace through the offering of Jesus Christ. “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” – Luke 22:19-20.

Four-hundred and eighty years after the Israelites were freed from Egypt, the foundation for the first and only man made building that God would dwell in on earth was laid. Every stone added to the foundation was shaped and molded to fit perfectly upon one another so there was no noise made in the Temple while constructing it. While the Temple was being built God saw it necessary to speak to Solomon, reminding him of His promise.

“And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD. And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying, Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father: And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel. And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.” – I Kings 6:1,11-13,38.

“Concerning this house which thou art in building,” While our salvation is not based on our works, it is important to maintain a relationship with Christ after we are saved. Why? He lives in us. Since we are sinners saved by grace, our salvation does not stop us from sinning, but Christ does if we keep Him LORD of our house. Salvation is one thing, we could have the most beautiful body on the outside, but it is what is on the inside that God looks at, and He will call us out. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” – Matthew 23:27-28.

Jesus Christ Magnified: “And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.” – I Kings 5:12.

Today’s Prayer: God, I understand that the second I called on Your Son, Jesus Christ to save me that Your Spirit entered my body and now You indwell in me. LORD, since Christ is my foundation I want my temple to be not only beautiful on the outside, but the inside as well. Just like gold is purified, purify me and help me to remove the impurities that keep me from seeing Your blessing me with much more than You bless me with already, not with riches beyond my need, but wisdom and a wiling heart to be a faithful servant and a Godly temple. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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