1 Kings 6:1-10 – Building a glorious life for God

Solomon began the construction of the temple in the fourth year of his reign, about 480 years after the children of Israel left Egypt. This would roughly be about seven generations after the exodus. In comparison to today’s standard, the temple was not a very large building. However, it served as another evidence of God’s promise to take the people into their promised land.

The temple was approximately 95 feet in length, 33 feet wide, and  49 feet in height. The size of this temple was twice that of the Tabernacle which  Moses had constructed. Unlike the Tabernacle, this temple had more features. Unless we are architects, engineers, or designers, it would be hard to visualize that building. Suffice to say that by the modern standard it was a beautiful three-story building with a porch about the size of the width of the temple. There were windows, chambers or rooms, corridors, doorway, and winding stairs. Verse 7 made clear that the stones were prepared at the quarry so that there was no sound of hammer, axe, or iron tool, heard in the construction of the temple. The temple was not only beautiful but also a functional building.

Here's a lesson we can draw from the temple that Solomon built for the glory of God. Unlike Moses’ tabernacle which was a temporary temple, Solomon’s temple was a more solid, permanent, and lasting building. Paul’s assertion in 1 Corinthians 3:19 and 6:19 is that our bodies are the temples of God. And if our bodies are the temples of God, like Solomon’s temple we must make it solid and lasting. We must build our lives on the solid foundation of Christ and His Word. We must build our lives for the glory of God! As we are building our lives, remember that a lasting life doesn’t come easy because what comes easy doesn’t last. So take time and effort, use the right material, and build a Word-abiding, God-honoring life!