May 12-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 3:1-2, Then Solomon began to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David. 2 He began building on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign.
Observe what it is saying.
If you’re keeping track, this would have been in the spring of 966 BC. It took the first few years of Solomon’s reign for the large supplies of lumber and stone to be cut and transported to this location for the temple to be assembled. This passage identifies that the temple mount was the same as Mount Moriah. Nearly 1,000 years before, this was the place where Abraham was commanded to offer his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice, but Abraham was then provided a ram as a substitutionary sacrifice after which the area was called the “mountain of the Lord.” This same place would later be owned by Araunah as a threshing floor. It was here that God had David provide a sacrifice for his sin of taking a census which God had forbidden him to do. When King David arrived, Araunah said he would give him the location for the sacrifice, but King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.” (1 Chronicles 21:24) David teaches that a sacrifice cannot be a sacrifice unless it costs something. This had become a repeated holy site so it is not surprising that the temple would be located here.
Relate it to your life
My heart is meant to be a holy site where I repeatedly experience the glorious presence of the Lord.
Do something.
Father, make my heart a Mount Moriah where I get to enjoy you over and over again. Amen.
May 13-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 3:3-7, The foundation Solomon laid for building the temple of God was sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide (using the cubit of the old standard). 4 The portico at the front of the temple was twenty cubits long across the width of the building and twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold. 5 He paneled the main hall with juniper and covered it with fine gold and decorated it with palm tree and chain designs. 6 He adorned the temple with precious stones. And the gold he used was gold of Parvaim. 7 He overlaid the ceiling beams, doorframes, walls and doors of the temple with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls.
Observe what it is saying.
We find the details of the Temple so that we can envision its size and grandeur. The dimensions of the Temple were 90 feet by 30 feet. In other places we learn that the height was 45 feet. The portico ran the width of the building and was 15 feet deep and stood 30 feet high. This was a rather impressive looking building standing over 4 stories tall. After the outer dimensions, we are given the inner glory. It was paneled with juniper and then covered with pure gold. If that were not enough, there were intricate designs of palm trees representing the beauty of nature and victory. The golden chains were thought to represent unity, connection, and the binding nature of God’s covenant with His people. Everything was overlaid with gold throughout the building. No expense was spared. The carved cherubim represented God’s holiness. Its design and decoration thoughtfully inspired reverence and awe in their worship.
Relate it to your life.
Worship spaces are meant to help us more effectively appreciate and worship the beauty of the Lord.
Do something.
Father, may I be reminded of Your beauty and awe each time I gather with the body of Christ. Amen.
May 14-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 3:8-9, “He built the Most Holy Place, its length corresponding to the width of the temple—twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. He overlaid the inside with six hundred talents of fine gold. 9 The gold nails weighed fifty shekels. He also overlaid the upper parts with gold.
Observe what it is saying.
According to 1 Kings 6:20, the Most Holy Place was also 20 cubits high, making the dimensions a perfect cube, 30 ft x 30ft x 30ft. In the new Jerusalem there is no temple (Revelation 21:22). However, the whole city is in the shape of a cube (Revelation 21:16), representing the fact that the whole city will be “the Most Holy Place.” In the Old Testament sacrifices, only one priest once a year could enter the Temple’s most inner sacred space, but because of Jesus, we can now fully enter into God’s presence without fear. This promise in Revelation indicates we will literally live in His holy presence. The amount of gold used to cover the inside of the cube was equivalent to 42,000 pounds (21 tons) while the weight of the gold nails amounts to more than one pound each. This is astounding and, once again, reveals what Solomon thought of the magnificent glory of his God. Is it any wonder that Revelation also speaks of the streets of New Jerusalem being paved with gold? What we consider to be one of the most precious metals is used as paving material! Whatever we attempt to use to illustrate God’s holiness still falls drastically short of fully demonstrating His infinite glory.
Relate it to your life.
At my very best, I can only grasp a glimpse of God’s magnificent holy glory.
Do something.
“Father, like Isaiah said when he saw Your glory, “I am ruined for I am a man of unclean lips,” I cannot adequately speak Your pure beauty. Have mercy on me for failing to see You as You are. Amen.”
May 15-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 3:10-13, For the Most Holy Place he made a pair of sculptured cherubim and overlaid them with gold. 11 The total wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long and touched the temple wall, while its other wing, also five cubits long, touched the wing of the other cherub. 12 Similarly one wing of the second cherub was five cubits long and touched the other temple wall, and its other wing, also five cubits long, touched the wing of the first cherub. 13 The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, facing the main hall.
Observe what it is saying.
Two cherubim made of olive wood and covered with gold were placed in this inner chamber of the Temple where they faced the door. Each had a wingspan of ten cubits which was half of the width of the room. So, their combined wingspan reached from one wall to the other. There were also two cherubim on the ark cover but they faced each other. They stood guard over the entryway into God’s most holy presence. The message being sent with the presence of these impressive sculptured cherubim was that God’s presence is overwhelmingly holy. This further conveyed that to approach God is not a frivolous matter and must be accomplished in the exact way he has prescribed which is through the blood of the sacrifice. Hebrews 9:22, “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” In verse 26, we are told that Jesus appeared once for all to do away with sin and open the way for us to enter into God’s glorious presence.
Relate it to your life.
Because of Christ’s sacrifice, I’m forgiven and can enjoy sweet fellowship with the Father.
Do something.
Jesus, I praise Your Name for Your great gift forgives my sin and offers me heavenly fellowship. Amen.
May 16-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 3:14, He made the curtain of blue, purple and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim worked into it.
Observe what it is saying.
This is the curtain that separated the Holy of Holies that contained the ark of the covenant with the rest of the temple. It was a curtain of separation between a holy God and a fallen human race. It was a curtain of protection that kept the priests safe from the consuming holiness of God’s presence while they did their work in the main hall. Only one priest once a year could enter this Most Holy space to offer atonement for the sins of the people. The fine linen white cloth which served as the base speaks of purity and righteousness. Blue represents God’s divinity. Purple portrays royalty. Crimson is the dark red that symbolizes the shed blood for the forgiveness of sins. The cherubim reveal the awesome holiness of God. Every detail spoke a powerful truth concerning God and His relationship with mankind. This is the curtain, not the exact one, but the location of the one that was torn from top to bottom when Jesus gave His final breath on the cross. Hebrews 6:19-20a gives commentary on this, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.” The result of Christ entering for us is the great promise of Hebrews 4:16, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Because the curtain has been removed, we can go with confidence directly to the throne asking for God’s help.
Relate it to your life.
The huge barrier has become a wide-open invitation for me to draw intimately near to the Lord.
Do something.
Father, draw me nearer to You so that my fellowship with You is totally unhindered. Amen.
May 17-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 3:15-17, For the front of the temple he made two pillars, which together were thirty-five cubits long, each with a capital five cubits high. 16 He made interwoven chains and put them on top of the pillars. He also made a hundred pomegranates and attached them to the chains. 17 He erected the pillars in the front of the temple, one to the south and one to the north. The one to the south he named Jakin and the one to the north Boaz.
Observe what it is saying.
At first glance such details may not hold much interest, but the fact they are included tells us more about the magnificence of the Temple and the glory of God. The two pillars covered with polished bronze stationed in the front of Solomon’s temple are noted as totaling thirty-five cubits in height. In 1 Kings 7:15, it specifies the length was eighteen cubits per pillar or thirty-six total versus the thirty-five cubits noted here. 1 Chronicles evidently adds the two lengths together. These impressive pillars included a 7.5 foot ornate top that would have mostly overlapped the top portion of each pillar, creating a stylized tree-like image. The inclusion of 100 pomegranates was a symbol of God’s generous blessing upon His people. They were included as the cherished fruit of the Promise Land. The name Jakin means “he establishes.” Boaz means “in him is strength.” These names symbolize that God established Israel as a nation and is their sustaining power. The pillars reminded them that God alone is to be worshiped.
Relate it to your life.
Because God is my creator and sustainer, I put all my trust in Him.
Do something.
Father, I totally entrust myself to You in humble worship for there is no one greater than You. Amen.
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 3:1-2, Then Solomon began to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David. 2 He began building on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign.
Observe what it is saying.
If you’re keeping track, this would have been in the spring of 966 BC. It took the first few years of Solomon’s reign for the large supplies of lumber and stone to be cut and transported to this location for the temple to be assembled. This passage identifies that the temple mount was the same as Mount Moriah. Nearly 1,000 years before, this was the place where Abraham was commanded to offer his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice, but Abraham was then provided a ram as a substitutionary sacrifice after which the area was called the “mountain of the Lord.” This same place would later be owned by Araunah as a threshing floor. It was here that God had David provide a sacrifice for his sin of taking a census which God had forbidden him to do. When King David arrived, Araunah said he would give him the location for the sacrifice, but King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.” (1 Chronicles 21:24) David teaches that a sacrifice cannot be a sacrifice unless it costs something. This had become a repeated holy site so it is not surprising that the temple would be located here.
Relate it to your life
My heart is meant to be a holy site where I repeatedly experience the glorious presence of the Lord.
Do something.
Father, make my heart a Mount Moriah where I get to enjoy you over and over again. Amen.
May 13-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 3:3-7, The foundation Solomon laid for building the temple of God was sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide (using the cubit of the old standard). 4 The portico at the front of the temple was twenty cubits long across the width of the building and twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold. 5 He paneled the main hall with juniper and covered it with fine gold and decorated it with palm tree and chain designs. 6 He adorned the temple with precious stones. And the gold he used was gold of Parvaim. 7 He overlaid the ceiling beams, doorframes, walls and doors of the temple with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls.
Observe what it is saying.
We find the details of the Temple so that we can envision its size and grandeur. The dimensions of the Temple were 90 feet by 30 feet. In other places we learn that the height was 45 feet. The portico ran the width of the building and was 15 feet deep and stood 30 feet high. This was a rather impressive looking building standing over 4 stories tall. After the outer dimensions, we are given the inner glory. It was paneled with juniper and then covered with pure gold. If that were not enough, there were intricate designs of palm trees representing the beauty of nature and victory. The golden chains were thought to represent unity, connection, and the binding nature of God’s covenant with His people. Everything was overlaid with gold throughout the building. No expense was spared. The carved cherubim represented God’s holiness. Its design and decoration thoughtfully inspired reverence and awe in their worship.
Relate it to your life.
Worship spaces are meant to help us more effectively appreciate and worship the beauty of the Lord.
Do something.
Father, may I be reminded of Your beauty and awe each time I gather with the body of Christ. Amen.
May 14-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 3:8-9, “He built the Most Holy Place, its length corresponding to the width of the temple—twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. He overlaid the inside with six hundred talents of fine gold. 9 The gold nails weighed fifty shekels. He also overlaid the upper parts with gold.
Observe what it is saying.
According to 1 Kings 6:20, the Most Holy Place was also 20 cubits high, making the dimensions a perfect cube, 30 ft x 30ft x 30ft. In the new Jerusalem there is no temple (Revelation 21:22). However, the whole city is in the shape of a cube (Revelation 21:16), representing the fact that the whole city will be “the Most Holy Place.” In the Old Testament sacrifices, only one priest once a year could enter the Temple’s most inner sacred space, but because of Jesus, we can now fully enter into God’s presence without fear. This promise in Revelation indicates we will literally live in His holy presence. The amount of gold used to cover the inside of the cube was equivalent to 42,000 pounds (21 tons) while the weight of the gold nails amounts to more than one pound each. This is astounding and, once again, reveals what Solomon thought of the magnificent glory of his God. Is it any wonder that Revelation also speaks of the streets of New Jerusalem being paved with gold? What we consider to be one of the most precious metals is used as paving material! Whatever we attempt to use to illustrate God’s holiness still falls drastically short of fully demonstrating His infinite glory.
Relate it to your life.
At my very best, I can only grasp a glimpse of God’s magnificent holy glory.
Do something.
“Father, like Isaiah said when he saw Your glory, “I am ruined for I am a man of unclean lips,” I cannot adequately speak Your pure beauty. Have mercy on me for failing to see You as You are. Amen.”
May 15-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 3:10-13, For the Most Holy Place he made a pair of sculptured cherubim and overlaid them with gold. 11 The total wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long and touched the temple wall, while its other wing, also five cubits long, touched the wing of the other cherub. 12 Similarly one wing of the second cherub was five cubits long and touched the other temple wall, and its other wing, also five cubits long, touched the wing of the first cherub. 13 The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, facing the main hall.
Observe what it is saying.
Two cherubim made of olive wood and covered with gold were placed in this inner chamber of the Temple where they faced the door. Each had a wingspan of ten cubits which was half of the width of the room. So, their combined wingspan reached from one wall to the other. There were also two cherubim on the ark cover but they faced each other. They stood guard over the entryway into God’s most holy presence. The message being sent with the presence of these impressive sculptured cherubim was that God’s presence is overwhelmingly holy. This further conveyed that to approach God is not a frivolous matter and must be accomplished in the exact way he has prescribed which is through the blood of the sacrifice. Hebrews 9:22, “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” In verse 26, we are told that Jesus appeared once for all to do away with sin and open the way for us to enter into God’s glorious presence.
Relate it to your life.
Because of Christ’s sacrifice, I’m forgiven and can enjoy sweet fellowship with the Father.
Do something.
Jesus, I praise Your Name for Your great gift forgives my sin and offers me heavenly fellowship. Amen.
May 16-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 3:14, He made the curtain of blue, purple and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim worked into it.
Observe what it is saying.
This is the curtain that separated the Holy of Holies that contained the ark of the covenant with the rest of the temple. It was a curtain of separation between a holy God and a fallen human race. It was a curtain of protection that kept the priests safe from the consuming holiness of God’s presence while they did their work in the main hall. Only one priest once a year could enter this Most Holy space to offer atonement for the sins of the people. The fine linen white cloth which served as the base speaks of purity and righteousness. Blue represents God’s divinity. Purple portrays royalty. Crimson is the dark red that symbolizes the shed blood for the forgiveness of sins. The cherubim reveal the awesome holiness of God. Every detail spoke a powerful truth concerning God and His relationship with mankind. This is the curtain, not the exact one, but the location of the one that was torn from top to bottom when Jesus gave His final breath on the cross. Hebrews 6:19-20a gives commentary on this, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.” The result of Christ entering for us is the great promise of Hebrews 4:16, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Because the curtain has been removed, we can go with confidence directly to the throne asking for God’s help.
Relate it to your life.
The huge barrier has become a wide-open invitation for me to draw intimately near to the Lord.
Do something.
Father, draw me nearer to You so that my fellowship with You is totally unhindered. Amen.
May 17-Solomon’s Story
Write out the Scripture.
2 Chronicles 3:15-17, For the front of the temple he made two pillars, which together were thirty-five cubits long, each with a capital five cubits high. 16 He made interwoven chains and put them on top of the pillars. He also made a hundred pomegranates and attached them to the chains. 17 He erected the pillars in the front of the temple, one to the south and one to the north. The one to the south he named Jakin and the one to the north Boaz.
Observe what it is saying.
At first glance such details may not hold much interest, but the fact they are included tells us more about the magnificence of the Temple and the glory of God. The two pillars covered with polished bronze stationed in the front of Solomon’s temple are noted as totaling thirty-five cubits in height. In 1 Kings 7:15, it specifies the length was eighteen cubits per pillar or thirty-six total versus the thirty-five cubits noted here. 1 Chronicles evidently adds the two lengths together. These impressive pillars included a 7.5 foot ornate top that would have mostly overlapped the top portion of each pillar, creating a stylized tree-like image. The inclusion of 100 pomegranates was a symbol of God’s generous blessing upon His people. They were included as the cherished fruit of the Promise Land. The name Jakin means “he establishes.” Boaz means “in him is strength.” These names symbolize that God established Israel as a nation and is their sustaining power. The pillars reminded them that God alone is to be worshiped.
Relate it to your life.
Because God is my creator and sustainer, I put all my trust in Him.
Do something.
Father, I totally entrust myself to You in humble worship for there is no one greater than You. Amen.
Posted in Daily Devotionals