Reading

• 1 Kings 5:1-9; 2 Chron. 2:1, 3-16
• 1 Kings 5:10-18; 2 Chron. 2:2, 17-18
• 1 Kings 6:1; 2 Chron. 3:1-2
• 1 Kings 6:11-13, 2
• 1 Kings 6:9b, 18; 2 Chron. 3:5-7a
• 1 Kings 6:7
• 2 Chron. 3:4
• 1 Kings 6:4-6, 8, 10; 2 Chron. 3:9b
• 1 Kings 6:16-17, 19-22; 2 Chron. 3:8-9a
• 1 Kings 6:23-28; 2 Chron. 3:10-14
• 1 Kings 6:15, 29-35, 37-38; 7:13-22
• 2 Chron. 4:1-5, 10, 6c
• 1 Kings 7:27-39a; 2 Chron. 4:6a-6b
• 1 Kings 6:36; 2 Chron. 4:9
• 1 Kings 7:40-50; 2 Chron. 4:7-8, 19-22
• 1 Kings 7:51
• 2 Chron. 8:12-16

Devotional

In the fourth year of Solomon’s reign (418 years after the Israelites left Egypt) he began building the temple for the name of the LORD. He acquired the cedar from the king of Tyre. Solomon built the temple exactly as David had designed it. The temple was about 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high. The inside layout of the temple was patterned after the design of the tabernacle, with a Most Holy Place in the back that was separated by the veil, as GOD had instructed Moses.

As big as the temple was, Solomon knew that GOD is too large too be contained in a building. Solomon said:

⁵ And the temple which I build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. ⁶ But who is able to build Him a temple, since heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I then, that I should build Him a temple, except to burn sacrifice before Him?
(2 Chron. 2:5-6 NKJV)

Solomon recognized that the purpose of the temple was to be a sign to people of the greatness of the GOD of Israel, and that although GOD dwelt there, He would never be contained by that “small” structure.

When Solomon began the work, GOD spoke this promise to him: