1 Kings 6
Pastor Mark Hudson

As you know as a reader of the entire Bible, these stories and events are rooted in history. In verse 1, the author makes it clear how long after the exodus the temple build started. Some think the 480 years is more of a round figure, but it seems unlikely, although possible, since the rest of the verse is so precise. One author says in this verse we see that God gave His people freedom and the end of bondage in the exodus and rest and the end of wandering in the temple (D.R. Davis, p. 61).
Note how invested King David was in the building of this temple. Read I Chronicles 22-29. David was committed to building the temple even he was told “NO” when he asked to build the temple. So, he made plans, prepared materials, encouraged others to give, prepare for the personnel to offer sacrifices and to lead worship. It might have been easy for David to forget about the temple since David was forbidden to build the temple. But he just did what he could; he did the next thing. Sometimes, we can’t do what we want. We are not in the work we want to be in. We didn’t get the promotion we thought we deserved. We aren’t leading the ministry we are sure we are qualified for. We lost someone of something of great treasure. David turned his disappointment into preparations for the build. It takes a deep and personal faith to turn disappointment into a positive, hopeful, and God-honoring response.

Chapter 6 and 7 are one unit but we will concentrate on chapter 6, Here is the outline of chapter 6: 2-10 exterior of the temple.
15-30interior
31-35entrances
36courtyard (D.R. Davis)

The temple is approximately 90 x 30 x 45 in feet. There is considerably more detail and attention paid to the interior of the temple than the exterior. Is that because most Jews never saw the inside of the temple, and this was the only time they would get a ‘glimpse’ inside? The temple must have been beautiful both inside and out. By the way, I do not see how we can make legitimate connections with a congregation building a church and this temple. There is one temple in all Israel. Can you imagine how many churches there are in the world? I certainly would not want to use the example of gold and cedar and cypress when it comes to building on or building a church.

I have always found verse 7 to be fascinating. My parents built a house the summer going into my
senior year of high school. I worked with the brick layers and eventually worked with the contractors during the summers of my college years. They commented on this verse. I still remember that comment after all these years. On the worksite of a build, it is a noisy place. Saws, hammers, pneumatic tools. So, when we read, “so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was being built” is hard to imagine.

Some Old Testament scholars do not think there was one author for this book. When they come to
verses 11-13, they think this was an insertion. In fact, if you remove those verses, the chapters read just as well. But those verses are important and more suitable than we might realize. Solomon is building a place of public worship. I suppose anything external in terms of genuine faith can substitute for faith, humility, love, or compassion. I suppose any suggestion that a believer has to obey ‘rules’ and ‘commandments’ can lead to hypocrisy or an over-emphasis on keeping the letter of the law.

Yet, as valid as those concerns may be, God expects people who say they have faith or love Him to keep His commandments. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). God has spoken and He must be listened to and obeyed. Notice the way Jesus puts it in John’s gospel. ‘If you love . . ., you will keep (obey).’ Now look back at I Kings 6. Solomon had a unique role as King. He represented the people in their covenant with God. God did not say to just anyone in Israel, “If you walk in my statutes and obey My rules . . . then I will establish My word . . . And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake My people, Israel.” He was speaking to the King. Solomon’s obedience had consequences but so did his disobedience. If a church member commits a public grievous sin, that is bad. But if a deacon or elder does the same, it is worse. If a pastor does the same that is even more hurtful to the body of Christ.

Solomon failed in this responsibility with seriously negative consequences. And that is part of the story of I Kings and why it was written. What Adam, Abraham, Moses, David or Solomon could not do our Lord Jesus did: He lived a perfect and sinless life. He opened paradise for us by his perfect life. He offered His body, free of sin, to be our sacrifice, God was pleased to put Him to death to win our salvation.

Dear heavenly Father, You have gifted certain people with gifts of music, speaking, administration and,
in Solomon’s case, wisdom. But those gracious gifts do not change our character. Only Your Spirit can stop our grumbling, our pride, or selfishness. How we need You to keep us from sin. We pray that You would keep working on us, weaning us away from the sin of this world. Thank for our perfect substitute. We long for glorification when we will be free of sin. In the strong name of Jesus. Amen.