Bible Pathways - April 23, 2005

April 23

 

Read I Kings 5 -- 7

 

In Today's Reading:

 

Solomon builds the Temple; furnishings of the Temple and his own palace

 

Solomon's Temple was twice the size of the wilderness Tabernacle, but it was still comparatively small, only 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet tall. The interior was divided into two rooms. The first room was called the Holy Place and was 60 by 30 feet; the second room was called the Holy of Holies and was a 30 x 30 x 30 foot cube.

 

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 . . . he began to build the House of the LORD (I Kings 6:1). No other building in the world compared with Solomon's Temple. The most costly materials and treasures were lavished upon it. But the world observed only the external beauty of the Temple; its true glory was in the presence of God who chose to dwell within the Holy of Holies.

 

The Temple was built without the noise of craftsmen since the stones were shaped in the quarry and made ready to fit together on Mount Moriah (see 6:7; II Chronicles 3:1). This should remind us not to mistake noise for spiritual progress. We are transformed into the likeness of Christ, not by noisy human efforts but silently by the power of the Holy Spirit, as day by day, God perfects His temple within every believer (see Zechariah 4:6; II Corinthians 6:16).

 

Every child of God is more precious to our Heavenly Father than Solomon's Temple was since we are the temple of God (I Corinthians 3:16). We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus (born anew) to good works, which God has before ordained (planned) that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).

 

Every day is a sacred trust that becomes more meaningful with the awareness that the God of heaven lives within every believer. The miracle of the new birth and the indwelling Holy Spirit are the differences between the true Christian and the religious world. Jesus said: I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life: no man comes to the Father, but by Me (John 14:6). The Apostle Peter attested: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other Name . . . whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

 

For you are bought with a price (belong to God); therefore glorify God in your body (I Corinthians 6:20).

 

Word Studies:

 

5:3 under the soles of his feet = under his control; 5:4 evil occurrent = evil happenings, misfortune; 5:13 levy = forced labor; 6:2 a cubit = about 18 inches; 6:5 oracle = Holy of Holies. Oracle in I Kings 8:8-9 = inner sanctuary, location of the two tables of stone. God cannot be separated from His Word whether spoken or written; 6:38 month (of) Bul = October/November; 7:4 ranks = rows; 7:9 coping = the top, the highest course of stone; 7:14 cunning = skilled.

 

Christ Revealed:

 

Through the Temple (I Kings 6). Christ is the true Temple (John 2:21). God Himself prepared Christ's body (see Hebrews 10:5). Through Christ all may have access to God (Romans 5:12-21). Through Him we . . . have access by one Spirit to the Father (Ephesians 2:18).

 

Prayer Needs:

 

Pray for Government Official: Rep. Fred Upton (MI) · Country: Thailand (60 million) in Southeast Asia · Major languages: Thai and English · Limited freedom of Christian ministry; Buddhism is the state religion · 92% Buddhist; 4% Muslim; 2% Chinese folk-religionist; 1% Christian · Prayer Suggestion: Pray that God will move His people to give faithfully to His work (Malachi 3:8-10).

 

Optional Reading: Acts 24

 

Memory Verse for the Week: I Thessalonians 5:17