Solomon builds the temple. This is preparation for the manifested presence of the Lord to appear in the first dedication service.
2 Chronicles 3: Solomon Builds the Temple
1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to David his father, at the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
2 He began to build in the second month of the fourth year of his reign.
3 These are Solomon's measurements for building the house of God: the length, in cubits of the old standard, was sixty cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.
4 The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long, equal to the width of the house, and its height was 120 cubits. He overlaid it on the inside with pure gold.
5 The nave he lined with cypress and covered it with fine gold and made palms and chains on it.
6 He adorned the house with settings of precious stones. The gold was gold of Parvaim.
7 So he lined the house with gold---its beams, its thresholds, its walls, and its doors---and he carved cherubim on the walls.
8 And he made the Most Holy Place. Its length, corresponding to the breadth of the house, was twenty cubits, and its breadth was twenty cubits. He overlaid it with 600 talents of fine gold.
9 The weight of gold for the nails was fifty shekels. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.
10 In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of wood and overlaid them with gold.
11 The wings of the cherubim together extended twenty cubits: one wing of the one, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house, and its other wing, of five cubits, touched the wing of the other cherub;
12 and of this cherub, one wing, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house, and the other wing, also of five cubits, was joined to the wing of the first cherub.
13 The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits. The cherubim stood on their feet, facing the nave.
14 And he made the veil of blue and purple and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and he worked cherubim on it.
15 In front of the house he made two pillars thirty-five cubits high, with a capital of five cubits on the top of each.
16 He made chains like a necklace and put them on the tops of the pillars, and he made a hundred pomegranates and put them on the chains.
17 He set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the south, the other on the north; that on the south he called Jachin, and that on the north Boaz.
2 Chronicles 4: The Temple's Furnishings
1 He made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide and ten cubits high.
2 Then he made the sea of cast metal. It was round, ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference.
3 Under it were figures of gourds, for ten cubits, compassing the sea all around. The gourds were in two rows, cast with it when it was cast.
4 It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The sea was set on them, and all their rear parts were inward.
5 Its thickness was a handbreadth. And its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily. It held 3,000 baths.
6 He also made ten basins in which to wash, and set five on the south side, and five on the north side. In these they were to rinse off what was used for the burnt offering, and the sea was for the priests to wash in.
7 And he made ten golden lampstands as prescribed, and set them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north.
8 He also made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north. And he made a hundred basins of gold.
9 He made the court of the priests and the great court and doors for the court and overlaid their doors with bronze.
10 And he set the sea at the southeast corner of the house.
11 Hiram also made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram finished the work that he did for King Solomon on the house of God:
12 the two pillars, the bowls, and the two capitals on the top of the pillars; and the two latticeworks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars;
13 and the 400 pomegranates for the two latticeworks, two rows of pomegranates for each latticework, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars.
14 He made the stands also, and the basins on the stands,
15 and the one sea, and the twelve oxen underneath it.
16 The pots, the shovels, the forks, and all the equipment for these Huram-abi made of burnished bronze for King Solomon for the house of the LORD.
17 In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah.
18 Solomon made all these things in great quantities, for the weight of the bronze was not sought.
19 So Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of God: the golden altar, the tables for the bread of the Presence,
20 the lampstands and their lamps of pure gold to burn before the inner sanctuary, as prescribed;
21 the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of purest gold;
22 the snuffers, basins, dishes for incense, and fire pans, of pure gold, and the sockets of the temple, for the inner doors to the Most Holy Place and for the doors of the nave of the temple were of gold.
Things to think about…
1. In 2Chr 3 we see Solomon beginning to build the first temple. The site is Mt Moriah. It is where Abraham was to offer Isaac, Gen 22:2. David bought the site from Araunah the Jebusite, 2 Sam 24:18, 21 and was the site the Lord chose for Solomon to build the first Temple Today the Muslim Dome of the Rock in this same spot which is dedicated to Abraham’s obedience. It is overlaid with gold and is the most contested piece of real-estate on the planet. Do you see any significant difference between this current building and what the Jews would like to see in this same site? The Jews will indeed build a third temple here in accordance with end times prophecy. But tragically we know that hard Jewish hearts will only bow after the worst period of persecution they have endured from the beginning of creation until that time.
2. The measurements and description of the temple are given in great detail. Our God is a God of order and is worshipped with lives that are ordered by Him. Solomon valued his gift of wisdom and wealth. As such he gives a great amount to the temple. 600 talents of gold is used to cover the inside of the temple. 1 talent today is worth $3.2m US. Therefore 600 talents is worth about $2 Billion in today’s money. This was given to the temple just for the gold overlay. A lot more than what he had spent on defence. The temple had more spent on it in other areas. This area of the temple represents the Lord’s presence, and the gold represents His glory. Christ of course is the One who embodies God’s presence and we glorify Him through our worship and witness. Jesus said “"Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred?” Mt 23:16, 17. May our Lord be above our desire to keep or honour worldly wealth.
3. Why is there so much detail given for the description of the Cherubim and the most holy place in 2Chr 3:7-14? The Cherubim are around the throne of the Lord in glory. In the temple they represent the Lord’s presence in the holy of holies as depicted through the images and carvings of the cherubim. The other vessels that are made including the lampstands, tables, basins and bowls as well as the sea (large washing basin) and the carts used to move animals for sacrifice are also listed. This was the high point of Jewish temple and cultural history. Today Israel has a resurgence of strength and identity within their country even though there is still division in the land.
4. In 2Ch3:15-17 we see the description of the two bronze pillars Jachin and Boaz that support the structure. What do these pillars represent? Jachin means “He will establish” and Boaz means “In Him is strength”. May the church be known for these two qualities as Christ is established within our community.
5. We see in 2Chr 4 the altar, the bronze sea (bath), the carts, tables, lampstands and other objects of worship are being made. All of these things were to do with the order of the temple and the priests. The gifted man Huram-abi, sent from Hiram the king of Tyre who was assisting Solomon is mentioned again in 2 Chr 4:16. What modern day parallels do you see with how this order can be applied in our modern worship? We pray the Holy Spirit sends us His anointing that every man centred thought and action is burned up by His Holy Spirit fire.
6. We see all the utensils and objects being made either of pure gold or covered in gold 2Chr 4:19-22. This amount is not recorded in the 600 shekels which is what covered the inside of the temple. All of these were about to be blessed by the Lord’s actual presence as we shall read in 2Chr 7. All these objects were sadly taken away by the Babylonians in three periods of invasion 605, 597 and 586BC. Most leaving in 586BC.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Prayer Points
1. Pray for new people to step into ministries at CBC – eg worship, café, sound/technical, giving, podcast.
2. Reform and Revival over our city.
3. Finances to cover our needs
4. Pray for PlayPatch, Kids church, Creche and Kids Hope at Karalee State school.
5. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to increase.
Praise Points
1. Podcast area almost completed – Thanks Aart and Jacquiline
2. Kids church divider completed – thanks Aart
3. The Lord’s grace over our lives and country
4. Café, music, kids church, admin, sound and technical team every week
5. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Ministries this week. Life groups, Kids@Church, Kids Hope - Karalee.
2. PlayPatch 1-5yos, Fridays 9:30am at church.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for June...
Q. 33. Who can change a sinner's heart? A. The Holy Spirit alone.
