9/18/2010

Sept 18, 2010 2 Chronicles 3:1-5:1

Today's scripture reading is Solomon building the temple. There is a funny advert as the Brits say, on British radio. In the commercial several men are in a support group setting airing their confessions.  The first man admits he doesn't understand cricket very well. The third man says Hi, I'm Charles, and I read the instructions that come in the box." All the other men sigh with great sympathy. (So I don't leave you in suspense, the commercial is for male bladder problems.)  Fortunately Solomon and his builders DID read and follow all instructions King David outlined for building the temple.

Chapter 3
Verses 1-2 The temple was built at Mt Moriah, the hill where Abraham offered the sacrifice of his son Issac, and the location is the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. Jesus was crucified in this area too. We read in 1 Chronicles chapter 21 the story of David sinning and God was going to destroy Israel and David pleaded with him not to. God told David to build the temple at this threshing floor and David paid Araunah for this site. The temple's construction begins in the 4th year of Solomon's reign.

This is a picture of a threshing floor.

Araunah's Threshing Floor. Art by Balage, Archaeology Illustrated.

http://ferrelljenkins.wordpress.com/2010/08/18/araunahs-threshing-floor/

Dome of the Rock. Original site of Solomon's Temple. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Dome of the Rock. Original site of Solomon's Temple. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

http://ferrelljenkins.wordpress.com/2010/08/18/araunahs-threshing-floor/

Verses 3-5 gives the measurements of the temple. In the NLT, the dimensions are 30 feet by 90 feet long. the entry was was 30 feet wide and 30 feet long, and 30 feet high. He overlaid the inside with gold. Can you imagine what this must have looked like?

Chapter 3-4 I found a YouTube video that walks you through what the temple must have looked like. Read chapters 3 and 4 before viewing the video so it will make some sense to you. There really isn't any need to comment on the construction of the building.

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/king-solomons-temple/5df3e5ec6189f539075a5df3e5ec6189f539075a-167760167096?q=solmon's%20temple

Chapter 5 verse 1. Solomon finished the temple and he brought in all the things that David had dedicated and he placed them in the treasuries of God's temple.

Father God, the temple that David designed and Solomon built was an awesome building - designed as a gathering place to come and worship you. You deserve the finest of everything because you are our great God. Much care and detail was put into this magnificent building. And there have been many great cathedrals built since Solomon's time. I have worshiped you in small churches too.  Your presence is everywhere, and I thank you for that. We can worship you in humble surroundings or great buildings. We also thank you this day that Christ became the ultimate sacrifice for our sins and we can come before you 24/7. In your holy name we pray, Amen.

1 comment:

Ronna said...

I am so used to thinking only of the tent temple the Israelites carried with them in the desert. I forget about the temple Solomon built and the depiction on that video was magnificent. I didn't know about the large tower at the front. So sad to know that is destroyed and what is sitting there in its place today.