Today’s passage: 1 Kings 6:1-38
Helpful thoughts:
- The length of a cubit has been debated. So, the size of the temple itself in feet would have been between 90-105 ft. long, 30 to 35 ft. wide, and 45 to 52.5 ft. high. Everything else was built around this initial structure.
- Verses 11-13 serve as God’s approval of the temple project, that He would “dwell” among the people, and also served as a reminder to Israel’s king. Solomon was to follow and obey the Lord.
- The “Inner sanctuary” and what you may remember called, “The Holy of Holies” are the same room.
- The building of the Temple took seven years and six months. Israel now will move it’s worship from the Tabernacle (A temporary set up that it used for over four centuries) to this new “permanent” structure (That would stand for nearly four centuries).
Questions to consider:
- What thoughts have you had concerning the size of the Temple? Have you imagined it to be a gigantic structure? Our auditorium is about 70 ft. wide (Twice as wide), about 80 ft. long (10 ft. shorter or more), and 24 ft. tall at the peak (Half the height). Why doesn’t it matter how much bigger the Temple might be? Was the size or beauty of the Temple going to ever outdo the glory of God?
- What temple does God dwell in today (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)? How is His promise of presence different today than it was in Solomon’s temple (Matthew 28:18-20)? What is the basis for His promise to never leave us or forsake us? Will He stay with us IF we continue to do right, or because Christ already did and because He has promised to make us just like Christ?
- What does the fact that the “temporary” structure lasted longer than the “permanent” structure in Israel tell us about the way we often see things? What is the structure that WE are part of that will be permanent? (Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 2:19-22)