The Lord Establishes Series

We shared on Solomon’s building of the Temple of God last week. Today in 1 Kings 7 we will look at the furnishings of the Temple.

• The building of the Temple was in the heart of King David and also the desire of his son Solomon.

• They gave their best for it, by providing the best material and getting the best workforce.

And they were serious about keeping to God’s design, the plan that God has shown to King David.

• This is no ordinary place. David said in 1 Chron 22:5 “the house to be built for the Lord should be of great magnificence and fame and splendour in the sight of all the nations.”

• It is a place where people can draw near to God, and understand how they, as sinners can approach a holy God.

It is the HOUSE OF PRAYER. That’s what Isaiah and Jesus said.

• Isaiah 56:7 “…for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

• Jesus quotes it – Matt 21:13 “It is written, My house shall be called a HOUSE OF PRAYER but you make it a den of robbers.”

The author then went on in 1 Kings 8 to tell us something about the building of Solomon’s palace.

• It’s bigger and took a longer time to build, but he reverted back to talking about the Temple again in verse 13.

• Just a short portion on the palace. It feels like a passing remark.

• No doubt the palace is grand and big but it pales in comparison to the significance of the Temple.

[Pictures] This is the artist’s impression of the Temple of God.

• This is how it might have looked – the pair of cherubim in front, ten lampstands, the Sea on 12 bulls, ten bronze basins.

Let’s take at the furnishing of the Temple - 1 Kings 7:13-22.

Huram erected two bronze pillars to stand in front of the Temple.

• These are huge columns 8.1m high. The capitals on top of the columns bore decorations, in brass, of lilies. Plus the capitals the pillars are 10m high.

• With a circumference of 5.4m (7:15), they are huge, and they are placed right in front of the Temple.

These pillars are not functional; they are not supporting any structures.

• They are clearly symbolic, not even decorative, because Huram named them.

• 7:21 the south one JAKIN (L) and the north on BOAZ. JAKIN means “He will establish” and BOAZ means “In Him is strength”.

On the left GOD WILL ESTABLISH and the right, IN HIM IS STRENGTH.

• God is sovereign - HE DETERMINES and He is Almighty – HE CAN DO IT.

• God has His PURPOSE, and He has the POWER to accomplish it.

• God has given His PROMISE, and He has the MEANS to fulfil it.

When the people draws near to the Temple, they could not miss these pillars.

• Taken together, it tells of the sovereignty of God and His power to accomplish His will.

• In fact, they have to be together. We can have purpose but no power to fulfil it, then it’s meaningless. Nothing is done.

• On the other hand, you can have great power, but no purpose. Then that’s chaos. No plan, no purpose. That’s futile.

God establishes His will, He has a good plan and a clear purpose. And He is fully capable of accomplishing His will by His great power.

• This is what Israel is seeing now – David has been enthroned as God promised, and now Solomon; they are in the Promised Land, experiencing peace on every side, and with the Temple of God being built.

• Huram says, God has established this, and He, by His power, has done it.

This is what the Lord promised David (through Nathan) – 1 Chron 17:11-14.

"11 When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.

12 He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. 14 I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.'"

It is GOD who ESTABLISHES, not Satan, not the demons, not fate, not you and I.

• Prov 16:9 “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” Man proposes, but God disposes. God executes His will.

• Prov 19:21 “Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.”