May 31, 2016
1 Kings 6-Part 3
LET IT GLOW
Do you consider yourself as being precious, friend?
According to Webster's Dictionary, precious means of great value or high price.
Do you realize that you are precious to God? He loves you so much. You are of great value to Him. How do I know? Because His only Son, Jesus Christ, died in your place so you do not have to pay for your sins? (Me included) That tells me that we are of great value, precious, to Him. He paid a very high price so our soul does not spend eternity in hell, but in heaven with Him. How precious you are!
We read about the shell of the new Temple of God which Solomon built. It took 7 years to complete this place of worship for the Jews (Hebrews). God had given Moses the details and David collected materials for it. The Israelites were living in the Promised Land, flourishing with God's blessings. The Tabernacle had been the Hebrews ' worship place and was a temporary, movable tent. This Temple was a permanent place for their worship, since the Promised Land had been conquered.
Now we read of the details of the Temple, as one entered it:
- First, the two huge outer doors made of cypress (like modern bi-fold doors) were opened.
- The foundation and walls were made of stone.
- There were three parts-the entrance was called the Porch, which means vestibule (bound to the building)
- There was an outer and inner court. The outer court had stone walls and ceiling were totally paneled with cedar and overlaid with gold. the cedar was decorated with jewel carvings of gourds and open flowers. (verses 16-18)
- It was in the outer court where the animals were brought and killed for the people's sacrifices by the priests. Their hands were cleaned in the brass lavatory. Candle stick stands provided the light needed there.
- The outer and inner court were separated by huge veil, curtain, which hung from the ceiling to the floor. An altar of incense burned in front of the veil.
This was a building like no other. I am sure there were no flaws found. Perhaps that is why it took so long to build. Our God deserves the best we have.
No wonder the Babylonians wanted possession of it, with all the precious metals and jewels in it. Its contents and construction were of great monetary value.
What do we value inside our worship center? Is it the people, who are actually the church, or material things? Is God's presence of most importance?
LET IT GROW
- This inner sanctuary was only 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 30 feet high.
- Behind the veil, curtain, was the Ark of the Covenant with the Mercy Seat, where the high priest (once a year) offered blood sacrifices for the nation of Israel. The room, known as the Holy Place or Holy of Holies, was overlain with gold.
- Two wooden cherubims, covered with gold (probably hammered gold foil), represented the glory of God and stood over the Mercy Seat of the Ark. Their wingspan was 15 feet.
- Falwell says that the actual time of construction was 7 1/2 years.
- The veil was a curtain made of fine linen, decorated with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and embroidered with figures of chereubim. (NLT, 2 Chronicles 3:14)
This veil in the Jewish Temple split from top to bottom when Jesus died on the cross, giving us access to the throne room of God. Jesus became the sacrificial Lamb of God, killed on a cruel cross, providing the pure sacrificial blood to cover our sins, which God required. What an Awesome God!!
Jesus, the One True God, reigns forever.
Christians are the temple of God, where His Holy Spirit dwells. Does He sit upon the throne of our heart?
LET IT GO
Offer my self as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God.
Sing my God's praise-forever He is faithful, true, with us, as the song says.
Worship His Majesty.
Be thankful that He provided salvation to us Gentiles.
No comments:
Post a Comment