Why did Solomon build such an amazing Temple? Why are we given such details about the actual Temple building and all of the fixtures within the Temple? Does God look at the physical building when people gather to worship him or does He look upon the motives of the people who are gathering to worship Him? What do you think God cares about? The question of how we worship God is nothing new because we are always trying to obtain a direct, tangible, and concrete definition of what faith in God truly looks like. “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.” Hebrews 11:1,2 In Hebrews we are told that the men of old gained approval by faith and a long list of noteworthy people of renown are listed. So why did Solomon build this temple for the Lord? What does worship look like? What is expressed in worship?
In 1 King chapter 7 we are given greater detail about the home that Solomon built for himself and the furnishings that were created to fill the temple. When reading about detailed descriptions about a home made of cedar from Lebanon, bronze pillars ‘Boaz’ and ‘Jakin’, bronze basins, utensils, massive cherubim surrounding the ark, and many other assorted items made of bronze and gold you can start to wonder why should I care? Why are such things made?
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it with His hand, saying, ‘Since the day that I brought My people Israel from Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house that My name might be there, but I choose David to be over My people Israel.’ Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who will be born to you, he will build the house for My name.’ Now the Lord has fulfilled His word which He spoke; for I have risen in place of my father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. There I have set a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord, which He made with our fathers when He brought them from the land of Egypt.
1 Kings 8:15-21
The words spoken by Solomon continue in 1 Kings chapter 8 to praise God for His goodness and faithfulness to the people of Israel. The prayer of Solomon pleads for God to remember the people of Israel when they turn back to God after straying from following Him. In life when we are wavering in our faith in God we need to be to be assured that God’s faithfulness endures in the midst of our unfaithfulness. Solomon knew that God is far greater than he could comprehend but he earnestly prays that God is true to His nature as he remembers His people. Solomon reminds the people of Israel to walk before God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength because then they will be blessed. I have been amazed at how throughout the Bible the need for us to love God and love people is continually proclaimed.
So what is true worship? We are repeatedly exhorted to love God with all of our heart, with all of our mind, with all of our soul, and with all of our strength. As we cling to God our love for Him will pour out to those around us. This is true worship in it’s most simplistic form. This worship can be manifested in many different ways and I believe that Solomon’s building of the Temple is an extension of his love and worship of God. I pray that as you worship God you will remember that you are to love God with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength because as you seek Him more you light will shine brighter to those around you.
