And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.
And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying, Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in My Statutes, and execute My Judgments, and keep all My Commandments to walk in them; then will I perform My Word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father: And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel. So Solomon built the house, and finished it.
In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid, in the month Zif: And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it. (1 Kings 6:1, 11-14, 37-38)
Four years into his peaceful reign, after gathering the materials he would need from Hiram of Tyre, Solomon and the Israelites began the temple and completed it seven years later. 480 years after they left Egypt under Moses they began a permanent house of worship unto the LORD who had delivered them from bondage and redeemed Israel unto Himself. God called for His people to walk in His ways and to obey His Word that they might be blessed in the promises of God.
A simple reckoning of the house which Solomon built unto the LORD who though He does not need a house built with hands, agreed to David’s request and then gave the responsibility to Solomon to build the temple of God. The tabernacle had been adequate for their worship and meeting with God since it was built in the wilderness. From Moses, through Joshua, the Judges, and the kings before Solomon, and now to Solomon, God who does not live in houses nor does He need any place to dwell, met with His people in that which He had directed. Now Solomon built a permanent structure with the nation at peace, because Israel was no longer a wandering nation at war with those around the nation, but a settled people at rest in the promised land which God had given unto Abraham. If they would obey His Word, His Statutes and Judgments, and do that which He commanded, He would dwell with Israel and they would be blessed by God.
We who are in Christ by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary are now the temple of God, built without hands, and lively stones in the house which God is building. Reconciliation with the Living God who created us has given His people rest and made us His people and His servants, to build His Kingdom, not with the materials or the weapons of this world but with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Empowered, equipped, and enabled by the Holy Spirit to do the work of God, we go where He sends us and accomplish His ministry, missions, and discipleship of His people until all have heard as we continue to reach the lost, teach all nations, and preach His Word in this world. We are His temple, His dwelling place as the people of God, holy and dedicated unto Him. We are His body and bride, His workmanship to do that which He commands and all for His glory, Our God, who created us after His image, who redeemed us from the bondage of sin, and now indwells within us to guide and direct those who hear His voice into being the priests and ministers of God, until He returns to establish a permanent earthly Kingdom.
Until that day, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
A simple reckoning of the house which Solomon built unto the LORD who though He does not need a house built with hands, agreed to David’s request and then gave the responsibility to Solomon to build the temple of God. The tabernacle had been adequate for their worship and meeting with God since it was built in the wilderness. From Moses, through Joshua, the Judges, and the kings before Solomon, and now to Solomon, God who does not live in houses nor does He need any place to dwell, met with His people in that which He had directed. Now Solomon built a permanent structure with the nation at peace, because Israel was no longer a wandering nation at war with those around the nation, but a settled people at rest in the promised land which God had given unto Abraham. If they would obey His Word, His Statutes and Judgments, and do that which He commanded, He would dwell with Israel and they would be blessed by God.
We who are in Christ by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary are now the temple of God, built without hands, and lively stones in the house which God is building. Reconciliation with the Living God who created us has given His people rest and made us His people and His servants, to build His Kingdom, not with the materials or the weapons of this world but with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Empowered, equipped, and enabled by the Holy Spirit to do the work of God, we go where He sends us and accomplish His ministry, missions, and discipleship of His people until all have heard as we continue to reach the lost, teach all nations, and preach His Word in this world. We are His temple, His dwelling place as the people of God, holy and dedicated unto Him. We are His body and bride, His workmanship to do that which He commands and all for His glory, Our God, who created us after His image, who redeemed us from the bondage of sin, and now indwells within us to guide and direct those who hear His voice into being the priests and ministers of God, until He returns to establish a permanent earthly Kingdom.
Until that day, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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