Could King Solomon’s preparations for building the temple of God have some practical application for us as the temple of God (1 Cor. 3:16)? Those were my thoughts as I started reading 1 Kings 5. I was delighted with how many I found. Come along, I’ll show you.
But now the Lord my God has secured me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune. 5 So behold, I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, just as the Lord spoke to David my father, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will put on your throne in your place, he will build the house for My name. 1 Kings 5:4-5 NASB
God has given King Jesus rest on every side by raising Him up to heaven. Now He intends to build a house for the name of the Lord His God, just as God had prophesied long ago. We are blessed to be a part of that house.
6 Now then, issue orders that they cut cedars from Lebanon for me, and my servants will be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants in accordance with all that you say, for you yourself know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.” I Kings 5:6
In scripture, humans and trees are found together at critical junctures. Trees illustrate a moment of decision and testing for humans. The Garden of Eden is the first and best example. Trees are also used to illustrate communion with God and/or eternal life. Hence trees are allegorical to humans.
The same Sidon means “fishery” or “hunting place.” Here we have a picture of the disciples. The Sidonians who knew how to cut timber are the fishers of men in this analogy.
So, the King and His friend gathered humans at the point of decision to commune with God and build a house for His name.
7 When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he greatly rejoiced; and he said, “Blessed be the Lord today, who has given to David a wise son over this great people.” 1 Kings 5:7
The king and his friend Hiram rejoiced greatly to build the house for the name of God together. The name Hiram means “Most Noble, High Born or Brother of The Lofty.” Hiram seems symbolic of the Holy Spirit. With that in mind, my Bridegroom King Jesus rejoices with His friend, the Holy Spirit at the task of building God a house.
So Hiram gave Solomon all that he wished of the cedar and juniper timber. 11 Solomon then gave Hiram twenty thousand kors of wheat as food for his household, and twenty kors of pure oil; this is what Solomon would give Hiram year by year. 1 Kings 5:10-11
Cedar symbolizes strength, beauty and divine blessing. Juniper trees are primarily associated with Elijah’s despair in the wilderness where he sought death after fleeing Queen Jezebel (1 Kings 19). This is also the place where Elijah received rest and divine encounters when an angel provided food and water.
King Jesus wants all the be saved, both the strong and those who are despairing in the wilderness (2 Pet. 3:9).
When we are used in the house of God, we will be covered with pure gold – His glory, His anointing (1 Kings 6:20).
King Solomon gave Hiram wheat as food and pure oil for his household. King Jesus gives the Holy Spirit spiritual food for His servants – that’s us! Pure oil symbolizes the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Again, that is for us!
Now King Solomon conscripted forced laborers from all Israel; and the forced laborers numbered thirty thousand men. 14 Then he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts; they were in Lebanon for a month, and two months at home. And Adoniram was in charge of the forced laborers. 1 Kings 5:13-14
Don’t be offended, but you and I are those conscripted laborers. Israel is God’s people. All of God’s people are His laborers. God is free to send us where He chooses. He wants us spending a third of our time gathering others unto Him.
Lebanon in Hebrew means “Place of Whiteness or White Mountain.” Whiteness is associated with purity. The laborers were sent to the place of purity. I suppose the place of purity would be in the Lord’s presence. The Lord wants us to spend a third of our time in His presence. I love that!
Then the king issued orders, and they quarried large stones, valuable stones, to lay the foundation of the house with cut stones. 18 So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the Gebalites cut the stones, and they prepared the timbers and the stones to build the house. 1 Kings 5:17-18
Stones, an enduring building material, were meant to stand for the truth that God is with us. And at the Temple’s dedication ceremony God promised “I have consecrated this house which you have built, by putting My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there always” (1 Kings 9:3).
King Jesus laid the foundation of God’s house with large and valuable stones of truth. Notice that King Jesus’ builders and the Holy Spirit’s builders cut these stones. We are those builders; we must rightly divide the Word (2 Tim. 2:15). I’m also thinking about 1 Peter 2:5 where we are the living stones of God’s temple.
The Gebalites who are helping to cut stones are fascinating. Gebal means “Boundary or Mountain of God.” So, the Gebalites are from the Mountain of God. Who might they be? Angelic helpers maybe?
After meditating on this chapter for a few days, I am wondering what stage we are at in building God’s house. Are we still preparing materials? Are we in the construction phase? Perhaps both are running concurrently, and the Lord assigns us to different tasks. How close are we to completion? Will it be complete before Jesus comes again or will that be His building project of the millennium?
Thanks for joining me in this meditation on the Word!