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. . . .

Have you committed the unpardonable sin? Do you feel guilty when you take the Lord’s name in vain? Do you worry about denying Christ under pressure? What is the unpardonable sin anyway?

Unrestrained lust and self-gratification will not satisfy. Neither will wealth or success (Ecc. 2:1-11). King Solomon could confidently state these things because he had more women (700 wives, 300 concubines) and more wealth than anyone else – ever. So, he should know.

Neither is wisdom . . .

Millions of decisions and details must be considered when building a house: which floor plan; where to build; what materials; who to hire; how to pay for it. The list seems endless. Even just the furnishing and decorating phase can be overwhelming. Which sink and stove and other fixtures to choose? What flooring and furniture will coordinate well together? Whew! Building a house is a huge undertaking.

Now imagine that you are building a house for God . . .

The story of King Jeroboam, first king of divided Israel (c. 920 BC), is so filled with drama and intrigue that it would make a great movie. How has Hollywood missed this opportunity? Are there no Bible readers in Hollywood?

My opening scene would be the prophet Ahijah tearing Jeroboam’s new cloak into 12 pieces . . . .