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CHAPTER 7 (ESV)

 

1 Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished his entire house.

 

2 He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was a hundred cubits and its breadth fifty cubits and its height thirty cubits, and it was built on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars. 3 And it was covered with cedar above the chambers that were on the forty-five pillars, fifteen in each row. 4 There were window frames in three rows, and window opposite window in three tiers. 5 All the doorways and windows had square frames, and window was opposite window in three tiers.

 

6 And he made the Hall of Pillars; its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth thirty cubits. There was a porch in front with pillars, and a canopy in front of them.

 

7 And he made the Hall of the Throne where he was to pronounce judgment, even the Hall of Judgment. It was finished with cedar from floor to rafters.

 

8 His own house where he was to dwell, in the other court back of the hall, was of like workmanship. Solomon also made a house like this hall for Pharaoh’s daughter whom he had taken in marriage.

 

9 All these were made of costly stones, cut according to measure, sawed with saws, back and front, even from the foundation to the coping, and from the outside to the great court. 10 The foundation was of costly stones, huge stones, stones of eight and ten cubits. 11 And above were costly stones, cut according to measurement, and cedar. 12 The great court had three courses of cut stone all around, and a course of cedar beams; so had the inner court of the house of the Lord and the vestibule of the house.

 

REFLECTION

1. Solomon’s palace complex took longer to build than the temple. The palace complex had many buildings, a mix of public administrative centers and private dwellings.
2. The king evidently completed the temple and then began work on his palace (cf. 9:10). This reveals Solomon’s priorities: first a house for God, then one for himself. Solomon’s buildings were lavish, but none of them were even begun until the place of worship was completed. This echoes the priorities Jesus talked about in Mat 6:24-34.
3. What is my priority of my life? How, in reality, do I seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and trust that all I need will be provided to me?

 

PRAYER

Read this verse a few times until it sinks in. Then converse with God about how God and I will make this a reality in my life.

“Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.”(Mat 6:33, The Message)