1 Kings 7

What are we to make of Solomon's other building projects? The account in 1 Kings 7 simply lists these great works that the king completed without any critique. Could it be that these great houses and halls were built for some other reason than for us to judge Solomon?

These great achievements were all part of the glorious reign of this king of peace. The Lord was not against the glory of Solomon. He was the one who gave Him this great wealth and honor. We are to see in these grand achievements not only a man of great ability but even more than that a God who keeps His Word. As the Lord had promised to Solomon, He gave the son of David not only great wisdom, but also extraordinary riches and honor.

We need to make the inseparable connection between the glory of the king and the wonder of the temple of God. We have a King who is coming with greater glory than Solomon. We are joint-heirs with Him, and together with Him we have become the temple of the Lord our God. His future glory has been welded together inseparably with our hope.

What is our relationship to the King of Glory?

It is our joy to be His servants now and forever. In the days of Solomon a man named Hiram was given the privilege to use his wisdom and skill in doing great works of beauty and usefulness for the glory of the God of Israel. He applied himself to the tasks he had been given, and his work was counted as the work of the king himself.

We also live in an era when a great temple is being built for the Lord God by a great King. He has called many people from the far corners of the earth to be his servants. From His place of authority and dominion at the right hand of the Majesty on high, he has ordained good works for us that we might walk in them.

We are happy to admit that none of has anything that is not first the gift of God to us. We do not presume to judge the glory of our great king. That is not the heart that He has put within us. We cast our crowns before Him. We bow before Him and joyfully confess that Jesus is Lord.

We also remember His eternal love for us displayed through the cross. We are so grateful to be His servants. Yet Jesus is not content to let “servants” be the last word describing our connection to Him. Our Savior has counted us as His treasured possession in the house of the Lord. Through Him we are more than conquerors, and we have even become sons of God in Him who rose from the dead for our justification.