Bible Commentaries
1 Kings 7

Verses 1-51

1. Opening:
   1. Giving God our everything: “So when man finds Jesus, it costs him everything. Jesus has happiness, joy, peace, healing, security, eternity. Man marvels at such a pearl and says, I want this pearl. How much does it cost? The seller says, it’s too dear, too costly. But how much? Well, it’s very expensive. Do you think I could buy it? It costs everything you have - no more, no less - so anybody can buy it. I’ll buy it. What do you have? Let’s write it down. I have $10,000 in the bank. Good, $10,000. What else? I have nothing more. That’s all I have. Have you nothing more? Well, I have some dollars here in my pocket. How many? I’ll see: 30, 40, 50, 80, 100, 120 - $120. That’s fine. What else do you have? I have nothing else. That’s all. Where do you live? I live in my house. The house, too. Then you mean I must live in the garage? You have a garage, too? That, too. What else? Do you mean that I must live in my car, then? You have a car? I have two. Both become mine. Both cars. What else? Well, you have my house, the garage, the cars, the money, everything. What else? Are you alone in the world? No, I have a wife, two children...Your wife and children, too. Too? Yes, everything you have. What else? I have nothing else, I am left alone now. Oh, you too! Everything becomes mine - wife, children, house, money, cars - everything. And you too. Now you can use all those things here but don’t forget they are mine, as you are. When I need any of the things you are using, you must give them to me because now I am the owner. Pray
2. Intro: Solomon’s House, God’s House
   1. ​​​​​​​The temple was larger and more elaborate than the tabernacle. It was not a temporary tent w/skins for a covering; rather, it was a magnificent stone building that couldn’t be moved.
      1. There were windows and a floor in the temple (6:4,15), both of which were lacking in the tabernacle.
      2. Solomon added 2 cherubim to the holy of holies (6:23-30) and placed the ark under them.
3. PALACE COMPLEX (1-12) Solomon’s House
   1. ​​​​​​​After finishing the temple, Solomon turns his attention to the palace compound.
      1. This compound includes the House of the Forest of Lebanon, Hall of Pillars, Hall of the Throne, Hall of Judgment, his own house, and a house for Pharaoh’s daughter - all made of large, costly stone and cedar.
   2. But now the author gets right back to God’s House...and for the rest of the ch.
4. HURAM, MINISTER OF THE MARKETPLACE (13,14) God’s House
   1. ​​​​​​​1 Chron.28:11,12,19 this was God’s plan, to David, to Solomon.
   2. This bronze-worker is not to be confused with King Hiram from 5:1.
   3. Bezalel, whom Yahweh filled with the Spirit of God to carry out the work of the tabernacle, also possessed these same qualities (Exod 31:2-6; 35:30,31).
   4. Our Churches 4th Value is Stewardship: Serving God with generous hearts as we invest our time, talent, and treasure in building His kingdom.
   5. I’d like to see the caste system of Christianity torn down. This idea of clergy & laity.
      1. ​​​​​​​This thought of, I’m just a layman. A kind of 2nd class system, which is less noble than being on staff.
   6. If we’re waiting till everyone comes to church in order to build God’s Kingdom, it’s going to be a mini-kingdom at best.
      1. Jerusalem/Zion/the Temple & Church buildings today are designed to be centripetal (Moving or directed toward a center) [But we must also be centrifugal]
         1. Micah 4:2 Many nations shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.
         2. ​​​​​​​Ask? Other examples of Centripetal? Jonah; Paul.
         3. Other examples of Centrifugal? Queen of Sheba; Ethiopian Eunuch. (Grt Commission, Go)
      2. We’ve done a good job encouraging people to go into full time ministry, but I don’t think we’ve done as good a job helping everyone to realize, They’re IN the ministry.
         1. ​​​​​​​I know one church celebrates when someone gets off staff, for the purpose of going to serve in the world again. (Mosaic)
      3. I’ve said before, God only had 1 Son, & He was a Preacher. But the other side of that is, and God placed Him in a businessman’s home, not in a Priests. :)
      4. Praise God for the Ministers of the Marketplace.
         1. Wesley said, The world is my parish. Jesus said, do business till I come.
      5. So, ministers of the Market Place, thank you for working in the world.
         1. See your job or business as a place where God desires to use you & build His kingdom.
         2. Be honest in your dealings. Look for ways to share your faith.
         3. Seek to be the best at what you do, for the glory of God.
         4. Seek to be like Bezalel & Huram.
         5. 1 Cor.10:31 whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
5. 2 PILLARS (15-22)
   1. ​​​​​​​Descriptions of Hiram’s bronze work are arranged according to size - from large items like pillars to small items like utensils.
   2. Bronze - The Hebrew word used here, nechosheth, means copper ore, but it typically referred to the bronze alloy used throughout the ancient Near East.
   3. (18) Pomegranates - In the ancient Near East, pomegranates were a symbol of abundance.
   4. (21) Instead of a dusty outer court, the temple had a beautiful porch with 2 pillars called Jachin & Boaz.
      1. Solomon’s Portico was frequently a place for rabbis to meet with their Disciples and to engage in public teaching.
         1. A number of events recorded in the Gospels (Luke 2:46 Jesus as a Jr Higher. Jn.10:22,23 Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch)
         2. This is where Peter healed a lame man. Acts 3:11 Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.
   5. Jakin The Hebrew word used here, yakhin, means he will establish/stability.
      1. The names of these 2 pillars likely represent catchwords of sentences that were inscribed on the pillars. Mesopotamian doors and gates often bore names asking the gods for protection and blessing.
   6. Boaz - the Hebrew word used here, boaz, means in strength.
      1. ​​​​​​​Any & every worshipper who approached the Temple was reminded of God’s Strength and Stability. He is our strength & stability.
         1. In both worship & warfare, amid all of life’s changes, we need a stable & a strong heart from God.
6. BASIN & OXEN (23-26)
   1. ​​​​​​​(23) Basin - this makes the diameter 15’ wide & 7.5’ tall.
   2. (25) Oxen - used as work animals throughout the ancient world, oxen (or bulls) symbolized strength.
   3. We need not only the blood of the altar, but the water of the word. Not only the sacrifice of the cross, the washing feet (Jn.13).
   4. CARTS/STANDS & LAVERS (27-39)
7. ​​​​​​​TEMPLE FURNISHINGS (40-51)
   1. ​​​​​​​(49) The 10 lampstands/menorah described here contrast the single lampstand used to light the Tabernacle.
   2. (50) Firepans - associated with the incense altar (Lev 16:12), not the sacrificial altar.
   3. Everything about the building & its furniture was meant as a teaching tool. Every point had a typological value, which pointed to Christ.
      1. Tabernacle (And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us). Lampstand (light of the world). Showbread (I am the bread of life). Veil (which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh). Basin (washes us). Altar (He is the sacrifice). Priest (Jesus the High Priest).
         1. But how do we know when something is typological? When the bible says so :)
   4. A SYMBOLIC TABERNACLE (Heb.9:1-5)
   5. At the Tabernacle, everything points to the holiness of God & the sinfulness of man. In that, no one could enter God’s presence w/o the shedding of blood.
   6. (5b) Of these things we cannot now speak in detail - known as the greatest Bible Study that never was.
   7. AN INADEQUATE TABERNACLE (6-10)
   8. What an endless repetition of sacrifices & ritual. Every day, year by year…which meant nothing permanent was ever accomplished.
      1. We see limited access & limited efficacy (effectiveness)
   9. AN ADEQUATE TABERNACLE (11-15)
   10. The good News - The need for pictures/copies/shadows/imitations/substitutes are over.
       1. He says, go on to the reality the H.S. is pointing to. The full forgiveness of sins of this New Covenant. The result?…Intimacy w/God.
   11. What was the contrast between Jesus & the old system?
       1. What He offered – His own blood (12).
       2. Where He offered it – in Heavens Tabernacle (11,12).
       3. How often? – once & for all (12).
       4. W/what Results? – Eternal Redemption & Eternal Inheritance (12,15).
          1. Did you see the 3 eternals: Eternal Redemption - Eternal Spirit - Eternal Inheritance.
   12. (12) There is a saying among Italian sculptors, who often miss the chisel and hit their own hands with the hammer: "When the blood flows out, the mastery enters." [not exactly what I used to say when I hit mine as an electrician]
       1. "When the blood flows out, the mastery enters." Is what Jesus would have said, regarding His death on Calvary...which made him the master of our souls.
          1. Oh, "There is power, power, wonder-working power In the precious blood of the Lamb.”
   13. (14) If Christ is an example, nobody needs him...but if he's a sacrifice, everyone does.
   14. Oswald Chambers, When Jesus Christ shed his blood on the cross, it was not the blood of a martyr; or the blood of one man for another; it was the life of God poured out to redeem the world.