Bible Commentaries
1 Kings 6

Verses 1-38

1. TEMPLE CONSTRUCTION (ch.6)
   1. Floor Plan (1-10)
   2. This number is based on the calculation of 12 generations of 40 years.
   3. Solomon built the temple 1st (7 yrs). Then he built the king’s house and the other structures and courts that made up the temple area. The entire project took 20 years.
      1. You will note that the temple area included buildings in addition to the temple proper (see next week in 7:1-12).
   4. The dimensions of the temple proper were double that of the tabernacle, so the temple itself was not a huge structure. [see football field]
      1. The temple was made of cut stone, overlayed with wood, overlayed with gold, and embellished with precious stones.
   5. (7) The building stones were precut at the quarry and silently fitted into place. The stone cutters were following God’s plans, so everything fit together.
   6. Nothing was heard. Silence was very significant.
      1. The stone was made ready at the quarry. Thus all true work in the world is being done still. Thats why the church has taken so many centuries to build, & is not complete yet.
      2. But how reassuring the promise, which broke in on the heart of Solomon, that God would dwell there and not for sake His people.
      3. Zech.6:12-15 Jesus, whom Solomon was a type, also invites those from afar to be apart of the temple building. Every believer is a living stone Temple.
   7. The temple was not a temporary tent with skins for a covering; rather, it was a magnificent stone building that could not be moved.
      1. There were windows and a floor in the temple (4,15), both of which were lacking in the tabernacle.
   8. Promise (11-13)
   9. Walk, actually live this way. Execute & keep, actually do them not just believe them.
   10. Then - 3 promises will follow.
   11. Interior Design (14-36)
   12. (23-30) Solomon added 2 cherubim to the holy of holies and placed the ark under them.
   13. Zech.6:12-15 Jesus, whom Solomon was a type, also invites those from afar to be apart of the temple building.
       1. Every believer is a living Stone Temple.
   14. The Temple is a type of the believers body & of the whole church of God.
       1. How? Each being God’s dwelling place.
          1. The believers body - 1 Cor.3:16,17 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
          2. The whole church of God - Eph.2:21,22 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
   15. 1 Cor.3:16 This has to do with all believers, anytime & anywhere.
   16. Key: the temple does not refer to the structure in which believers meet to worship. Rather, Christians themselves are the temple.
       1. We are God’s temple why? - Because the Spirit of God dwells in us (1 Cor.6:19)
       2. know there are 2 words in Greek for Temple: naos & hieron.
          1. One means the Temple building itself, hieron. Naos means the Sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, where the glory of God dwells (that is the word used here).
       3. We are God’s sanctuary, the place of His holy awesome presence.
       4. You are not simply the structure in which He lives. You are the dwelling place of the Shekinah glory of God! :)
   17. Note: The Spirit of God dwells in you - not an influence of the Spirit; but the 3rd person of the Trinity Himself.
       1. ​​​​​​​Christian, no matter how weak, feeble, poor, helpless, or frustrated you feel; or how inadequate, incapable, incompetent, or ineffective you feel,…The Spirit of God dwells in you.
       2. Why does He dwell in us? That we might develop character, the fruit of the Spirit, good works, & the reproduction of the character of Jesus Christ.
       3. The O.T. tabernacle had an outer court (where the public walked), the inner court (which was the place of service), & the Holy of Holies (the sanctuary of the presence of God).
          1. We are not to live in the outer court (the world); we are not to live only in the inner court (of the busy rush of Christian service); but in the Holiest of all (walking as holy men & women w/dignity, reverence, & worship)
   18. 1 Cor.6:19 Your body is the temple...You are not your own, It is a great pleasure not to be one’s own. Does any man think it would be a pleasure to be his own? Let me assure him that there is no ruler so tyrannical as self. He that is his own master has a fool & a tyrant to be his lord. (Spurg)
       1. Remember whatever controls you, whatever drives you to keep living each day, masters you. - It is not too late to change Masters.
       2. Under New Management – sign we see all the time over businesses that have been taken over by another company, or a new owner, should be a sign we can hang over our lives.
   19. Ps.27:4,5 :)