June 04, 2014 - Wednesday

Start Time: 5:33 A.M.

End Time: 5:55 A.M.

Title: Preparations for Building the Temple

Scripture: 1 Kings 5:1 – 18

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ When Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king to succeed his father David, he sent his envoys to Solomon, because he had always been on friendly terms with David. Solomon sent back this message to Hiram: “You know that because of the wars waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build a temple for the Name of the Lord his God until the Lord put his enemies under his feet. But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster. I intend, therefore, to build a temple for the Name of the Lord my God, as the Lord told my father David, when he said, ‘Your son whom I will put on the throne in your place will build the temple for my Name.’  “So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My men will work with yours, and I will pay you for your men whatever wages you set. You know that we have no one so skilled in felling timber as the Sidonians.”  When Hiram heard Solomon’s message, he was greatly pleased and said, “Praise be to the Lord today, for he has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation.”

NOTES:

Ø God provides us the alliances we need to fulfill His purpose and sometimes, fulfilling His purpose takes time!  The alliance that David had with the Sidonians was with a purpose but the purpose was clearly revealed in the reign of Solomon.  The Sidonians are skilled in felling timber and they are useful for the building of the Lord’s temple.  This alliance was peaceful with King David and it was passed on to the next king, Solomon and with his wisdom that came from God, Solomon was able to maintain and preserve that alliance for the glory of the Lord. 

Ø When we come together to work for the fulfillment of God’s purpose, God ensures that we are satisfied and pleased in the process.  Both parties were pleased even the Sidonians for this alliance.  Solomon provides food for Hiram’s men while Hiram provides his men’s skills for the building of the temple.  All things work together for the glory of the Lord! 

→So Hiram sent word to Solomon: “I have received the message you sent me and will do all you want in providing the cedar and juniper logs. My men will haul them down from Lebanon to the Mediterranean Sea, and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you specify. There I will separate them and you can take them away. And you are to grant my wish by providing food for my royal household.”  In this way Hiram kept Solomon supplied with all the cedar and juniper logs he wanted, and Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors^[b] of wheat as food for his household, in addition to twenty thousand baths^[c][d] of pressed olive oil. Solomon continued to do this for Hiram year after year.  The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised him. There were peaceful relations between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.  King Solomon conscripted laborers from all Israel—thirty thousand men. He sent them off to Lebanon in shifts of ten thousand a month, so that they spent one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor.  Solomon had seventy thousand carriers and eighty thousand stonecutters in the hills,  as well as thirty-three hundred^[e] foremen who supervised the project and directed the workers. At the king’s command they removed from the quarry large blocks of high-grade stone to provide a foundation of dressed stone for the temple.  The craftsmen of Solomon and Hiram and workers from Byblos cut and prepared the timber and stone for the building of the temple.

NOTES:

Ø God’s purpose or work offers mutual benefits for everyone involve in it and peace relations with one another!  God does not only give us the benefits we need and want when we ally with others to fulfill His purpose but at the same time, God brings peace to all the workers involve in His purpose.  Let it be that we do not get tired of doing the purpose of God, not what we think His purpose is, but His real purpose because He will set everything at peace, in order and pleasing for everyone who participates.  Praise Jesus!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, great and mighty God!  Amazing Father and King of kings and Lord of lords.  I worship and praise Your Name Jesus because You alone deserve it.  Lord thank You because You provide alliances or friends to us to fulfill Your purpose in our lives and on earth.  Thank You because every move You make has a connection to Your Will and when we come together to fulfill and work on Your calling, You ensure that we are pleased and satisfied.  Lord help me to see the Your work is a blessing and that we get benefits for our own good when we do Your work.  I can be assured that when I am doing Your will that my relations with the people needed to fulfill Your task will be in order and at peace.  Thank You for this assurance Lord and help me to see Your purpose each day as You show me Your hands moving daily in my life.  I love You Lord.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!