Solomon Built The TempleDear Parents,
Moving on from David, this week our journey in The Gospel Project for Kids takes us to David’s son Solomon. Solomon was the second son of Bathsheba and the next king of Israel. Remember God made a covenant with David in which his sons would always rule on the throne. David was very old and Solomon had become the king. David encouraged his son to always follow God and to walk in His ways. Once David died, Solomon had a dream in which God told him to ask for anything he wanted. Solomon told God that he was a young man and that what he wanted most of all was the wisdom needed to be a good leader for the people of Israel. God was pleased with Solomon’s request and granted it. God told Solomon he would have more wisdom than any person yet to live. Because he had not asked for selfish desires, God also granted that Solomon would be rich, live a long life, and receive honor from others. God told Solomon that he would be greater than any other king who had ever lived. Solomon could have asked for anything, but he chose to ask for wisdom to accomplish God’s will. God created people to do His will. Jesus provided for us the perfect example of doing God’s will when He willingly died on the cross for our sins. |
Solomon Built the Temple
1 Kings 6:1–8:66
Solomon became king of Israel after his father David died. God was with Solomon, and He made Solomon very wise. During the fourth year Solomon was king, he began to build a temple for the Lord.
The temple was to replace the tent where God had met with His people for 480 years—ever since God led the Israelites out of Egypt. Solomon ordered thousands of workers to help build the temple. The workers cut cedar logs and stone blocks. They laid a foundation and built the outside of the temple.
God blessed the temple and made a promise to Solomon. “If you obey My command and do what I say, I will keep the promise I made to David. I will live among the Israelites, and I will not abandon My people.”
The construction of the temple took seven more years. The craftsmanship was remarkable! The cedar paneling inside the temple was carved with ornamental gourds and flower blossoms. Solomon overlaid everything on the inside of the temple with pure gold. Solomon also hired men to make bronze furnishings for the temple, such as bronze basins for holding water.
With God’s temple complete, it was time for Solomon to move
the ark of God from its place on Mount Zion to the new temple in Jerusalem. Solomon gathered the leaders of Israel. As the priests moved the ark, its holy utensils, and the tent of meeting, King Solomon and everyone who had gathered sacrificed sheep and cattle to the Lord.
The priests positioned the ark of the covenant in the most holy place in the temple. When the priests came out of the temple, the temple was filled by a cloud. God’s glory was in the cloud.
Solomon turned to speak to the Israelites. “Praise God!” he said. “God promised David that his son would build a temple. We did it! God kept His promise!”
Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord. He prayed with his hands spread out toward heaven. Solomon recognized God for who He is: “There is no God like You!” Solomon thought about the future. He knew Israel would sin one day and make God angry again. Solomon asked for forgiveness, and he asked God to hear their prayers.
When Solomon had finished praying, he turned toward the Israelites and encouraged them to love and obey God. The people offered sacrifices to God. When they returned to their homes, they were joyful because God was good to them.
Christ Connection: Because God is holy, only the priests could approach God—and only if they followed specific instructions. Ordinary people had no direct access to the holy presence of God. Jesus changed all that. By His death on the cross, Jesus took away our sin. We can approach God intimately and individually when we trust Jesus as Lord and Savior.