S. S. Times 1 Kings 6:1-14 And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt… I. THE LORD'S HOUSE BEGUN. 1. The date. 2. The doing. (1) When Solomon was ready, and the right time had come, he began to build the Lord s house. (2) Solomon did not begin to build the Lord's house before he was ready. He did not rush into the Lord's service without counting the cost. (3) Solomon could the more readily build well for the Lord's use, because his father had foreseen the needs of the work. The Christian parent can make much easier the child's entrance upon Christian service. (4) Solomon began to build for the Lord, and he didn't stop with the beginning, as do some so-called servants of the Lord. II. GOD'S HOUSE BUILDED. 1. The size of the temple. 2. The porch of the temple. 3. The chambers of the temple. 4. The building of the temple. (1) The temple was a magnificent one. Nothing was too good for the Lord's use. Solomon did not belong to the class of men who put their punched coin into the contribution-box and give their unmarketable produce to the minister. (2) The temple was a large one. But Solomon and the parish committee didn't commence to build until they had means to complete the Lord's house without the assistance of a colossal mortgage. (3) The temple was builded in silence. Many a great and grand Christian work is accomplished with little stir. For the time being a man may make as much noise in making a chicken-coop as in building a church. (4) The temple was a permanent structure. Building for God is work that abides. And we may be stones in a temple of God that shall outlast the stars. III. GOD'S PROMISE TO THE BUILDER. 1. The condition. 2. The conclusion. (1) Performance promised. (2) Presence promised. 3. Completion. (1) The word of God came unto Solomon with the promise that his building for God should secure his up-building from God. (2) The word of God comes unto us with the assurance that if we do a good work for Him and love Him, all things shall work together for good to us whom He loves. (3) The word of God that came to Solomon comes to us, with the warning that even our temple-building will not avail unless we offer the sacrifices of obedience on its altars. (4) The presence of God was specially promised to Solomon just after he had made special preparation for God's worship. (5) The presence of God in our hearts is assured to us so soon as we show suitable readiness to welcome His presence. (6) The presence of God in some manifestation has never failed to His children. The temple of Solomon was destroyed; the later temple was burned. But their usefulness was over, for the presence of God now makes a temple of every believer's heart. (S. S. Times.) Parallel Verses KJV: And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD. |
    |