Day 136-11

IX - The Reign of Solomon - 985-945 B.C. ~ cont.
B. Solomon builds (20 years) ~ cont.
1. Preparations for building ~ cont.
d. Instructions about God's ideal woman - Proverbs 31:1-31
2. Building of the Temple
a. Begins to build - 1 Kings 6:1, 37; 2 Chronicles 3:1-2
b. God's promise to Solomon - 1 Kings 6:11-13
c. Dimensions of the Temple - 1 Kings 6:2; 2 Chronicles 3:3
d. Materials of the Temple - 1 Kings 6:7, 9; 2 Chronicles 3:5-7
e. Porch - 1 Kings 6:3; 2 Chronicles 3:4
f. Windows - 1 Kings 6:4
g. Stories - 1 Kings 6:5-8, 10
h. Most Holy place - 1 Kings 6:16-22; 2 Chronicles 3:8-9
i. Cherubim - 1 Kings 6:23-28; 2 Chronicles 3:10-13
j. Vail - 2 Chronicles 3:14
k. Walls and floors - 1 Kings 6:15, 29-30
l. Doors - 1 Kings 6:31-35

{pages 596 - 600}

And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.  (1 Kings 6:7)

No axe or iron heard in the building?  I was trying to think of the passage wherein God instructed no tools were to be used on the stones of the altar.  Thought Gill might give some insight, but received a different type of exhortation on that portion of the passage:

so that there was neither hammer, nor axe, nor any tool of iron, heard in the house while it was in building; the first of these observations shows, that none are to be laid in the spiritual building of the church, but such as are first hewed and squared by the Spirit, grace, and word of God: or who have an experience of the grace of God, are sound in the faith, and of becoming lives and good conduct; and the other denotes, that such as are therein, whether ministers or members, should do all they do for the edification of the church in a quiet and peaceable manner, without clamour, contention, fights, and tumults. 

I liked the part about the Spirit hewing and squaring a believer, it is all HIS choosing and design to raise up living stones for Himself.

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.  (1 Peter 2:5)

This portion of 1 Kings 6:6 intrigued me:

...that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house.

Not fastened in the walls?  How does that work?  Okay, Gill, my commentator that gives me the fragmentation I particularly need right here:

that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house; or be inserted into them, which could not be done without making holes in it; and these holes could not be made without an iron instrument, and which was not to be used, as the next words show; whereas by the above method the beams of the chambers could be laid upon the buttresses, benches, or rebatements left, without the use of any: the gradual enlargement of these chambers, as they rose higher, may denote the enlargement of the church of God, both as to numbers, gifts, and grace, the nearer it comes to the heavenly state, as in the spiritual and personal reign of Christ.

O Lord, help us, Your people to be obedient to be about Your business, not counting our lives, wants, needs and/or desires as anything but subjected to You and Your plans for Your Bride.  Help us Lord to say not my will, but thine be done.

Here I am Lord, send me.