II Chronicles Chapter 3
Please read: II Chronicles 3 –
The temple was built on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem which is the very spot where God visited David at the threshing floor of Ornan. And it was on this same hill that Abraham once offered up his son Isaac, but God stopped his hand. As Solomon began to build the temple it marked the end of an era, the era of many years of living in the promised land without a temple. In fact, if we look back to - I Kings 6 we learn that it had been 480 years.
It was four years before they were actually ready to start the building process. During those four years there was a lot of preparation work. This would include time for the logs to dry that were floated down from Lebanon. And probably much like what we consider an “old fashioned barn raising,” the timbers would have needed to be cut and organized so on the day that they raised the timbers they would have all fit together at just the right joints.
This chapter is full of descriptive details that were poured into making the temple beautiful. Details such decorative chains and pomegranates encircling the tops of pillars. And we have the dimensions of the temple, so we know how big it was since we know the cubit was about 18 inches. The beautiful temple is where they would give honor and worship to the only true God.
Let's Reflect
1. As you read the description and learn that almost everything inside the temple was covered with gold, what would have been the effect when candles were lit?
2. What was carved into the golden walls of the temple?
3. The Most Holy Place was at the back of the temple. What were the dimensions of this very special room?
4. What two statues were made of wood and covered with gold to stand against the back wall in the Most Holy Place?
5. There was a veil that was placed across the front of the room called the Most Holy Place. What were the colors of the veil?
6. What design was sewn into the fabric of the veil?
7. Picture yourself coming into the temple and seeing the cherubim all along the walls of gold, the cherubim sewn into the fabric and the tall gold statues standing guard over the Ark of the Covenant with outstretched wings. As you take in the beauty of the temple with the lighted candles, what place should the temple remind you of where we will worship our LORD and Savior surrounded by cherubim and angels who also worship Him?
