1 Kings 6:1 - Meaning and Application

Here, the temple is called the house of the Lord (1 Kings 6:1) for two reasons. First, the Lord himself designed it and shaped the plan. Infinite wisdom was its true architect, and he gave David the pattern by the Spirit, not only by word of mouth, but also in writing for greater certainty and accuracy (1 Chronicles 28:11, 1 Chronicles 28:12), just as he had given Moses a written sketch of the tabernacle.

Second, it was dedicated and set apart for the Lord and for his honor, to be used in his service. No other house was ever so used, because he showed his glory in it in a special way, fitting that time and covenant. When God gave Israel carnal ordinances, outward regulations, he also gave them a worldly sanctuary, an earthly holy place (Hebrews 9:1, Hebrews 9:10). This is what gave the temple its beauty of holiness. It was the house of the Lord, and that was greater than all its other splendor.

The time when the temple began to be built is also carefully given. It was 480 years after the children of Israel came out of Egypt. If we count forty years for Moses, seventeen for Joshua, 299 for the judges, forty for Eli, forty for Samuel and Saul, forty for David, and four for Solomon before he began the work, the total comes to 480. So much time passed between the founding of that holy nation and the building of that holy house, which was burned by Nebuchadnezzar in less than 430 years.

This long delay happened because Israel had made themselves unworthy of such honor by their sins. It also showed that God does not place great value on outward splendor in his worship. He was in no hurry for a temple. David’s tent, which was neat and useful though not grand or rich, and so far as we know never formally consecrated, is still called the house of the Lord (2 Samuel 12:20), and it served as well as Solomon’s temple. Yet when God gave Solomon great wealth, he put it into his heart to use it this way, and he graciously accepted it, especially because the temple was meant to point ahead to better things to come (Hebrews 9:9).

The temple was built in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign. The first three years were spent settling the affairs of the kingdom, so the work would not be hindered by confusion. Time spent putting our affairs in order and freeing ourselves from distractions is not wasted when it prepares us for God’s work.

During that time, Solomon also kept adding to the preparations his father had made (1 Chronicles 22:14). He cut the stone, shaped the timber, and got everything ready. So he is not to be blamed for waiting this long. We are truly serving God when we prepare ourselves for his service and make ourselves ready for it.

The materials were brought in ready for their place (1 Kings 6:7), so ready that no hammer or axe was heard in the house while it was being built. In building, Solomon rightly taught that the work should first be prepared in the field and then built (Proverbs 24:27). Here, the preparation was especially complete and exact. When the parts came together, nothing was missing and nothing had to be corrected.

This was to be the temple of the God of peace, so no iron tool was to be heard there. Quiet and silence fit religious worship and help it. God’s work should be done with as much care and as little noise as possible. The temple was pulled down with axes and hammers, and those who tore it down roared in the midst of the congregation (Psalm 74:4, Psalm 74:6), but it was built in silence. Noise and violence often hinder God’s work, but they never help it.

The dimensions are also given (1 Kings 6:2, 1 Kings 6:3) according to proper proportion. Some think the temple’s length and width were exactly double those of the tabernacle. Now that Israel had become more numerous, their place of worship needed to be larger (Isaiah 54:1, Isaiah 54:2). Now that they were richer, they were better able to enlarge it. Those to whom God gives much should use much for his service.

There is also an account of the windows (1 Kings 6:4). They were broad on the inside and narrow on the outside. Our spiritual sight should be like that. We should look more closely at ourselves than at other people, examining our own hearts carefully and being much slower to judge our brothers and sisters. The narrow windows also showed the darkness of that older covenant when compared with the light of the gospel.

The chambers are described too (1 Kings 6:5, 1 Kings 6:6). These were like side rooms or storage rooms. The holy utensils were carefully kept there, and the priests dressed and undressed there, leaving the clothes they wore in service. In some of these rooms, they likely ate the holy food as well. Solomon did not care so much for the building’s grandeur that he neglected the practical needs of its work, so everything could be done properly and in order.

Care was also taken that the beams were not fastened into the walls in a way that would weaken them (1 Kings 6:6). Let the church’s strength never be damaged under the excuse of making it prettier or more convenient.