1 Kings 7:48 Solomon also made all the furnishings that were in the Lord’s temple: the golden altar; the golden table on which was the bread of the Presence;
It is interesting that we as humans tend to go overboard with projects. We build BIG buildings. We write LONG stories. We tell TALL tales. Few people aim for below average. Most of us want to do better than our parents, leave the world a better place, give our kids more that we got. This is part of the way the LORD made us in His image.
The LORD himself made a BIG universe. He has a LONG history of interaction with the world. He tells TALL tales that actually happened. (Think crossing of the Rea Sea, walking on water, raising the dead.) The LORD went overboard when He made this place for we His creatures to inhabit. Did we really need millions of viruses and bacteria, or species of plants! He did it to show us a glimpse of the greatness of that Image.
In the history of Israel we come to another pivotal point. The great King Davis has died and his son Solomon has taken over to rule in his place. One of the things Solomon completes that David didn’t is to build the Temple in Jerusalem. It was the hotspot of God’s presence here on earth, and as such it was to become one of the greatest buildings ever built.
The LORD was content to live in a comparatively simple tent. King David envisioned a massive and beatifically decorated temple filled with gold and carvings depicting nature in all its original beauty. Solomon caught a vision of the glory of David his father’s plans and carried them out with vigor.
Our text is the first part of a list of the things made for this hotspot of God’s presence. Gold, gold, gold, gold…. Can you imagine having such an abundance of gold that building this place didn’t take every bit of gold they had? There was so much of everything that it was out of the overflow that this magnificent structure was built.
Can you imagine a world were everyone was functioning at their full capacity. Everyone is not drained by illness or fatigue. Relationships are not draining but enriching. Everyone knows their purpose and gladly jumps in to help the common goal of humanity. We all reflect the creativity and glory of the one True God.
That it seems is what took place during the effort to build that ancient temple. But even that great building was destroyed. Our best efforts have a shelf life. They are due to be abandoned, recycled or destroyed.
But one day, all will be made new. And what a glorious day that will be. It will make this earthly temple seem like a YMCA, functional but lacking the fullness that is humanity.
The Arnold Journey 