The temple was a big project, but it wasn’t the biggest building project that Solomon undertook. The biggest building project was the construction of his own palace. It took seven years to build the temple, but, as we are told in 7:1, it took Solomon thirteen years to build his palace. The book of Kings was compiled from official national records during the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon, about 300 years after Solomon, when the temple was destroyed. The main question that the compiler and narrator wants to answer is: “Why did this happen? How did the demise of Israel get to the point where God was compelled to eject them from the land and allow the temple to be destroyed?” This narrator clearly sees the beginning of this demise in this golden age of Solomon. In this time the priorities of the throne begin to shift and with this the priorities of the people. It is just as God had warned his people in Deuteronomy 8: “When you have eaten and are satisfied . . . Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God . . . Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God.” Where are your priorities right now? It is easy to tell. Just look at what you give most of your passion, energy and resources to.
Think about your priorities and rededicate yourself to God.
Read 1 Kings 7
