Bible Chapter: I Kings 7 & 8

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    When King Solomon built something, he built it all the way.  The Temple was amazingly beautiful and furnished beyond something I can conceive.  Solomon also built a palace for himself.  Again, it was an amazing project.  Many of the furnishings in the temple were pure gold.  When they were done with the work they brought the Ark of the Covenant to the temple.  The ark was a gold-plated chest that was in the Tabernacle that Moses had constructed when Israel was in the wilderness.  It represented the presence of God.
    Solomon directed the dedication of the temple.  This included a massive amount of animals sacrificed to God.  It was one of the highlights of any events that have ever happened.  8:11 says"so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD." (NKJV)  The power and the presence of the Lord was so strong that the people were overwhelmed.  There is nothing anywhere like the power and presence of God.  When the dedication was completed, all the people went home joyful and with gladness of heart for all the good things God had done.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    It is amazing to read the details of King Solomon and the lifestyle he lived.  This goes for the beauty of the Temple and all of the furnishings.  Now, today, we have things available that King Solomon could only dream of.  The amount of material possessions and lifestyle privileges continues to grow.  With the goal of so many to accumulate more and more, and with countless people achieving those goals of accumulation, one would think that the world was in the best condition ever.  However, that is not true.  The amount of wealth people have collected is only leaving them hungering for more.
    Does this mean there is no hope for genuine fulfillment?  No!!  We see the solution in these chapters, and specifically in the verse previously mentioned.  When the power and the presence of the Lord is real and experienced, a person knows they have what they really need.  The lesson is that we need to put all our efforts in to seeking all of God that we can.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I want to help people focus on and understand the true priorities in life.  The most important goal is to know God and live in obedience to Him.  That will bring us to fulfillment. That will bring us to our eternal home with the Lord.