Chapter 5 Footnote:
When David offered to
build a temple, God said no through the prophet Nathan. God wanted a
peacemaker, not a warrior to build his house of
prayer.
In building the temple, only blocks
dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool
was heard at the temple site while it was being built.
1 Kings 6:7
Footnote:
In honor of God, the temple in
Jerusalem was built without the sound of a hammer or any other tool at the
building site. This meant that the stone had to be "dressed" (cut and shaped )
miles away at the quarry. The people's honor and respect for God extended to
every aspect of constructing this house of worship. This detail is recorded not
to teach us how to build a church, but to show us the importance of
demonstrating care, concern, honor and respect for God and his
sanctuary.
And I will live among the Israelites
and will not abandon my people Israel.
1 Kings 6:13
Footnote:
This verse summarizes the temple's main purpose. God promised that his eternal presence would never leave the
temple as long as one condition was met: the Israelites had to obey God's law.
Knowing how many laws they had to follow, we may think this condition was
difficult. But the Israelites' situation was much like ours today: they were
not cut off from God for failing to keep some small subpoint of a law.
Forgiveness was amply provided for all their sins; no matter how large or
small. As you read the history of the kings, you will see that lawbreaking was
the result, not the cause, of estrangement
from God. The kings abandoned God in their hearts first and then failed
to keep his laws.
When we close our hearts to God, his
power and presence soon leave us.
Keep reading -- 198 days left!
All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV
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