1 Kings

1 Kings 6: The LORD dwells among His people

Begin in prayer

Before we read about the house that Solomon built for the LORD, let us come to the Lord together. Ask Him to dwell with our family, and to show us Christ, God with us.

How lovely are your dwellings, Yahweh of Armies!

Psalm 84:1

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You choose to dwell among Your people and call them to walk in Your ways, and help us to trust You and Your Son, Jesus. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Solomon begins to build the LORD's house in the four hundred and eightieth year after Israel left Egypt. The stones are cut at the quarry, so no hammer or axe is heard while the house is built. The LORD speaks to Solomon and promises to dwell among the children of Israel if he walks in His statutes. Cedar lines the inside, and the inner room is overlaid with gold, and two cherubim of olive wood stand with their wings stretched out. The house is finished in the eleventh year, after seven years of building.

As you read 1 Kings 6, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD chooses to dwell among His people, and He calls them to walk in His ways.

The writer dates the building from the exodus, the four hundred and eightieth year after Israel left Egypt (verse 1). The house was built of stone prepared at the quarry, so no hammer or iron tool was heard there (verse 7). Inside, cedar, gold, carved cherubim and palm trees covered every surface (verses 15 to 35). The inner room was made to hold the ark of the covenant, under two great cherubim of olive wood (verses 19 and 23). In the middle of the work the LORD spoke to Solomon, and His word was about Solomon's walk (verses 11 and 12). If he kept the LORD's statutes and commandments, the LORD would establish His word to David (verse 12). The LORD then said that He would dwell among the children of Israel and would not forsake His people (verse 13). The house was built, and the call to walk in the LORD's ways came with it. In Jesus, the Word became flesh and lived among us (John 1 verse 14).

How does 1 Kings 6 show us that the LORD chooses to dwell among His people, and that He calls them to walk in His ways?

The LORD chooses to dwell among His people.

The LORD spoke to Solomon while he built the house (verse 11). He said that if Solomon walked in His statutes, He would establish His word to David (verse 12). He added that He would dwell among the children of Israel, and would not forsake His people (verse 13). The house was built, and the call to walk in His ways came with it.

The house is made of cedar and gold.

Cedar covered the walls, and the inner room was overlaid with pure gold (verses 15 to 22). Two cherubim of olive wood stood in the inner room with their wings spread out (verses 23 to 28). Carvings of cherubim, palm trees and open flowers covered the walls and doors (verses 29 to 35). The house was finished after seven years of building (verse 38).

God came to dwell among us in Jesus.

Solomon built the house, and the LORD promised to dwell among His people (verse 13). John tells us that the Word became flesh and lived among us (John 1 verse 14). Jesus spoke of His own body as the temple (John 2 verses 19 to 21). The curtain of the temple was torn in two when He died (Matthew 27 verse 51).

Memorise

I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.

1 Kings 6:13

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I walk in the LORD's ways, and want Him to dwell with me?

The LORD said He would dwell among His people, and Solomon built Him a house of cedar and gold. Jesus is God with us, the Word who became flesh and lived among sinners. Sin stood between the people and the holy God.

Jesus came to take that sin away. He died for His people on the cross, and at that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two. His death opened the way to God, and the Father raised Him to life. He has fully opened the way.

So come to Him, turn from your sin, and put your trust in Jesus. Whoever believes in Him is made clean and brought near to God.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD promised to dwell among His people, and that Jesus came to dwell among us. Parents, you may want to explain the condition in verse 12 in your own words. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He chose to dwell among His people, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Satisfy us in the morning with your loving kindness, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Psalm 90:14

Father, thank You that You chose to dwell among Your people and called them to walk in Your ways. Thank You for Jesus, God with us. Please draw each of us from sin, and help us to trust Jesus. Teach us to walk in Your ways this week. Amen.