1 Kings

1 Kings 7: The LORD's house is finished

Begin in prayer

Before we read about the furnishings of the LORD's house, let us bow before the Lord together. Ask Him to make our hearts ready to worship Him, and to show us the Lord Jesus, who finished His work.

May Yahweh bless you from Zion; even he who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 134:3

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that Your house is finished and made for Your worship, 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 takes thirteen years to build his own house, which has cedar pillars and beams. Hiram, a skilled bronze worker from Tyre, makes two bronze pillars and sets them at the porch of the LORD's house. He also casts a great bronze sea that stands on twelve oxen, and ten bronze bases with wheels. Solomon makes the gold altar, the table for the showbread, and the lamp stands of pure gold. When the work is finished, Solomon brings in the silver, gold and vessels that David had dedicated.

As you read 1 Kings 7, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD's house is finished, and everything in it is made for Him.

Solomon spent thirteen years building his own house (verse 1), after seven years on the LORD's house (1 Kings 6 verse 38). Then the writer turns to the LORD's house and the things made for it. Hiram of Tyre, a bronze worker, was filled with wisdom, understanding and skill (verses 13 and 14). He cast two bronze pillars for the porch, named Jachin and Boaz (verses 15 and 21). He also cast a great bronze sea that stood on twelve oxen (verses 23 to 25). Solomon made the golden altar, the table for the showbread and the lampstands of pure gold (verses 48 and 49). When the work was done, Solomon brought in the silver, gold and vessels that David had dedicated (verse 51). Everything in the house was made for the LORD's worship, and the writer says the work was finished (verses 40 and 51). Jesus cried out on the cross that it was finished (John 19 verse 30).

How does 1 Kings 7 show us that the LORD's house is finished, and that everything in it is made for Him?

The LORD's house has bronze and gold for His worship.

Two bronze pillars stood at the porch, with lily work on the tops (verses 15 to 22). The bronze sea and the ten bases had lions, oxen and cherubim carved on them (verses 25 and 29). Everything was made for the house of the LORD (verse 40).

Solomon brings David's gifts to the LORD.

David had dedicated silver, gold and vessels to the LORD (verse 51). Solomon brought them into the LORD's house, and he put them in the treasuries there. What was given to God was kept for Him (verse 51).

Jesus finishes the work the Father gave Him.

Solomon finished all the work on the LORD's house, and the writer says so plainly (verse 51). Jesus spoke of the temple of His own body (John 2 verses 19 to 21). He told the Father that He had finished the work given Him to do (John 17 verse 4). On the cross He said that it was finished (John 19 verse 30).

Memorise

Thus all the work that king Solomon did in Yahweh’s house was finished.

1 Kings 7:51

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I give my best to the LORD, and have I trusted Jesus?

Solomon finished all the work on the LORD's house, and then he brought in the gifts David had dedicated. Jesus had work to finish too, the work His Father gave Him, and gold and bronze could not do it.

He did it on the cross, where He died for His people, the righteous One for the unrighteous. Before He died He cried out that it is finished. He was raised, and He sits at the right hand of God. He did all that was needed.

So come to Him, turn from your sin, and put your trust in Jesus. He finished the work of saving His people, and He calls you to come. Whoever believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD's house was finished for His worship, and that Jesus finished the work of saving His people. 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 His house is finished, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Oh give thanks to the God of heaven; for his loving kindness endures forever.

Psalm 136:26

Father, thank You for the house You have made ready for Your worship. Thank You for Jesus, who finished the work of saving His people. Please draw each of us away from sin and to trust Jesus. Give us hearts that gladly serve You this week. Amen.