Building of the Temple begins

2 Chronicles Chapter 3

Solomon began building the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father King David. It was built on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the site David had selected.

The Temple's foundation was ninety feet long and thirty feet wide. The foyer was thirty feet wide and ran across the entire width of the Temple. The inner walls were overlaid with pure gold. The roof was thirty feet high.

The main room was paneled with cypress, overlaid with gold and carvings of palm trees and chains. The walls had jewels and gold from the land of Parvaim. Many areas were covered with figures of cherubims. The Most Holy Place was thirty feet wide and was overlaid with twenty-three tons of gold and gold nails were used.

Solomon made two figures shaped like cherubim, overlaid with gold and placed them in the Most Holy Place. The wingspans of both totaled 30 feet across. He decorated the pillars at the entrance and named one on the south Jakin and one on the north Boaz.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Mount Moriah was notable also for being the place where God had stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac (Genesis 22: 1-18).

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Many of us read this chapter and wonder why the Temple had to be decorated so ornately? However, God must have a worthy home, and he needs the Temple to be the best that humans could design. Care and craftsmanship were acts of worship in themselves in those days and even now in our times. A simple chapel can be a good place to pray and meet God, but it is not wrong to want to make it a beautiful place of worship. My church has a beautiful contemporary Italian carving of Jesus hanging over the altar. He is not in the crucified state, but the artist carved him with arms outstretched. It is a beautiful example of the artist's act of worship.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents. especially her mother whose cancer has returned, and Arlene’s nephew David. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. She will require long therapy and insurance may soon be a problem since her job was not held for her.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues..
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
Pray for the speedy recovery of Sandy in Minnesota who underwent successful brain surgery for a tumor recently.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.