Jacqui: 0:13

Greetings listeners and welcome. Whether this is your first time tuning in or you've been with us for a while, we're so glad to have you here. In previous episodes, we've journeyed through the life of Samuel, explored the rise of Israel's kings and followed the incredible story of King David and his son, olomon. Today, we're picking up where David's legacy left off to dive into one of the most monumental achievements in Israel's history the building of Solomon's Temple. Well, welcome everyone.

Jacqui: 0:55

I'm your host, Jacqui Adewole, and this is the Bible Basics Podcast, where, weekly, we break down the basics of the Bible into understandable, bite-sized chunks. Take a moment with me and envision this scene. Picture the bustling city of Jerusalem, its roads busy with workers, artisans and traders. Now imagine a massive construction project, something like the ancient world's equivalent of building the Great Pyramid of Giza. The finest stones are being brought in, the best cedar wood is arriving from distant forests, and there's a constant hum of activity. Thousands of people are working around the clock to create something more than just a beautiful structure. They're building a house for God. This is Solomon's Temple.

Jacqui: 1:55

Before we get into the details, let's take a quick step back. If you remember from our episodes on King David, Samuel and Chronicles, David wanted to build a temple. He had a deep desire to create a permanent dwelling place for God, because, up to this point, god's presence with the Israelites had been in a tent the tabernacle. But God told David that it wouldn't be his task to build it. Instead, his son, solomon, would be the one to carry it out. And so, when Solomon took the throne, this became one of his greatest responsibilities, not just to lead Israel, but to build the very house where God's presence would reside among his people. This was essential, because a key part of the life of Israel was a place where they met with God. Even when they were in transit, they had the Ark of the Covenant that symbolized God's presence, and wherever they camped they had the tabernacle. Imagine standing there in Jerusalem as the project unfolds.

Jacqui: 3:09

According to 1 Kings 6:7, they did all the stone cutting at the quarry. No hammers, axes or any iron tools were heard in the temple during the construction, and Solomon wasn't cutting any corners. He used the best of the best. The outer walls of Solomon's temple were made of fine white limestone, the interior walls were covered by cedar planks, while cypress and olive wood provided floor coverings, doors and door frames and other furnishings. The Bible tells us that the cedar wood was imported from Lebanon and almost everything inside the temple was covered in gold. Skilled craftsmen from all over were brought in to work on the decorations carving images of cherubim, palm trees and flowers all reminders of the Garden of Eden, a place where God once walked closely with humanity. The quality of the labor, materials and construction were all reflections of Solomon's evaluation of the majesty, glory and power of God. Solomon leveraged his network to ensure the temple was first class.

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The temple itself was divided into sections. As you approached, the first thing you would see was the outer court. This was the area where sacrifices were brought to the altar. Now close your eyes and use your five senses. Think about the smell. The air would have been thick with the scent of blood and burning sacrifices. Picture the smoke rising and, yes, imagine the aroma of meat roasting on the altar. For the Israelites, this wasn't just a ritual. It was a vivid, sensory experience of offering their best to God, and part of that experience was the smell of the sacrifice floating up as a pleasing offering to the Lord.

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Now let's go deeper into the temple. After passing through the outer court, you would enter the Holy Place. This was no ordinary room. It was sacred. Inside you'd find the lampstand, the table of the bread of presence and the altar of incense. Everything here was layered in meaning. The golden lampstand was always burning, symbolizing the light of God that never went out. The bread was a reminder of God's constant provision for his people. And then there was the altar of incense. Imagine the fragrant smoke rising filling the space. This was symbolic of the people's prayers constantly rising to God, a beautiful image of their ongoing relationship with him.

Jacqui: 6:24

And the most sacred place of all was still ahead. It was called the Holy of Holies and it was separated by a heavy curtain. It measured about 30 feet by 30 feet, which is a little larger than an average two-car garage. It was designed with intricate decorations and gold overlays. Only one person, the high priest, could enter this room, and only on the Day of Atonement the high priest would bring the blood of the sacrifice into this inner chamber to atone for the sins of the people. Inside the Holy of Holies rested the Ark of the Covenant, which held the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments. The Ark represented God's throne on earth. The space was intimate and utterly sacred. The presence of God dwelt right in the heart of the temple.

Jacqui: 7:21

Now, after seven years of construction, the temple was finally completed. The temple itself was roughly the size of a small church or large house about 90 feet long that's about the length of two school buses, end to end 30 feet wide, around the width of a two-car garage, and 45 feet tall about as tall as a four-story building. 45 feet tall about as tall as a four-story building. Its architectural footprint and furnishings mirrored the blueprint for the tabernacle given to Moses. So while it wasn't enormous by modern standards, the materials, workmanship and artistry made it one of the most impressive buildings of its time.

Jacqui: 8:12

The day came for the great dedication ceremony, and Solomon stood before the people and offered prayers to God. And then something incredible happened. The Bible tells us that the glory of God filled the temple in the form of a cloud. Can you picture it? A visible sign of God's presence descending from heaven to fill this magnificent building. It was so overwhelming that even the priests couldn't continue their duties. The people knew that God had accepted their offering and had chosen to dwell among them. This moment was more than a celebration. It was a turning point. For the first time, israel had a permanent central place where they could meet with their God. The temple wasn't just a beautiful building. It was where heaven and earth met, where people could come in obedience to offer their sacrifices, their prayers and their worship, knowing that God was with them. And here's the footnote to this story.

Jacqui: 9:25

Despite its grandeur, the temple faced numerous challenges throughout its history. It was frequently plundered, both by foreign invaders and the kings of Judah themselves, who sometimes used its wealth to pay off enemies. Some ungodly kings even introduced idols and heathen practices into the temple, even introduced idols and heathen practices into the temple. Although godly kings occasionally attempted to repair and restore the temple, judah's continued unfaithfulness to God ultimately led to its downfall. In 587-586 BC, the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem, stripped the temple of its valuables and burned what remained. This event marked the end of Solomon's temple, which had stood for approximately 370 years. So why should we care about Solomon's temple, a building that was destroyed thousands of years ago? Here's the amazing thing the Temple wasn't just a place for the Israelites to encounter God. It pointed forward to something even greater.

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The New Testament tells us that, through Jesus, we don't need to go to a specific building to meet with God anymore. In John 2: 19-21, Jesus referred to his own body as the new temple. He said destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days talking about his death and resurrection. It again in three days, talking about his death and resurrection. Just like the sacrifices offered in Solomon's temple, jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for us all. Through him, we can now come directly to God, no matter where we are, no matter who we are.

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And here's something just as personal. The Bible says that we, you and I, are now temples of the Holy Spirit. That's 1 Corinthians 6:19. God's present doesn't dwell in a building made of stone and gold anymore. He lives in us. Think about that for a moment. The same God who filled Solomon's temple with his glory now chooses to live inside you. As we wrap up today's episode, I hope the story of Solomon's temple has helped you imagine what it was like to be a part of that incredible moment in biblical history. But more importantly, I hope it helps you see that God has always desired to be near his people, first in the magnificent temple and now through Jesus, directly in our lives. Until we meet again, keep reading, keep seeking and keep growing in your faith. Thank you so much for listening, so that we spread God's word further. Please share, like, follow and subscribe.