1 Kings 6 Commentary
We can tell that Solomon is all out to impress the LORD with his grand project. It was an imposing piece of architectural work. However, the LORD is never one to be impressed by things like this. Only obedience would make the LORD stay in the temple. Verse 12.
“As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, observe my laws and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father. And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel.”
This is key to understanding God’s relationship with man. Like Solomon, man is always building grand projects in order to accommodate the LORD. We have complicated structures, both logical and physical. Cathedrals, seminaries, and multiple layers of education systems exist in an attempt to accommodate God.
Obedience creates an environment where the LORD God dwells. That’s all that matters!
This chapter brings it down to one very simple word: obedience. The word of the LORD can be summarized in the Ten Commandments that we have come to memorize. Obey the Ten Commandments. Then the LORD will live among you. It should be simple!
But who wants simplicity? Solomon still built an elaborate temple about 400 years after the exodus. It took him 7 years. The symbols in the chapter are important, but let’s see what happens next tomorrow.
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