Solomon was an architect and had a soft corner for building projects. Solomon took thirteen years to build his own house. His house was situated in Jerusalem and is addressed as the King’s house (1 Kings 9:10). Solomon was a man of taste. He took extra effort to build and furnish his house in grandeur. Everything about Solomon was pompous, splendor and grand.

The Bible specifically mentions that Solomon built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was 100 cubits, width 50 cubits and height 30 cubits. The house had four rows of cedar pillars and there were cedar beams on the pillars. The house was also panelled with cedar above the beams that were on 45 pillars, 15 to a row (1 Kings 7:2, 3).

This House of the Forest of Lebanon was supposed to be a little far away from Jerusalem. It got its name because of the plentiful cedar trees in it that gave it the appearance of a cedar forest. The entire place inside was cool and pleasant. But there is no specification for the purpose of the House of the Forest of Lebanon.

Solomon made 200 large shields of hammered gold and 300 shields of hammered gold. He put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon (1 Kings 10:16, 17). Perhaps these golden shields were taken by the guards who marched before Solomon for pomp and magnificence.

All the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold (1 Kings 10:21). The life style of Solomon was splendid and lavish. Solomon and his buildings were the eye catcher of that era. Solomon would have been the talk of the world during those ancient golden period of Israel.

But very soon everything collapsed. In the fifth year of Solomon’s son Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem. And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s house; he took away everything. He also took away all the gold shields which Solomon had made (1 Kings 14:26). Thats all; everything that was expensive and glittered was taken away by the enemy.

Dear one in Christ, Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven (Prov 23:5). For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations (Prov 27:24). Let out minds be on the living God and not on the uncertain riches. The things of this world are temporary. Let our trust be entirely on God and His eternal kingdom.

God bless us to be channels of blessings.

Mrs Sheela Jebakumar ✍️
September 28, 2020

1 Kings 9:4 And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules

In today’s verse, God is instructing Solomon that he will bless him if he walks in the way of his father, David.

Interestingly, God says that David was a man of integrity, and other scriptures state he is a man after God’s own heart .

Remember, we are all sinners.

We can lie around in the guilt of our sin or realize that we too can be called a people of integrity despite our sin because of Jesus’ finished work for us.

Don’t let the conviction of sin keep us from living a joyful Christian life.
Rather, let it lead us to repentance and joy in the grace of our merciful God.
Jooley Mathew Z
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