The temple was arguably the most important location in Israel. It was the place where generations of Jewish people would come to connect with God and demonstrate their love and devotion. The story this week is the amazing story of its building and dedication, and at the same moment the recognition that it would not be enough to hold God. Here are the details.

• Bible Passage: 1 Kings 6-8
• Main Point: God chose Solomon to build a temple where He would dwell with His people
• Key Passage: Proverbs 2:6-7
• Big Picture Question: Where does wisdom come from? Wisdom comes from God through His Word.

Here’s a cool video of what Solomon’s temple might have looked like: https://youtu.be/WXxrWZoaOCw

Solomon took the task of building the temple very seriously. It was constructed with great care and artistry, according to the plans of his father, David, who wanted to build the temple was not permitted to.

The temple was the place where God would dwell on earth, where his people would come to commune with him. At the dedication of the temple God demonstrated that he was there with the pillar of cloud that filled the temple, just as God led Israel through the wilderness through the cloud.

But even though God was there, dwelling with his people, Solomon understood that God was greater than what the temple could represent. Solomon said, “Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built” (1 Kings 8:27). Even after building this great building, Solomon saw that it was not enough. He was looking forward to some way to actually commune with God.

That would not come with another building, but in the form of a person, the great-great…grandson of Solomon, Jesus. Jesus said that the temple would be destroyed and rebuilt in three days, but he wasn’t talking about a building. He was talking about how he would die and rise again 3 days later to save us from our sin. All of the glory of God was found in Jesus. He contained God because Jesus was God.

Share with your kids this week about how Solomon built a wonderful temple for God, but that Jesus changed everything so that we could also come to God without that temple, but through Him.

Have a wonderful week!