Bi – The Gold Furniture of Solomon’s Temple 1 Kgs 7:48-51 & 2 Chron 4:7-10

The Gold Furniture of Solomon’s Temple
First Kings 7:48-51 and Second Chronicles 4:7-10

The gold furniture of the Temple DIG: Why was it necessary for the Ruach Ha’Kodesh to record for us the furniture of the Temple? Which took longer to build, the Temple or Solomon’s palace? Why? From its construction what seems to be the function of this palace?

REFLECT: Are you involved in a project taking “years to finish?” Does faith make a difference? Do you resent other people “living like kings?” Why? What does Yeshua Messiah say about such power displays (see Matthew 20:25-28). How is your soul well furnished?

Is your soul well furnished?

Solomon had all the objects made of gold that were inside the house of ADONAI. Here, the Ruach Ha’Kodesh makes a clear distinction between Solomon and Hiram (to see link click Bd – Hiram, a Master Craftsman) where the furniture of gold and bronze are concerned. Hiram only takes responsibility for the work in bronze; it is Solomon who is in charge of the work in gold. Hiram may have been full of wisdom and understanding and knowledge himself, and a worthy successor to Bezalel and Ohaliab (see the commentary on Exodus Ew – The Appointment of Bezalel and Ohaliab), but the Ruach is anxious that we should remember who is the foremost picture of those qualities (see As – Solomon’s Wish). At the close of the account about building the Temple, as it was in the beginning, the spotlight falls on Solomon.¹⁴⁸

First, the golden altar of incense (see the commentary on Exodus Fp – Altar of Incense in the Sanctuary: Christ, Our Advocate with the Father). In effect, the high priest was approaching the mercy seat – the very place where YHVH answers prayer. As the incense rose from that gold altar, it ascended to heaven with his prayers. In the words of King David, referring to the worship of Isra’el’s priests: Let my prayer be counted as incense before You, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice (Psalm 141:2; Rev 5:8 and 8:3-4).

ADONAI has furnished us with a golden altar for prayer in the power of the Ruach Ha’Kodesh. Yeshua said that His house should be called a house of prayer (Matthew 21:13). If our souls have become His temple by the indwelling of the Spirit of God, then our lives should be full of prayer. Every time we receive any blessing from the LORD – even something as simple as a good meal – our prayers of thanksgiving should rise like sacred incense. Every time we see someone in need, our prayers of intercession should be lifted up like the arms of a holy priest. Every time we are feeling anxious or guilty, we should ask God to send His merciful help from heaven. In this way, we make our heart an altar of prayer.¹⁴⁹

Second, there were ten tables of gold on which the showbread was displayed, five on the right and five on the left (First Kings 7:48; First Chronicles 28:16; Second Chronicles 4:8a). Every week the priests put twelve loaves of sacred bread on this golden table, presumably to represent the twelve tribes of Isra’el. The bread was a reminder of the provision of ADONAI. The same God who gave His children manna in the wilderness, continued to provide life-giving bread. The bread was also a sign of God’s presence, and of His desire to have fellowship with His people. Each week the priests would eat this sacred bread in the presence of YHVH (Leviticus 24:9), sharing their table fellowship with their covenant God.¹⁵⁰

The table of bread is yet another way ADONAI furnishes our souls with His grace, for God still gives bread to His people. Yeshua said that He Himself is the bread of life, (see the commentary on Exodus Fo – The Bread of the Presence in the Sanctuary: Christ, the Bread of Life). The true bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world (John 6:33 and 35). If we have received Messiah by faith, our souls will never go hungry again. In the same way that bread gives us physical life, Yeshua gives us spiritual life forever. We are reminded of this every time we eat the daily bread we pray for God to provide (Matthew 11), or eat the bread of the Lord’s Supper, where Messiah feeds our souls with the bread of His grace.¹⁵¹

Third, Solomon made ten menorahs of pure gold. The Tabernacle in the wilderness had only one menorah (see the commentary on Exodus Fn – The Lampstand in the Sanctuary: Christ, the Light of the World). But the Temple was bigger, so Solomon installed five menorahs on the right and five menorahs on the left in front of the Most Holy Place. They were placed there for three reasons; first, providing light in a dark place because the Holy Place had no windows, secondly, it added beauty to the room, and thirdly, it symbolized the concept of life through both the tree of life and light.¹⁵² And on them were the flowers, lamps and tongs of gold. And he also made of pure gold the cups, snuffers, incense pans, fire pans, and hundreds of basins for the various rituals in the Temple (First Kings 7:49; Second Chronicles 4:7-8b and 20-22a).

Now we see the light of ADONAI in the person of Yeshua Messiah. The same Yeshua who said that He was the bread of life, also said that He was the light of the world (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Gr – I AM the Light of the World). Yeshua Messiah is the true light who enlightens everyone entering the world – the Light has come into a dark world for our salvation (John 1:9). When we put our trust in Him, the light of God starts to illuminate every dark corner of our lives. Messiah gives us the light that shows us the truth, uncovers our sin, reveals the right path for us to take in life, and makes us shine for God in a dark world.¹⁵³

As for the entryway to the house, the hinges for the inner doors for the Most Holy Place and the doors of the Sanctuary were of gold. Solomon made the courtyard for the priests and the great outer courtyard, also the doors to the courtyard, which he overlaid with bronze. The Sea he placed on the right side of the Sanctuary, toward the southeast (First Kings 7:50; Second Chronicles 4:9-10 and 22b).

Thus, all the work that King Solomon did in the house of ADONAI was finished. After this, he brought in the gifts which David his father had dedicated — the silver, the gold and the utensils — and put them in the treasuries of the house of ADONAI (First Kings 7:51: Second Chronicles 5:1). Solomon honored his father’s long term commitment to ADONAI and His house. Thus, his faith continued to be a witness to Isra’el and to the readers of First and Second Kings.

This is the way that God wants to furnish our souls; with stability like the mighty pillars (see Be – Two Bronze Pillars), with the cleansing grace of the Bronze Sea (see Bf – The Bronze Sea), with prayer like rising incense, with spiritual food like holy bread, and with shining light like a Sanctuary full of holy menorahs. Is your soul well furnished? If so, then use the furniture ADONAI has given you, making it part of everyday life. When life seems to be falling apart, and you are not sure how much longer you can stand, remember that Yeshua Messiah is your pillar of strength. When you are defeated by sin and feeling so unworthy that you doubt there is anything you can do for God, remember that the blood of Messiah purifies you from all sin. Use the spiritual furniture that the LORD has given you every day. Go to the sweet altar of prayer. Feed on His bread and live by the light of His Word.¹⁵⁴