Devotional - June 9, 2004

Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem in seven years whereas it took him thirteen years to build his own palace. Scripture says he was faithful to construct the Temple according to the instruction of the Lord. It wasn't fancy nor was it especially plain. The gold in the treasury provided the adornment of the building but the freestanding articles of worship within the Temple were the dominant features rather than the structure itself.

The wilderness tabernacle provided the basic pattern for the building of the Temple. By God's instruction, the pattern used to build the Temple was to be followed explicitly. Solomon's structure was the first built on Jerusalem's Mount Moriah but it was plundered during the reign of Rehoboam, Solomon's son. Not long after, the Temple was destroyed and many of the articles of worship stolen.

Years later the Temple would be rebuilt during the reign of King Zerubbabel but on a much smaller scale. Over a period of time, the Temple was improved and elaborately adorned, but it was desecrated by Antiochus IV in 167BC and rebuilt by King Herod in 37BC to 4AD. Herod's Temple was the largest most magnificent of all, but it was not built for the glory of God but to appease the Jews, win their favor and keep him in power as the puppet King of the Roman Empire. Herod's Temple stood during the time of Jesus earthly ministry, but it too would be destroyed by the Romans in 70AD.

David knew that buildings are constructed and torn down at the the whim of man, most often by those with political ambition. David never dreamed his perfect house built for the Lord would last forever, but neither did he think it would be torn down during the time of his grandson. So did the Lord build the house, or did man build it?

As a believer, we're a temple of the Holy Spirit, designed by God but desecrated by sin. Born to glorify God, because of sin our bodies will decay and rot. Our bodies are not perfect dwellings for the Lord, but He must be pleased when we use it for his glory while it lasts.

Such it is with an earthly home. Living under a roof pounded by rain, walls scorched by the sun and exposed to the elements, it's easy to see a house is a temporary dwelling. But living within its walls are eternal souls drawn together by birth and marriage.

Unlike a place where we live, the home is God's design, even though many don't regard it as such. One husband (male), one wife (female) and their offspring (children) who have the opportunity to live for the glory of God and thereby prove His work was not in vain. Now, that's a house built by the Lord!

At your house, are you proving that God's work was not in vain or are you just spending time waiting on the wrecking ball?

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( 1 Ki. 5:1-6:38 Ac. 7:1-29 Ps. 127:1-5 Pr.16:28-30 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society