1Ki 7:2 | KingComments | STEP | The previous chapter describes the temple as a building. In this chapter we hear about the bronze and golden objects of the temple, preceded by a description of the buildings of Solomon for himself. We have a break in the description of the temple, because first the house of Solomon is described. This is because there is a close connection between the temple and the house of Solomon. Both houses speak of the church. The temple is the picture of the church as the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. God dwells in the church as His temple ( ; ). In the house of Solomon we see a picture of the church as the dwelling place of the Lord Jesus, which He calls “My church” ( ). Solomon lives there with his family. The Lord Jesus is “Son over His house” ( ), and as Son He is connected with sons. God said of Solomon that he would be a son to Him ( ; ). In the church the Lord Jesus lives as Son together with those whom He has made sons of God. Solomon’s house was probably a palace complex with several independent, but complementary buildings. There are public rooms and there is a private room. The house consists of cedar pillars, making it look like a forest. There is a hall of pillars and a hall of the throne. The hall of pillars can be seen as a kind of waiting room where people can wait until they can get to the king. Solomon is sitting in the hall of the throne. More in the middle of the complex is his house. There is also a separate house for his Egyptian wife. The Lord Jesus will reign over the kingdom of peace from His house. The church is involved in His government. The Lord Jesus reigns also now in His realm over those who acknowledge His authority. All of professing Christianity today is His realm, but He has a real relationship only with those who are connected with Him through faith as the Son. They are the house in the narrow sense in which He lives ( ), the dwelling behind the hall of the throne, the dwelling place of the royal family. The materials with which the house is built ( ) are the materials with which the temple is built. It is from stones taken from the rock, as the Lord Jesus says in Matthew 16 ( ). Every believer is a precious stone in the eyes of the Lord Jesus ( ), because for every stone of all stones of which the church is composed, He has given His life. The foundation of does not apply to Him as the foundation, for He is the cornerstone. Here is spoken of several large stones. That points to the apostles as the fundament, the foundation ( ).

‏ 1 Kings 7:2

Introduction

The previous chapter describes the temple as a building. In this chapter we hear about the bronze and golden objects of the temple, preceded by a description of the buildings of Solomon for himself.

The Buildings for Solomon Himself

We have a break in the description of the temple, because first the house of Solomon is described. This is because there is a close connection between the temple and the house of Solomon. Both houses speak of the church. The temple is the picture of the church as the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. God dwells in the church as His temple (1Cor 3:16; Eph 2:21-22). In the house of Solomon we see a picture of the church as the dwelling place of the Lord Jesus, which He calls “My church” (Mt 16:18). Solomon lives there with his family. The Lord Jesus is “Son over His house” (Heb 3:6), and as Son He is connected with sons. God said of Solomon that he would be a son to Him (2Sam 7:12-14; 1Chr 17:13). In the church the Lord Jesus lives as Son together with those whom He has made sons of God.

Solomon’s house was probably a palace complex with several independent, but complementary buildings. There are public rooms and there is a private room. The house consists of cedar pillars, making it look like a forest. There is a hall of pillars and a hall of the throne. The hall of pillars can be seen as a kind of waiting room where people can wait until they can get to the king. Solomon is sitting in the hall of the throne. More in the middle of the complex is his house. There is also a separate house for his Egyptian wife.

The Lord Jesus will reign over the kingdom of peace from His house. The church is involved in His government. The Lord Jesus reigns also now in His realm over those who acknowledge His authority. All of professing Christianity today is His realm, but He has a real relationship only with those who are connected with Him through faith as the Son. They are the house in the narrow sense in which He lives (1Kgs 7:8), the dwelling behind the hall of the throne, the dwelling place of the royal family.

The materials with which the house is built (1Kgs 7:9-12) are the materials with which the temple is built. It is from stones taken from the rock, as the Lord Jesus says in Matthew 16 (Mt 16:18). Every believer is a precious stone in the eyes of the Lord Jesus (1Pet 2:5), because for every stone of all stones of which the church is composed, He has given His life. The foundation of 1Kgs 7:10 does not apply to Him as the foundation, for He is the cornerstone. Here is spoken of several large stones. That points to the apostles as the fundament, the foundation (Eph 2:20).