1Ki 7:21 | KingComments | STEP | Here the description of the temple continues. Solomon called a foreigner, “Hiram from Tyre”, to help build the temple. Hiram comes from a mixed marriage. Foreigners from the Gentiles have a special understanding of what the church is, we see in the New Testament. They are introduced into the mysteries of God. Are we such foreigners who understand the things of the church? The majority of professing Christianity does not have this kind of understanding. What is known in general about a glorified Christ with Whom the church is made one? Hiram has a special knowledge to work with bronze. Gold speaks of the glory of God. Bronze speaks of God’s glory in righteousness toward the sinner, not to judge him, but to save him and to have him in His presence. In 1 Chronicles 18 we read where the bronze comes from. It is material captured from the enemy ( ). Hiram is the son of a relation forbidden by God. But God’s grace can use him. He is a man “filled with wisdom and understanding and skill for doing any work in bronze” ( ). Wisdom und understanding and skill or knowledge also occur in the New Testament, in letters about the church ( ; ). We need the spirit of wisdom, knowledge and understanding to get to know God’s thoughts about His church and to behave accordingly. New in the temple compared to the tabernacle are the two pillars, each of eight meters high and a circumference of five and a half meters. With their capitals they are more than ten meters high. The pillars are separate from the temple. They are not used to support the temple. They stand before the temple, as a testimony of the security and power of God that will be revealed to the people for their benefit if they obey Him. When God sends His people into exile through the Babylonians because of their disobedience and this enemy robs the temple treasures, much attention is given to these two pillars ( ; ). The names show what they represent. “Jachin” means ’He will confirm’ and “Boaz” means ’in Him is strength’. Their position in front of the temple reminds all who wish to worship at or in the temple that they should rely solely on God for confirmation and strength in their worship and not on anything within themselves. Believers who have a special place in the church are called pillars ( ). It is possible for every believer to be a pillar, if the power that is in God is reflected in him ( ). The lilies on top of the pillars are connected with pomegranates. Lilies represent the glory of the kingdom ( ) and pomegranates are a symbol of fruit. The glory and the fruit of the kingdom are both thanks to Him of Whom the kingdom is, Who confirms and supports it.

‏ 1 Kings 7:21

The Two Pillars

Here the description of the temple continues. Solomon called a foreigner, “Hiram from Tyre”, to help build the temple. Hiram comes from a mixed marriage. Foreigners from the Gentiles have a special understanding of what the church is, we see in the New Testament. They are introduced into the mysteries of God. Are we such foreigners who understand the things of the church? The majority of professing Christianity does not have this kind of understanding. What is known in general about a glorified Christ with Whom the church is made one?

Hiram has a special knowledge to work with bronze. Gold speaks of the glory of God. Bronze speaks of God’s glory in righteousness toward the sinner, not to judge him, but to save him and to have him in His presence. In 1 Chronicles 18 we read where the bronze comes from. It is material captured from the enemy (1Chr 18:8).

Hiram is the son of a relation forbidden by God. But God’s grace can use him. He is a man “filled with wisdom and understanding and skill for doing any work in bronze” (1Kgs 7:14). Wisdom und understanding and skill or knowledge also occur in the New Testament, in letters about the church (Eph 1:8 ; 17; Col 1:9). We need the spirit of wisdom, knowledge and understanding to get to know God’s thoughts about His church and to behave accordingly.

New in the temple compared to the tabernacle are the two pillars, each of eight meters high and a circumference of five and a half meters. With their capitals they are more than ten meters high. The pillars are separate from the temple. They are not used to support the temple. They stand before the temple, as a testimony of the security and power of God that will be revealed to the people for their benefit if they obey Him. When God sends His people into exile through the Babylonians because of their disobedience and this enemy robs the temple treasures, much attention is given to these two pillars (2Kgs 25:13 ; 17; Jer 52:17 ; 20-23).

The names show what they represent. “Jachin” means ’He will confirm’ and “Boaz” means ’in Him is strength’. Their position in front of the temple reminds all who wish to worship at or in the temple that they should rely solely on God for confirmation and strength in their worship and not on anything within themselves.

Believers who have a special place in the church are called pillars (Gal 2:9). It is possible for every believer to be a pillar, if the power that is in God is reflected in him (Rev 3:12a).

The lilies on top of the pillars are connected with pomegranates. Lilies represent the glory of the kingdom (Mt 6:28-29) and pomegranates are a symbol of fruit. The glory and the fruit of the kingdom are both thanks to Him of Whom the kingdom is, Who confirms and supports it.