Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1920-09-02

JUNIOR TOPIC-Solomon Builds the
Temple
INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR TOPIC
Putting Our Best Into the House of
God
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Value of House of Worship.
l. Solomon's Preparation (5:1-1S).
lie secured from King Hiram:
L. Wood for beams, ceilings, sheet
ing, and chambers around the holy
house.
2. Stones for the great foundation.
These were secured from the Phoeni-
clan quarries and also from the noun
tain upon which the temple was built.
They were so shaped that when the
temple was erected there was no sound
of a hammer heard
3. Skilled workmen. Among the Is
raelites were not to be found men
skilled in this kind of work. so the
king arranged with Hiram to furnish
capable men.
II. Solomon Building the Temple
GIBBS.
l. The Iocation-Mount Morah Oh
Chron. 3:1). This was a suitable loca-
ton, as it was here that the Lord APP
peared TO Solomon's father, David.
?. The dimensions and materials. IF
cubit was IS inches, the temple
proper was 80 feet long, 80 feet wide
and 40 feet high"
3. The contents: "a Brazen altar;
(2) laver; go golden eandlestick; (4)
cherubim.
Ill. The Dedication of the Temple
(S:1-66).
The dedication of the temple was
arranged to take place at very favor
able time. The success of an under
taking is largely determined by the
time in which it is held. This was ar
ranged to take place at the most joy
! Gus of the several representative gath
erings of the Jews. The dedicatory
services consisted of the following:
l. Bringing up the ark wv. 1-11).
The ark was Gods dwelling place.
The ark with the two tables of stone
under the mercy seat shows God
on the ground of law perfectly kept
and sins atoned for by the shedding
of blood. Following the completion
of the sacrifice, the temple was filled
with the glory of jehovah
2. Solomon's address TO the people
| Wv. 2-2l). He pointed out to the peo-
pie that God had chosen David to be
! king, Yet for certain reasons did not
allow him to build the temple, but
promised that his son should do the
work. Now that tie work was done,
the temple was built, and the ark of
| the covenant was in its place. they
! could be assured that God had raised
him up in the room of his father.
3. Solomons dedicatory prayer wv.
| 22-53). The ark having been placed in
most holy place, and the address to
the people having been ended. the
king pours out his soul to God in
prayer In this prayer Solomon CRATE
| fully acknowledges Gods goodness in
the past, giving glory to him, and
! pleads that his promise to his father
! be verified (vv. 22-26). He prays that
| Gods eyes may continually be opened
towards the temple which he had now
! taken possession of wv. 27-33), so that
| % in case of contention between par
ties he would judge between them wv.
1882 (2) in case of being smitten
| by the enemy, even though they had
sinn2d upon confession of the sin.
| God would forgive and restore wv. SO,
| 80; 60 in case of famine as chastise-
ment for sin, upon confession and
prayer before the temple, God would
forgive and send rain wv. 80, 36) !;
(4) in case of pestilence and sickness,
! if they prayed to God toward the tenn
pie, God would hear and forgive wv.
37-40); 90 in case of the coming Of
the foreigner, who comes at the news
of Gods greatness, praying toward
Jerusalem, his prayer should be heard
wv. 41-45); (6) in case of going out to
| battle. their cause should be main
tanned wv. 44-45); Cd in case of be-
ing in captivity because of sin, God
would hear their prayers and restore
wv 1853.
4. Solomon hlesses the people wv.
.,l-61). On the strength of the cove
nant promises, he invokes Gods pres
ence always to he with them and to
keep them faithful. and exhorts the
people to have the.- hearts perfect be
fore God. walking in his command
ments and statutes.
5. Solomon and the people offer sac
rifices of thanksgiving wv. 62-66). Inc
iov of the people was full; they blessed
God and the king.