When Solomon was commissioned by David to build the temple as a place of worship unto the Lord, he didn’t go small.  The temple was so ornate and so lavish that it was breath-taking.

The altar, just the altar was 30 feet long x 30 feet wide and 15 feet high.  Then there was a huge reservoir for washing that was 45 feet in circumference.  Then there were the lampstands, the tables, the courts, and the temple furnishings.  In fact so much bronze was used that

“all these utensils in such great abundance that the weight of the bronze was not determined” (2 Chr 4:18).

The furnishings in the most holy place and in the places of reverent worship were al made of the most pure gold.

It was astounding what Solomon was doing.  But the Lord was with him and the Lord blessed him.  The temple was to be a sacred place on the earth, not a place to be worshiped but a place in order to worship.

Can you imagine worshiping in such a place?

• The grandeur and size of the temple would remind you that you are small compared to God.
• The art would preach to you messages about God’s righteousness and holiness.
• The wealth would remind you of God’s blessing in the history of nation that didn’t necessarily deserve it.
• The gold and silver would remind you of His beauty and His glory.
• The huge altar would remind you of the gravity of your sin and the need for a sacrifice
• The community spaces would remind you of your corporate identity
• The worship and song would lift the spirits to remind you of things greater than yourself.

Without a doubt it was the most extraordinary place of worship on the earth.  One that brought great excitement to the people and wonder among the nations.

May the name of the Lord be praised.