Solomon knew his commission to build the temple for the Lord. His father David had given him what he needed to begin this great work. But in his wisdom he took a few years to establish his reign as king, and then in the fourth year of his reign, the great work began.
“The temple that I am building will be great, for our God is greater than any of the gods” (2 Chr 2:5) Solomon had said. The very best craftsmen in the ancient world built this temple.
The volume of gold, silver, and bronze with which he made the temple was lavish. The temple was overlaid and inlaid with gold and carvings and beautiful works. The cherubim inside the Most Holy Place were 30 feet in width as they spread their wings over the ark of the covenant. Beautiful!
The bronze pillars themselves were each 27 feet high. How one erected bronze pillars 27 feet high in ancient times was extraordinary. he named the pillar on the right Jachin which means He Will Establish, and the left pillar he named Boaz which means Strength is in Him.
He had made 100 pomegranates and fastened them to the chainwork on top of the pillars. Jewish tradition tells us that the pomegranates were a symbol of God’s righteousness–seeds like the 613 laws of God in the Original Covenant and presumably the symbol of red like the sacrifices. So now not only was the pomegranate symoblized on the robes of the priests, but now permanent fixtures in the temple to remind of His righteousness (Ex 28:33-35).
The temple of Solomon was not just a temple for worship. But in itself it was its own sermon message–one of God’s faithfulness, his lavish blessing, his provision for Israel and so much more. Sometimes we need those physical reminders of His great goodness to us and we know that Israel needed that as well.
