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COVERED IN GOLD #1) All things prepared in advance. A) 1Chronicles 22: 1-9 To look at the details of Solomon’s Temple is one of the most interesting studies there is. - In the building of the Temple we see clearly that David, the father, prepares beforehand the materials of the Temple. - Let’s take a look at these materials. - 1 Kings 5:17 We see two similarities in both David and Solomon, cost was no consideration. - Now lets take a look at these “Great Stones”. - Today a “Great Stone” is considered to be block measuring 3 feet on all sides. - 1 Kings 7: 10-11 A cubit is about one foot six inches, these great stones were about twelve feet on every side, each weighs about 250 tons. - God had Solomon use great costly stones to build His Temple. B) 1 Kings 6: 7 The question is where did these great costly stones come from. - Historians and geologist believe these stones were cut from quarries beneath the city of Jerusalem. - These great stones were costly simply because of the work required to obtain them. - The King had to go to great length, expense and work to retrieve these stones to build the Temple. - Remember these stones on average weighed 250 tons. - These stones didn’t just jump up out of these pits. C) They had to be drawn out of these quarry pits. - These stones would have never seen daylight had they not been lifted out of the pit. - John 6:44 We just like these stones had to be cut from the world of sin by the King and drawn out of the pit. - Like these stones we could never get out on our own, we had to be drawn by the Father, and raised to life by the Son. - The raising of those Temple stones took amazing power; it would have been even more amazing if every stone were raised at one time. - Ephesians 1:19-20 The Godhead with great power raised Jesus covered in every sin ever committed at one time. - Zechariah 9: 11-12 It’s through the blood of the Covenant that we are raised from the pit of sin to be used of the Father. D) For the builders of the Temple in our text there was no way of getting those stones out than to go into the pit and draw them out. - David counted the cost of the Temple in gold and silver; to him cost was no object. - 1 Peter 1:18 God counted the cost with the blood of His Son. - To God the Father you and I are priceless, no cost was to great. - Romans 8:32 Isn’t that an amazing thought, that a Holy God would go to that length to save us from a pit of sin. - He did this because we are His greatest creation created for His
glory. A) The stones of the Temple were not only raised from the pit to build the structure but also to bring God Glory. - You and I in our original state are nothing but worldly flesh with a stony heart in this condition we can bring God no glory. - Ezekiel 11: 19-20 God has to remove that stony heart in order that we might bring Him glory. - 1 Kings 6: 18 “there was no stone seen” - The only thing that could be seen was the beauty of the carved cedar, the stone had been completely covered. - 1 Kings 6: 22 “And the whole house he overlaid with gold” - The only thing that could be seen was the beauty of the gold, he stone was completely covered. B) You and I who have accepted Christ have been dug from a pit, raised from a pit and covered in the righteousness of Christ. - God looks on those who have accepted His son and He sees a glorious child rather than a rejecter of Christ. - The Temple that David designed and Solomon built was to bring God glory. - 1 Kings 8: 10-11 It was in the Temple that God revealed himself, and where His glory was seen. - 1 Chronicles 22: 5 It was the Temple that was to be a beacon to all the world of the One and Only True God, the God of Israel. C) Today God doesn’t dwell in Temple or Tabernacles but in the believer. - 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20 You and I are to Glorify God in our bodies, by being part of His body. - Colossians 1: 18 He is the head of the church; it’s the NT church that has taken the place of the Temple. - Jesus receives glory in the Church. - This is why Church membership is so valuable. D) You and I need to be just like these stones of the OT Temple. - Those stones had no part in their change, they simple submitted and let the workers change them. - You are no different, all you must do is submit and allow God to change you. - Allow Him to mould you into a “vessel of honor”. - Matthew 21:42 God’s pleading with you today please don’t reject Christ. - Submit to His perfect will today.
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