A comparison between the tabernacle and Solomon’s temple
Materials and dimensions The main difference between the tabernacle set up by Moses and Solomon’s temple is that the former was a mobile structure, the latter a permanent building. The tabernacle was a tent with a wooden frame covered by…
The difference God’s presence makes
1 Kings 7:1-51 Recently, I visited a beach just south of Christchurch and noticed a ridgeline overlooking the bay that narrowed, then terminated in a steep drop. The villas perched precariously on top stopped abruptly mid-way even though the powerlines…
Temple building: What it takes to know God’s presence
1 Kings 6:1-38 Why do we want God in our life? Why should having God’s presence matter to us? For some, it springs from the desire to have a sense of security or guidance in life, provision, help or blessing.…
- 1 Kings 1-11 (Solomon), Bible reading notes, Kings, Sabbath rest, temple and God's presence, Topical
Rest, temple and fellowship with God
Exod 31:12-17; Deut 12:10-11; Heb 3:7-19; 4:1-11 As Solomon prepares to build the temple, he connects temple building and rest (1 Kings 5:4), a link also made by David earlier (2 Sam 7:1) and mentioned even before Israel entered the…
Healing for our wayward heart
1 Kings 5:1-18 A driver was heading to an important meeting and found the parking lot seemingly full. Fearing that he might be late, he was praying frantically for a space circling around on the lookout for any cars pulling…
How to nurture hope in despair
1 Kings 4:1-34 In the Harry Potter stories, there are hooded shadowy creatures called the Dementors who feed on human happiness and suck joy and hope out of people’s lives. The only defence against them is to think of a…
What kind of wisdom did Solomon have?
1 Kings 3:16-28 Hearing discussions about the gifts that God gives to His people in the New Testament left me confused as a young Christian. It seemed to me that the lists included a wide variety of categories, often in…
Early warning signs and how to avoid falling away
1 Kings 3:1-15 Every now and again one hears of a prominent Christian leader going off the rails. Whether the issue is sexual sin, abuse, or embezzlement, their actions typically rock the Christian communities they are involved in. The questions…
Submitting to the king and why it matters
1 Kings 2:28-46 In my last year at secondary school, we got a new physics teacher, a young woman straight out of university. She wanted to be liked and popular and could not keep discipline or deal with troublemakers. Her…
Discernment, wisdom, and God’s involvement
1 Kings 2:10-27 During my gap year working in a Christian youth hostel in Israel, I encountered a Christian life that showed God’s grace and love, which opened my heart to live for the Lord not out of fear and…