TOPIC: GIVING OUR BEST IN GOD’S SERVICE
Text: 1 Kings 7:13-26
7:13 But Solomon took thirteen years to build his own house; so he finished all his house.
7:14 He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a bronze worker; he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill in working with all kinds of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and did all his work.
7:15 And he [b]cast two pillars of bronze, each one eighteen cubits high, and a line of twelve cubits measured the circumference of each.
7:16 Then he made two capitals of cast bronze, to set on the tops of the pillars. The height of one capital was five cubits, and the height of the other capital was five cubits.
7:17He made a lattice network, with wreaths of chainwork, for the capitals which were on top of the pillars: seven chains for one capital and seven for the other capital.
7:18 So he made the pillars, and two rows of pomegranates above the network all around to cover the capitals that were on top; and thus he did for the other capital.
7:19 So he made the pillars, and two rows of pomegranates above the network all around to cover the capitals that were on top; and thus he did for the other capital.
7:20 The capitals on the two pillars also had pomegranates above, by the convex surface which was next to the network; and there were two hundred such pomegranates in rows on each of the capitals all around.
7:21 Then he set up the pillars by the vestibule of the temple; he set up the pillar on the right and called its name [c]Jachin, and he set up the pillar on the left and called its name [d]Boaz.
7:22 The tops of the pillars were in the shape of lilies. So the work of the pillars was finished.
7:23 And he made the Sea of cast bronze, ten cubits from one brim to the other; it was completely round. Its height was five cubits, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference.
7:24 Below its brim were ornamental buds encircling it all around, ten to a cubit, all the way around the Sea. The ornamental buds were cast in two rows when it was cast.
7;25 It stood on twelve oxen: three looking toward the north, three looking toward the west, three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east; the Sea was set upon them, and all their back parts pointed inward.
7:26 It was a handbreadth thick; and its brim was shaped like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It contained [e]two thousand baths.
STUDY:
Our text today focuses on the temple’s furnishings. Notice that Solomon had to engage Huram (Hebrew – Hiram), who was an expert craftsman. Solomon chose only the best when we consider the sterling qualities of Huram. We are told, “He was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill in working with all kinds of bronze work” (v. 14). To be “filled with wisdom and understanding” is a sign of a Spirit-controlled life. We have a similar story when the tabernacle was being built in the time of Moses.
We read that Bezalel and Oholiab who had Spirit-filled abilities in artistic craftsmanship, were uniquely gifted to design and build a tabernacle befitting a holy and magnificent God (cf Exod. 31:1-11). Before we can give our best in the service of God, we must be full of the Spirit, manifesting wisdom and understanding (v. 14 cf Isa. 11:2; Exod. 31:3). You will notice that in the choosing of the seven deacons, the apostles looked for men “full of the Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3). We cannot be in the flesh and hope to give God our best. The Scripture makes it clear that “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:6). Do you have the power of the Holy Spirit available to you all the time? Are you born again? (John 3:3, 5). In whatever capacity we are serving in the church, without the Spirit’s empowerment, we cannot give our best.
Prayer:
Father; please fill me with your spirit so I can give you my best.
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