1 Ki. 5: Sanctuary

1 Kings 5:4 "But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster."

It's temple-buildin' time. Where God told David it wouldn't be him to build God's central office, He did give Solomon the go ahead. Was a completed conquest the reason it was time to build the temple? Or Solomon's place in history? God did a lot with David, and is probably going to do a lot with Solomon. He chose to give this responsibility of the temple to Solomon. God has definite plans for each person's life. He sets the limits on what will be accomplished. He chooses each person for their time and their moment.

Solomon makes a treaty with Hiram, the king of Tyre to get cedars for the temple. Maybe this is ok, now that there is peace? And Israel is firmly ensconced in their promised land? Of course Hiram was pleased with this situation. Israel didn't have their collective boot on the Sidonian throat.

Another thing that amazes me about this chapter is the sheer labor force and the massive undertaking it was to create this temple.

30,000 conscripted laborers, 70,000 carriers (because they couldn't just throw those logs on a bunch of trailers), 80,000 Stonecutters (who control the British crown, no doubt), and 3300 supervisors. Amazing. And this is going to take years. I always looked at the temple like the church I go to. Even with stone-age labor and ingenuity, it wasn't going to take years like the temple.