II Chronicles 2:9

Alfred Shropshire

Even to prepare me timber in abundance; for the house I am about to build shall be wonderful great.

Solomon requested King Hiram of Tyre to send him large quantities of cedar, cypress, and juniper logs from Lebanon. In return, Solomon would provide King Hiram with wheat, barley, wine, and olive oil. As a result, as many cedar logs as needed were provided for the temple.

The completed Temple was built of great stones, cedar beams and boards, overlaid within with gold. According to Halley's Bible Book, "The gold and silver, and other material, used in building the Temple, is variously estimated to equal, in our money, from 2 to 5 billions of dollars; no doubt, the most costly and resplendent building on earth at the time." Even in all its splendor, the Temple was masked by God's glory. At the dedication service, the Temple "-was suddenly filled with a cloud shining with the dazzling light of the Lord's presence, and they could not continue the service of worship." (II Chronicles 5:14)

The glory and splendor of Solomon's Temple was short-lived, as it was plundered within 5 years after Solomon's death. The Temple did stand for 375 years and was destroyed by Babylon in 586 B.C.

While our new buildings are not intended to be on a scale of the Temple of Solomon, they are intended to serve the same purpose as his; to glorify God as we do his work in our community and wherever we may go.

Prayer. Lord, may your name be magnified and your glory proclaimed as we become your presence and do your work here in our community. Amen.