Heart Prep:
In 1 Kings 6-8, Solomon embarks on the project his father, David, had envisioned: building a temple for God. Solomon built the temple as a place for God’s people to worship and experience His presence—similar to the role the tabernacle had previously held for Israel. The temple was a reminder of God’s promise to never leave or forsake Israel and to remain faithful to His covenant promises. In Jesus, we see the fulfillment of God’s promise to dwell among His people. Jesus came to earth to provide the way for God’s people to worship Him in Spirit and in truth wherever they are. Before Jesus’ ascension, He promised His followers that the Holy Spirit would come, giving them power to share the gospel and follow Jesus’ commands. Now, believers become living temples of God, indwelled by the Holy Spirit and being built up together into one house of worship.
Message:
Solomon had been king for four years when he began to build the temple for the Lord. He planned to build a big, beautiful building made of the finest materials for God to dwell permanently with His people. God said to Solomon, “If you obey my commandments, I will fulfill my promise to you that I made to your father David. I will dwell with my people and not abandon them.” The ark of the Lord’s covenant would be in the innermost part of the temple. Solomon overlaid everything in this part of the temple with pure gold, including the altar. He also made two huge statues of cherubim (a type of angel) that were overlaid with gold. It was a beautiful space for the ark of the Lord’s covenant. Solomon hired a man named Hiram to create objects out of pure bronze for the temple. Hiram made pillars, a large basin, water carts, and more out of bronze. Everything he made was beautifully decorated with pomegranates, lilies,
lions, oxen, and angels. Solomon gathered all of Israel to bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant into the temple, to the most holy place beneath the wings of the cherubim. When the priests came out of the holy place, the glory of the Lord filled the temple. Solomon said, “I have built an exalted temple for You, God, a place for You to live forever.” King Solomon turned around and blessed all of Israel, saying, “The Lord has fulfilled what He promised. I sit on the throne of Israel, and I have built the temple for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.” Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord, and spread out his hands toward heaven, and prayed to God:
“ Lord God of Israel, there is no god like You.
You have kept what You promised to my father David.
“ But will God live on earth?
Even the highest heaven cannot contain You,
Much less this temple I have built.
Please hear the prayers of Your people
When they pray toward this place.
May You hear in Your dwelling place in heaven and answer.
“ When Your people sin against You—
For there is no one who does not sin—
When they return to You with all their heart and all their soul,
May You forgive Your people who sinned against You
And may You grant them compassion.”
Main Point:
Solomon built the temple, but he knew that the fullness of God did not live there. Jesus is the fullness of God, and He came to dwell on earth. Only those who trust in Him will be forgiven of their sin and live with God forever.
Discussion:
Is a church building the only place we can worship God? Why not?
Discuss how we can worship God anywhere because God is Spirit and believers worship in spirit and truth through the presence of the Holy Spirit living in them. We can worship God wherever we go or in whatever we do. Remind kids that we go to church and worship together as the body of Christ. Read John 4:23-24 together.
Do we have to wait until we get to heaven to experience God’s presence? Why not?
Remind kids that God is with Christians now through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Tell kids that when we spend time in God’s Word and are led by the Spirit, we can experience God’s presence in our lives. Share how God delights to make Himself know to us and through us. Read Ps. 139:7-10 together.
How did Solomon’s prayer reveal that God knows everything?
Tell kids that in 1 Kings 8:39-40, Solomon said that God alone knows every human heart. Like Solomon, we can ask God to give us hearts that love Him above all else and turn away from evil. Read 1 Kings 8:39-40 together.
