Daily Devotional For Friday, May 22, 2026

Good morning and good day Southside! In our reading from the One Year Chronological Bible reading in 1 Kings 7, Solomon is now in the process of building his palace and the Temple. Most people when they come to this skip it because they do not want to read about all the details of what it took to build the Temple. So, we have to ask ourselves this question: do we believe that passages like this are the inspired, inerrant and infallible word of God? If we don’t, then we skip them. If we do, then we read them to see what the Lord is saying to us through passages like these.

In recent years some have criticized Solomon for spending what seems more time on building his palace than on the Temple. We know from reading other passages such as 2 Chronicles 3:15-4:22 that Solomon’s palace was not just his personal residence. Part of it served as the administration of the kingdom, where he would come sit on the throne to make judgments. This could imply that with additional rooms, it took more time to construct them and make or gather all the materials to furnish them. The Hebrew text seems to imply that Solomon actually put more time and workers on building the Temple than on his palace. 

This building was considerably larger than the house of the Lord (see 1 Kgs. 6:2). It was about the same height (45 feet), but about 150 feet in length (compared with 90), and 75 feet in width (compared with 30). The size of the building was no doubt dictated by its function. It was apparently used as a treasury and armory in which numerous valuable items and weapons were stored (1 Kgs. 10:17, 1 Kgs. 10:21; cf. Isa. 22:8) and probably also as a place of assembly. This would explain why the Temple was finished first since it was smaller in square footage. 

Everything Solomon used to build all these buildings were from the best and finest materials. Nothing was compromised on his gift to the Lord for making him king and giving him wisdom. The Israelites now had a place to come and give their worship to the Lord as well as another place to come and receive God’s wisdom through the Great House of Judgment. With all the gold, bronze, silver and other materials this had to be impressive. 

When I read this I thought of the 1993 movie Jurassic Park, where the eccentric, bragging billionaire John Hammond announces to the first visitors, “We spared no expense.” Yet his cost cutting in other areas eventually brought catastrophic failure to the park. Eventually the Temple would be destroyed and raided by Babylon in 606, 598 and 596 BC as punishment for the nation’s sins by God.. Eventually a second Temple was built to replace Solomon’s Temple, but it was nowhere on the scale and grandeur. This also would be destroyed by Rome because the nation of Israel had rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus talked about this in Mark 13:1-2. In 70 AD Rome destroyed the Temple completely. 

What is my point? So glad you asked. We can give our best to the Lord only later to have it destroyed, taken from us or hindered in some way due to sin in our lives. In Mark 13 when Jesus told His disciples about the future destruction of the Temple, they could not imagine that. Can you imagine the White House, Congress, The Supreme Court or the Washington Monument or Lincoln Memorial all gone? 

When we compromise and cut corners spiritually, all the good we have done prior can be undone quickly. At this point in Solomon’s life, he is not doing that. It will come and it is sad that he did not learn the lessons that brought his father David down. Had Solomon done this, much pain, loss and grief might have been spared the nation, him, and future generations. 

Reflection Assignment: Do you always give God your best or do you “cut corners” spiritually at times? Take a moment to learn from your past – when have you done this before and what were the costs? What should you do specifically different the next time you feel tempted or vulnerable to "cut costs” spiritually? 

Scripture To Meditate On: Colossians 3:23-24, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. (24) Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ” (NLT).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, I want to do what Colossians 3:23-24 states in all that I do. I am so sorry and ask for your forgiveness when I have “cut corners” spiritually. Please convict and convince me to give You my best in all that I do. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly