Prayer: Father, teach me today. Your servant and slave are prepared to listen. Amen.
Reading: 2 Chronicles 8 key: vs. 1-2 “It came to pass at the end of 20 years, during which Solomon built the House of Adonai and his own palace, that he built the cities which Huram had given to him and settled Bnei-Yisrael there.” TLV
Attention: Have you ever been a part of a building project? I have worked for contractors, and I have been a general contractor in my lifetime. Mostly as a remodel contractor, but I had projects which took a few months, as I subbed out the electrical, plumbing and any other work which was not my specialty. I worked mostly as the finish contractor, doing the texturing and painting of walls, installing windows, doors, and cabinets.
So, I find it interesting that the writer of Chronicles gives us a total for the years Solomon was building the Temple and his palace at twenty years. In the book of 1 Kings, the writer gives us a break down of the years it took to build the Temple and Solomon’s palace; “In the fourth year, in the month of Ziv, the foundation of the House of Adonai was laid, and in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul (which is the eighth month), the House was completed in all its parts and according to all its details. So, he was seven years building it (1 Kings 6:37-38).” In the first verse of Ch. 7, we are told it took Solomon “13 years to build and complete his own palace.” Nearly, twice as long.
Here is the hitch, when Jesus (Yeshua) was approaching His final days on earth, He made this claim in front of His disciples and the Judean leaders, “His disciples remembered that it is written, “Zeal for your House will consume Me!” The Judean leaders responded, “What sign do You show us, since You are doing these things?” “Destroy this Temple,” Yeshua answered them, “and in three days I will raise it up.” The Judean leaders then said to Him, “Forty-six years this Temple was being built, and You will raise it up in three days (John 2:17-20)?”
So, the question is, where did the Judean leaders, get a “Forty-six year” total? I am going to have to do some digging to figure this one out. I do not know the answer, which is why I am posing the question to you. Notice that Yeshua did not correct them, which does not mean they were correct. Just not worth correcting or arguing about.
I will be interested to see if anyone provides scriptural proof texting of why the Judean leaders insisted on a Forty-six-year building plan.
Critical thinking and research is part of the Berean model and method of searching the scriptures to confirm what the apostles are teaching us. I do not search the scriptures to refute the apostles, but to confirm what spiritual leaders are teaching me. The Holy Spirit is my mentor! I trust Him to guide me into all truth.
Action: I choose to rely on the mentoring of the Holy Spirit as I search the scriptures.
Yield: I choose to submit to the authority of scripture, inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Engage: I choose to engage with the Holy Spirit in searching the scriptures daily.
Relationship: I choose to live in relationship with the Holy Spirit as my mentor.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the indwelling presence of Your Holy Spirit. I am Your Temple. Use me as a vessel of Your determination. Amen.
Memory Verse: Acts 17:24-28 “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by hands. Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, since He Himself gives to everyone life and breath and all things. From one He made every nation of men to live on the face of the earth, having set appointed times and the boundaries of their territory. They were to search for Him, and perhaps grope around for Him and find Him. Yet He is not far from each one of us, for ‘In Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His offspring.’ TLV
Music Video: Hillsong—Here I am to worship https://youtu.be/RZeJTtUrhwA?si=Yyz_k54mPgP-26vM
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”