To do kingdom work in the city, ask God for wisdom and understanding in establishing a supernatural foundation to empower believers and churches through God’s word and prayer so they become salt and light in the world. Pursue unity by praising God in music so the church is filled with God’s glory. Seek God and confess sins during famine and disasters to experience forgiveness, salvation, goodness and healing until God’s kingdom comes into the city.
Ask God for Wisdom to Build Multiplied Disciples
Solomon asked God to give him wisdom and knowledge in leading Israel in confirming His promise to David. Because Solomon did not ask for wealth, riches, honor or death of his enemies, God would give him both wisdom and knowledge plus wealth, riches and honor. Solomon gathered 1400 chariots, 12,000 horses and much silver, gold and cedar. He ordered the building of a temple for the Name of the Lord and royal palace for himself. He assigned 70,000 men as carriers, 80,000 stonecutters and 3600 foremen over them to build a temple for burning incense, setting out consecrated bread and making burnt offerings every morning and evening. The temple would be great because God was greater than all gods. Hiram king of Tyre sent Huram-Abi, a man of great skill trained to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, wood, with yarn and fine linen experienced in all kinds of engraving to execute any design given to him and to work with Solomon’s craftsmen. Solomon promised that he would give Hiram’s servants wheat, barley, olive oil and wine. Hiram cut all the logs from Lebanon and floated them by sea down to Joppa (2 Chron. 1:1-2:18). Ask God for wisdom and understanding to build the temple so He provides the material and human resources to multiply disciples.
Establish a Supernatural Foundation Through God’s Word and Prayer
The foundation Solomon laid for building the temple of God was 60 cubits long and 20 cubits wide overlaid inside with pure gold and adorned with precious stones. He overlaid the ceiling beams, doorframes, walls and doors with gold and carved cherubim on the walls. Solomon built the Most Holy Place corresponding to the width of the temple and overlaid inside with 600 talents of fine gold. The Most Holy Place had a pair of sculptured cherubim overlaid with gold. The curtain of blue, purple and crimson yarn and fine linen had cherubim worked into it. The front of the temple had two pillars with interwoven chains named Jakin (He establishes) adn Boaz (In Him is strength) (2 Chron. 3:1-17). Establish a supernatural kingdom foundation through God’s word and prayer.
Empower Believers and Churches Through God’s Word and Holy Spirit
Solomon made a bronze altar, Sea standing on 12 bulls holding 3,000 baths and ten basins for washing things used in the burnt offerings by the priests. He made ten gold lampstands, ten tables, 100 gold sprinkling bowls, pots and shovels. Huram finished the work of making polished bronze objects for the temple of the Lord. Solomon cast them in clay molds. He made all the furnishings: golden altar, tables with the bread of Presence, gold lampstands with their lamps burning in front of the inner sanctuary, gold floral work, lamps and solid gold tongs, gold wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, ladles, censers, gold doors and inner doors to the Most Holy Place (2 Chron. 4:1-22). Empower believers and churches through God’s word and the Holy Spirit to be salt and light in the world.
Pursue Unity By Praising God Through Music
Solomon dedicated the furnishings of God’s temple, brought up the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed many sheep and cattle. The priests placed the ark in the Most Holy Place and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. The ark contained the two tablets that Moses received when God made a covenant with him after they came out of Egypt. The consecrated priests withdrew from the Holy Place. The Levites who were musicians stood on the east side of the altar dressed in fine linen playing cymbals, harps and lyres accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. The trumpeters and singers joined in unison with one voice to praise and thank the Lord for His goodness and enduring love. The glory of the Lord filled the temple so the priests could not perform their service (2 Chron. 5:1-14). Pursue unity by praising God in music so the church is filled with God’s glory.
Seek God and Confess Sin During Famine and Disasters
God chose Jerusalem for His name to dwell and David to rule His people Israel. David had a heart to build a temple but Solomon was called to construct it for His Name. He placed the ark that held the covenant of the Lord He made with Israel. Solomon prayed that God dwell on earth with men even though the heavens and temple could not contain Him. He asked that His eyes be open to hear Solomon’s prayers by repaying the guilty and declaring the innocent not guilty. When Israel or immigrants prayed and turned from their sin after famine, plague, blight, being besieged by enemies, any disaster or disease, he asked God to forgive their sin and deal with them according to what they did knowing their hearts so they would fear and walk in His ways. Solomon asked that God uphold the cause of His people who prayed while at war against their enemies and those who confessed their sin after being taken captive. He asked that God come to His resting place and His priests be clothed with salvation and rejoice in His goodness (2 Chron. 6:1-42). Seek God and confess sins during famine and disasters to experience forgiveness, salvation and His goodness.
Focus on God’s Glory, Humble Self, Pray and Turn from Wicked Ways
When Solomon finished praying, fire consumed the burnt offering and God’s glory filled the temple preventing the priests from entering it. The Israelites humbled themselves, worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord saying He was good and His love endured forever. When Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats, he and the people dedicated the temple of God. They celebrated the altar dedication seven days and the festival seven days more. When Solomon finished building the temple and royal palace, the Lord appeared to him. If God shut the heavens so no rain came, commanded locusts to devour the land or sent a plague among His people, they were to humble themselves, pray and seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways so He would hear, forgive their sin and heal their land. His eyes would be open and His ears attentive to their prayers. He chose and consecrated this temple so His name, eyes and heart would be there forever. Obedience to God established Solomon’s and his descendants’ royal throne. Serving and worshiping other gods would uproot Israel from His land and He to reject and make the temple an object of ridicule among all peoples (2 Chron. 7:1-22). Focus on God’s glory, humble yourself, pray and seek His face, and turn from your wicked ways so God hears, forgives your sin and heals the land.
Build Up Body of Christ Until God’s Kingdom Comes Into City
After Solomon build the temple and his own palace, he rebuild the villages Hiram gave him and settled Israelites in them. He rebuild Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon as fortified cities with walls, gates and bars along with other cities throughout the territory he ruled. Israelite slaves were Solomon’s fighting men, commanders, and 250 chief officials supervising them. He sacrificed burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord according to the daily requirement commanded by Moses for Sabbaths, New Moons and the three annual feasts. Solomon appointed the divisions of the priests and gatekeepers for their duties with the Levites leading praise according to each day’s requirements as David ordered. All Solomon’s work was carried out from laying the foundation of the temple until its completion (2 Chron. 8:1-18). Build up the body of Christ through prayer, surrender and praise until God’s kingdom comes into the city.
Share God’s Wisdom and Riches with Ambassadors
After Solomon answered the queen of Sheba’s hard questions, she gave him 120 talents of gold, spices and precious stones. She praised God who placed Solomon on his throne as king to rule and maintain justice and righteousness for Him. He used algumwood to make steps for the temple and royal palace along with harps and lyres for the musicians. Solomon gave the queen more than she brought to him. He received 666 talents of gold yearly not including revenues from merchants, traders, kings of Arabia and governors of the land. He made 200 large shields of hammered gold that he put in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. He made a great throne inlaid with ivory and overlaid with pure gold. A lion stood on both sides of the seat with 12 standing on the six steps. The Palace’s household articles were pure gold. Solomon had greater riches and wisdom than all other kings on earth. They sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God put in his heart (2 Chron. 9:1-31). Share God’s wisdom and riches with ambassadors in your expanding networks.
Pray Paul’s prayer in Eph. 1:17-23 so that God gives you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know Him better so the eyes of your heart are enlightened to know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints and His incomparable great power for believers like Jesus rising from the dead and being seated at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms far above all rule and authority.
