I dunno if you realize it, man.
But 1st Kings 8 represents a major cosmic turning point in Israel’s salvation history.
What do I mean by “major cosmic turning point?”
What I’m saying homie…
Is that Israel is the means through which God brings salvation to mankind.
I’ve talked about how the Temple was completed and was about to be dedicated for service.
I’ve also discussed how the construction of Solomon’s personal palace was underway, though it would be a few years before it would be completed.
Well, here’s the thing a lot of folks don’t get.
And definitely something your pastor, preacher, or Bible teacher is clueless about.
The Temple and Palace, when put together, symbolize two things.
First, the spiritual relationship between these two awesome pieces of architecture is shown.
Second, the establishment of the Temple and Solomon’s palace marked the end of Israel’s long period of instability.
Recall that for the past three to four hundred years, any form of priestly service was conducted in what was left over from the original Wilderness Tabernacle.
This was called the MISHKAN in Hebrew.
Originally, it was meant to be a mobile sanctuary for the God of Israel until Israel was permanently settled in the land.
That permanent place turned out to be Jerusalem in the Land of Canaan inside the tribal territory of Yehuda.
This is the place where the Lord would choose to establish His Holy Name for eternity.
So here’s the point a lot of homies don’t get.
This combination of the land and sanctuary is what Scripture refers to as the “Kingdom of God.”
It’s geographically specific, man!
It ain’t some abstract, ephemeral lovey-dovey, butter and maple syrup over a pile of pancakes, Beach Boys good vibrations idea that the Christians preach about.
It’s ERETZ-ISRAEL (the land of Israel) and Temple together.
That’s the Kingdom of God, man!
Ya feeling me here?
Here’s another thing a lot of pastors and preachers are smoking too much marijuana about.
Through this combo of land and sanctuary, God is letting us know that it’s His Will to administer justice over His earthly kingdom through an earthly king.
Ya know the Book of Judges or SHOFETIM, right?
Well, contrary to popular misunderstanding, the whole purpose of that book was for God to demonstrate to Israel (and greater mankind) that His People cannot function properly without a king.
I know the gentile church universally preaches the opposite.
Well, they are universally WRONG with a capital “W.”
I’ve said this about a billion times already, but the issue was never whether or not Israel should have a king.
The issue was what KIND of king Israel should have.
And WHO would ordain him.
Ya feeling me here?
We see this Biblical model of a theocracy represented by King Solomon, his palace, and the Temple.
This IS the Kingdom of God.
And it was starkly different from your typical Oriental, Middle Eastern, or European style of rulership.
Man-based government operates more like a dictatorship.
The King who serves in the Lord’s Kingdom was to be a servant whose purpose was to carry out God’s Will.
God intended for Israel’s covenants to be faithfully protected and upheld by the king under His authority.
And what are Israel’s covenants?
They are the unchanging agreements that lay out God’s plan to save humanity through Israel as His chosen instrument
That’s why Solomon’s palace was built right next to the Temple.
It wasn’t just a matter of convenience or royal prestige.
Its location symbolized the unique relationship between God and Israel’s king.
And that’s your takeaway for today.
The King of Israel existed to uphold God’s covenants.
Everything else was secondary.
Not to sit around eating royally approved Cheetos all day.
Ya feel me?
Done.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“But I tell you,
do not swear an oath at all:
either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
or by the earth, for it is his footstool;
or by Jerusalem,
for it is the city of the Great King.”
-Matthew 5:34-35
“The Lord God will give Him
the throne of David His father.
He will reign over the house
of Jacob forever. His Kingdom
will never come to an end.”
— Luke 1:32–33
“I confer on you a Kingdom,
just as My Father conferred
one on Me, so you may
eat and drink at My table
in My Kingdom, and sit
on thrones judging the twelve
tribes of Israel.”
— Luke 22:29–30
“You have come to Mount Zion,
to the city of the living God,
the heavenly Jerusalem…”
— Hebrews 12:22
“The kingdom of the world
has become the Kingdom of
our Lord and of His Messiah,
and He shall reign forever and ever.”
— Revelation 11:15
“I saw the holy city,
New Jerusalem, coming down
out of heaven from God…
God’s dwelling place is now
among the people.“
— Revelation 21:2–3
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