Solomon spent seven years building the Lord’s temple. He then spent 13 years building a palace for himself and this is described in a lot of detail here.

It might seem strange to us that the writer of Kings spends so much time writing about Solomon’s palace when surely the temple should be seen as more important, but the importance of the temple is shown in that it was completed first. Solomon built God’s house before he built his own.

The magnificence of Solomon’s palace is worthy of mention for the writer of Kings because of what it told the world about the status of Solomon. These impressive buildings were seen as a symbol of the power of the king in ancient times. Since Solomon had been made king by God himself, his palace was not only a sign of his power and authority, but of God’s. We might view Solomon’s luxurious palace as an indulgence, but Solomon probably intended it to glorify the Lord who had given him the kingdom and blessed the land with prosperity.

Medieval craftsmen built magnificent cathedrals as a sign of the power and glory of the Lord. Today, we often worship in humble buildings, but our churches can still be wonderful symbols of the glory of God – not in the building or the furniture, but in the people who make up the body of Christ.

As we are called to be hands and feet in a world that so desperately needs Jesus, how do we daily demonstrate the awesomeness of the Lord? When people look at the people of God, do they see the glory of God? We may not be kings, but as Christians we move through the world as ambassadors for Christ. May we bring him the glory in everything we do.

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NEWBOLD COMMUNITY CHURCH