The Lord living within makes our hearts a sanctuary of grace and our minds a repository of truth.
As has been noted, the portrait of Solomon in 1 Chronicles 1 features first his worship (vv 1-6), then the question that resulted in the gift of his wisdom (vv 7-12), then the additional provision of his wealth (vv 13-17). Now in chapter 2 we focus on his work. When studying the parallel passage in 1 Kings 7, we noticed the symbolism in the building materials—Jewish stones with Gentile timbers, prefiguring the New Testament temple (Eph 2:14- 22). Here we see it in the work crews—“indeed my servants will be with your servants” (1 Chron 2:8), as Solomon wrote to the king of Tyre. We also observed the link in Huram, overseer of the project, who had a Jewish mother and a Gentile father. The earlier passage described him as capable in bronze work. But here his résumé is greatly expanded, for he was “skilled to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, purple and blue, fine linen and crimson, and to make any engraving and to accomplish any plan which may be given to him” (vv 13-14), like Aholiab and Bezalel, who oversaw the tabernacle construction. We also have added in this account Solomon’s outlining of the sacred purpose of the temple (v 4), the supreme preeminence of it, making sure it was a great structure, “for our God is greater than all gods” (v 5), and the surprising proposal to build such a structure, for “who is able to build Him a temple, since heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him?” (v 6). And if it’s shocking that God could take up residence in a building, what should be the thrill we feel when we consider Jesus’ words: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” ( Jn 14:23)!