King Solomon builds a magnificent temple using the finest materials offered by the neighboring kingdoms—cedarwood from Lebanon, stones, gold, silver, and copper—and with the help of the best experts in each field. The Bible details how the construction efforts were carried out with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge in order to emphasize that spiritual wealth was the main capital invested in this massive project. It moreover describes the most well-known ritual worship items of the Temple—the altar, the table of the showbread, the basins, and the menorahs. The craftsmanship and beauty of the materials are infused with an aura of divine order. The fire from menorah will cast light on the world for as long as the Israelites uphold God’s laws and justice.
“And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the shewbread was, And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold, And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers ofpure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple. So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD. And Solomon brought in the things which Davidhis father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the LORD” (1 Kings 7:48-51)
There is order in both the natural and spiritual worlds; orderly studies and deeds are necessary for achieving self-improvement.
