Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are 1 Kings 7:1-51; Acts 7:30-50; Psalm 128:1-6; and Proverbs 16:31-33. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
1 Kings 7:1-51 (Contemporary English Version)
1 Kings 7
Solomon's Palace Is Built
1Solomon's palace took thirteen years to build. 2-3Forest Hall was the largest room in the palace. It was one hundred fifty feet long, seventy-five feet wide, and forty-five feet high, and was lined with cedar from Lebanon. It had four rows of cedar pillars, fifteen in a row, and they held up forty-five cedar beams. The ceiling was covered with cedar. 4Three rows of windows on each side faced each other, 5and there were three doors on each side near the front of the hall.
6Pillar Hall was seventy-five feet long and forty-five feet wide. A covered porch supported by pillars went all the way across the front of the hall.
7Solomon's throne was in Justice Hall, where he judged cases. This hall was completely lined with cedar.
8The section of the palace where Solomon lived was behind Justice Hall and looked exactly like it. He had a similar place built for his wife, the daughter of the king of Egypt.
9From the foundation all the way to the top, these buildings and the courtyard were made out of the best stones a<="" value="[a]" >[] carefully cut to size, then smoothed on every side with saws. 10The foundation stones were huge, good stones--some of them fifteen feet long and others twelve feet long. 11The cedar beams and other stones that had been cut to size were on top of these foundation stones. 12The walls around the palace courtyard were made out of three layers of cut stones with one layer of cedar beams, just like the front porch and the inner courtyard of the temple.
6Pillar Hall was seventy-five feet long and forty-five feet wide. A covered porch supported by pillars went all the way across the front of the hall.
7Solomon's throne was in Justice Hall, where he judged cases. This hall was completely lined with cedar.
8The section of the palace where Solomon lived was behind Justice Hall and looked exactly like it. He had a similar place built for his wife, the daughter of the king of Egypt.
9From the foundation all the way to the top, these buildings and the courtyard were made out of the best stones a<="" value="[a]" >[] carefully cut to size, then smoothed on every side with saws. 10The foundation stones were huge, good stones--some of them fifteen feet long and others twelve feet long. 11The cedar beams and other stones that had been cut to size were on top of these foundation stones. 12The walls around the palace courtyard were made out of three layers of cut stones with one layer of cedar beams, just like the front porch and the inner courtyard of the temple.
Hiram Makes the Bronze Furnishings
(2 Chronicles 3.15-17; 4.1-10)
13-14Hiram was a skilled bronze worker from the city of Tyre. [b<="">] His father was now dead, but he also had been a bronze worker from Tyre, and his mother was from the tribe of Naphtali. King Solomon asked Hiram to come to Jerusalem and make the bronze furnishings to use for worship in the LORD's temple, and he agreed to do it. 15Hiram made two bronze columns twenty-seven feet tall and about six feet across. 16For the top of each column, he also made a bronze cap seven and a half feet high. 17The caps were decorated with seven rows of designs that looked like chains, [c<="">] 18with two rows of designs that looked like pomegranates. [d<="">] 19The caps for the columns of the porch were six feet high and were shaped like lilies. [e<="">] 20The chain designs on the caps were right above the rounded tops of the two columns, and there were two hundred pomegranates in rows around each cap. 21Hiram placed the two columns on each side of the main door of the temple. The column on the south side was called Jachin, [f<="">] and the one on the north was called Boaz. [g<="">] 22The lily-shaped caps were on top of the columns.
This completed the work on the columns.
23Hiram also made a large bowl called the Sea. It was seven and a half feet deep, about fifteen feet across, and forty-five feet around. 24Two rows of bronze gourds were around the outer edge of the bowl, ten gourds to every eighteen inches. 25The bowl itself sat on top of twelve bronze bulls with three bulls facing outward in each of four directions. 26The sides of the bowl were four inches thick, and its rim was like a cup that curved outward like flower petals. The bowl held about eleven thousand gallons.
27Hiram made ten movable bronze stands, each one four and a half feet high, six feet long, and six feet wide. 28-29The sides were made with panels attached to frames decorated with flower designs. The panels themselves were decorated with figures of lions, bulls, and winged creatures. 30-31Each stand had four bronze wheels and axles and a round frame twenty-seven inches across, held up by four supports eighteen inches high. A small bowl rested in the frame. The supports were decorated with flower designs, and the frame with carvings.
The side panels of the stands were square, 32and the wheels and axles were underneath them. The wheels were about twenty-seven inches high 33and looked like chariot wheels. The axles, rims, spokes, and hubs were made out of bronze.
34-35Around the top of each stand was a nine-inch strip, and there were four braces [h<="">] attached to the corners of each stand. The panels and the supports were attached to the stands, 36and the stands were decorated with flower designs and figures of lions, palm trees, and winged creatures. 37Hiram made the ten bronze stands from the same mold, so they were exactly the same size and shape. 38Hiram also made ten small bronze bowls, one for each stand. The bowls were six feet across and could hold about two hundred thirty gallons.
39He put five stands on the south side of the temple, five stands on the north side, and the large bowl at the southeast corner of the temple.
40Hiram made pans for hot ashes, and also shovels and sprinkling bowls.
This is a list of the bronze items that Hiram made for the LORD's temple:
This completed the work on the columns.
23Hiram also made a large bowl called the Sea. It was seven and a half feet deep, about fifteen feet across, and forty-five feet around. 24Two rows of bronze gourds were around the outer edge of the bowl, ten gourds to every eighteen inches. 25The bowl itself sat on top of twelve bronze bulls with three bulls facing outward in each of four directions. 26The sides of the bowl were four inches thick, and its rim was like a cup that curved outward like flower petals. The bowl held about eleven thousand gallons.
27Hiram made ten movable bronze stands, each one four and a half feet high, six feet long, and six feet wide. 28-29The sides were made with panels attached to frames decorated with flower designs. The panels themselves were decorated with figures of lions, bulls, and winged creatures. 30-31Each stand had four bronze wheels and axles and a round frame twenty-seven inches across, held up by four supports eighteen inches high. A small bowl rested in the frame. The supports were decorated with flower designs, and the frame with carvings.
The side panels of the stands were square, 32and the wheels and axles were underneath them. The wheels were about twenty-seven inches high 33and looked like chariot wheels. The axles, rims, spokes, and hubs were made out of bronze.
34-35Around the top of each stand was a nine-inch strip, and there were four braces [h<="">] attached to the corners of each stand. The panels and the supports were attached to the stands, 36and the stands were decorated with flower designs and figures of lions, palm trees, and winged creatures. 37Hiram made the ten bronze stands from the same mold, so they were exactly the same size and shape. 38Hiram also made ten small bronze bowls, one for each stand. The bowls were six feet across and could hold about two hundred thirty gallons.
39He put five stands on the south side of the temple, five stands on the north side, and the large bowl at the southeast corner of the temple.
40Hiram made pans for hot ashes, and also shovels and sprinkling bowls.
This is a list of the bronze items that Hiram made for the LORD's temple:
A List of Everything inside the Temple
(2 Chronicles 4.11--5.1)
41two columns; two bowl-shaped caps for the tops of the columns; two chain designs on the caps; 42four hundred pomegranates [i<="">] for the chain designs; 43ten movable stands; ten small bowls for the stands; 44a large bowl; twelve bulls that held up the bowl; 45pans for hot ashes, and also shovels and sprinkling bowls. Hiram made these bronze things for Solomon 46near the Jordan River between Succoth and Zarethan by pouring melted bronze into clay molds. 47There were so many bronze things that Solomon never bothered to weigh them, and no one ever knew how much bronze was used.
48Solomon gave orders to make the following temple furnishings out of gold: the altar; the table that held the sacred loaves of bread; [j<="">] 49ten lampstands that went in front of the most holy place; flower designs; lamps and tongs; 50cups, lamp snuffers, and small sprinkling bowls; dishes for incense; fire pans; and the hinges for the doors to the most holy place and the main room of the temple. 51After the LORD's temple was finished, Solomon put into its storage rooms everything that his father David had dedicated to the LORD, including the gold and the silver.
Footnotes:- 1 Kings 7:9 From. . . best stones: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 1 Kings 7:13 Hiram. . . city of Tyre: This is not the same person as "King Hiram of Tyre" (see 5.1).
- 1 Kings 7:17 seven rows. . . chains: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 1 Kings 7:18 pomegranates: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 18. A pomegranate is a bright red fruit that looks like an apple. In ancient times, it was a symbol of life.
- 1 Kings 7:19 lilies: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 19.
- 1 Kings 7:21 Jachin: Or "He makes secure."
- 1 Kings 7:21 Boaz: Or "He is strong."
- 1 Kings 7:34 braces: Or "handles."
- 1 Kings 7:42 pomegranates: See the note at 7.18.
- 1 Kings 7:48 sacred loaves of bread: This bread was offered to the LORD and was a symbol of the LORD's presence in the temple. It was put out on a special table, and was replaced with fresh bread each week (see Leviticus 24.5-9).
48Solomon gave orders to make the following temple furnishings out of gold: the altar; the table that held the sacred loaves of bread; [j<="">] 49ten lampstands that went in front of the most holy place; flower designs; lamps and tongs; 50cups, lamp snuffers, and small sprinkling bowls; dishes for incense; fire pans; and the hinges for the doors to the most holy place and the main room of the temple. 51After the LORD's temple was finished, Solomon put into its storage rooms everything that his father David had dedicated to the LORD, including the gold and the silver.
Footnotes:
- 1 Kings 7:9 From. . . best stones: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 1 Kings 7:13 Hiram. . . city of Tyre: This is not the same person as "King Hiram of Tyre" (see 5.1).
- 1 Kings 7:17 seven rows. . . chains: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 1 Kings 7:18 pomegranates: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 18. A pomegranate is a bright red fruit that looks like an apple. In ancient times, it was a symbol of life.
- 1 Kings 7:19 lilies: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 19.
- 1 Kings 7:21 Jachin: Or "He makes secure."
- 1 Kings 7:21 Boaz: Or "He is strong."
- 1 Kings 7:34 braces: Or "handles."
- 1 Kings 7:42 pomegranates: See the note at 7.18.
- 1 Kings 7:48 sacred loaves of bread: This bread was offered to the LORD and was a symbol of the LORD's presence in the temple. It was put out on a special table, and was replaced with fresh bread each week (see Leviticus 24.5-9).
Acts 7:30-50 (Contemporary English Version)
30Forty years later, an angel appeared to Moses from a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. 31Moses was surprised by what he saw. He went closer to get a better look, and the Lord said, 32"I am the God who was worshiped by your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Moses started shaking all over and didn't dare to look at the bush.
33The Lord said to him, "Take off your sandals. The place where you are standing is holy. 34With my own eyes I have seen the suffering of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groans and have come down to rescue them. Now I am sending you back to Egypt."
35This was the same Moses that the people rejected by saying, "Who made you our leader and judge?" God's angel had spoken to Moses from the bush. And God had even sent the angel to help Moses rescue the people and be their leader.
36In Egypt and at the Red Sea a<="" value="[a]" >[] and in the desert, Moses rescued the people by working miracles and wonders for forty years. 37Moses is the one who told the people of Israel, "God will choose one of your people to be a prophet, just as he chose me." 38Moses brought our people together in the desert, and the angel spoke to him on Mount Sinai. There he was given these life-giving words to pass on to us. 39But our ancestors refused to obey Moses. They rejected him and wanted to go back to Egypt. 40The people said to Aaron, "Make some gods to lead us! Moses led us out of Egypt, but we don't know what's happened to him now." 41Then they made an idol in the shape of a calf. They offered sacrifices to the idol and were pleased with what they had done.
42God turned his back on his people and left them. Then they worshiped the stars in the sky, just as it says in the Book of the Prophets, "People of Israel, you didn't offer sacrifices and offerings to me during those forty years in the desert. 43Instead, you carried the tent where the god Molech is worshiped, and you took along the star of your god Rephan. You made those idols and worshiped them. So now I will have you carried off beyond Babylonia."
44The tent where our ancestors worshiped God was with them in the desert. This was the same tent that God had commanded Moses to make. And it was made like the model that Moses had seen. 45Later it was given to our ancestors, and they took it with them when they went with Joshua. They carried the tent along as they took over the land from those people that God had chased out for them. Our ancestors used this tent until the time of King David. 46He pleased God and asked him if he could build a house of worship for the people [b<="">] of Israel. 47And it was finally King Solomon who built a house for God. [c<="">] 48But the Most High God doesn't live in houses made by humans. It is just as the prophet said, when he spoke for the Lord,
49"Heaven is my throne,
and the earth
is my footstool.
What kind of house
will you build for me?
In what place will I rest?
50I have made everything."
Footnotes:- Acts 7:36 Red Sea: This name comes from the Bible of the early Christians, a translation made into Greek about 200 B.C. It refers to the body of water that the Israelites crossed and was one of the marshes or fresh water lakes near the eastern part of the Nile Delta, where they lived and where the towns of Exodus 13.17--14.9 were located.
- Acts 7:46 the people: Some manuscripts have "God."
- Acts 7:47 God: Or "the people."
33The Lord said to him, "Take off your sandals. The place where you are standing is holy. 34With my own eyes I have seen the suffering of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groans and have come down to rescue them. Now I am sending you back to Egypt."
35This was the same Moses that the people rejected by saying, "Who made you our leader and judge?" God's angel had spoken to Moses from the bush. And God had even sent the angel to help Moses rescue the people and be their leader.
36In Egypt and at the Red Sea a<="" value="[a]" >[] and in the desert, Moses rescued the people by working miracles and wonders for forty years. 37Moses is the one who told the people of Israel, "God will choose one of your people to be a prophet, just as he chose me." 38Moses brought our people together in the desert, and the angel spoke to him on Mount Sinai. There he was given these life-giving words to pass on to us. 39But our ancestors refused to obey Moses. They rejected him and wanted to go back to Egypt. 40The people said to Aaron, "Make some gods to lead us! Moses led us out of Egypt, but we don't know what's happened to him now." 41Then they made an idol in the shape of a calf. They offered sacrifices to the idol and were pleased with what they had done.
42God turned his back on his people and left them. Then they worshiped the stars in the sky, just as it says in the Book of the Prophets, "People of Israel, you didn't offer sacrifices and offerings to me during those forty years in the desert. 43Instead, you carried the tent where the god Molech is worshiped, and you took along the star of your god Rephan. You made those idols and worshiped them. So now I will have you carried off beyond Babylonia."
44The tent where our ancestors worshiped God was with them in the desert. This was the same tent that God had commanded Moses to make. And it was made like the model that Moses had seen. 45Later it was given to our ancestors, and they took it with them when they went with Joshua. They carried the tent along as they took over the land from those people that God had chased out for them. Our ancestors used this tent until the time of King David. 46He pleased God and asked him if he could build a house of worship for the people [b<="">] of Israel. 47And it was finally King Solomon who built a house for God. [c<="">] 48But the Most High God doesn't live in houses made by humans. It is just as the prophet said, when he spoke for the Lord,
49"Heaven is my throne,
and the earth
is my footstool.
What kind of house
will you build for me?
In what place will I rest?
50I have made everything."
Footnotes:
- Acts 7:36 Red Sea: This name comes from the Bible of the early Christians, a translation made into Greek about 200 B.C. It refers to the body of water that the Israelites crossed and was one of the marshes or fresh water lakes near the eastern part of the Nile Delta, where they lived and where the towns of Exodus 13.17--14.9 were located.
- Acts 7:46 the people: Some manuscripts have "God."
- Acts 7:47 God: Or "the people."
Psalm 128:1-6 (Contemporary English Version)
Psalm 128
(A song for worship.)
The LORD Rewards His Faithful People
1The LORD will bless you if you respect him
and obey his laws.
2Your fields will produce,
and you will be happy
and all will go well.
3Your wife will be as fruitful
as a grapevine,
and just as an olive tree
is rich with olives,
your home will be rich
with healthy children.
4That is how the LORD will bless
everyone who respects him.
5I pray that the LORD
will bless you from Zion
and let Jerusalem prosper
as long as you live.
6May you live long enough
to see your grandchildren.
Let's pray for peace in Israel!
and obey his laws.
2Your fields will produce,
and you will be happy
and all will go well.
3Your wife will be as fruitful
as a grapevine,
and just as an olive tree
is rich with olives,
your home will be rich
with healthy children.
4That is how the LORD will bless
everyone who respects him.
5I pray that the LORD
will bless you from Zion
and let Jerusalem prosper
as long as you live.
6May you live long enough
to see your grandchildren.
Let's pray for peace in Israel!
Proverbs 16:31-33 (Contemporary English Version)
31Gray hair is a glorious crown
worn by those
who have lived right.
32Controlling your temper
is better than being a hero
who captures a city.
33We make our own decisions,
but the LORD alone
determines what happens.
worn by those
who have lived right.
32Controlling your temper
is better than being a hero
who captures a city.
33We make our own decisions,
but the LORD alone
determines what happens.
Thought for the Day
“Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you.” (Colossians 3:13 - Contemporary English Version) God wants us to be patient with one another and to treat our brothers and sisters with kindness. When we do that, we're showing just how much we appreciate God's treatment of us.
Quote for the Day
American actress, singer-songwriter, and comedian, Hattie McDaniel wrote, “ I did my best, and God did the rest.”
A Joke for Today
A husband and wife were at a party chatting with some friends when the subject of marriage counseling came up.
"Oh, we'll never need that. My husband and I have a great relationship," the wife explained. "He was a communications major in college, and I majored in theater arts. He communicates really well, and I just act as if I'm listening."
A Prayer Request
As Christians, we can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Below is the need that we're laying before God today.
That people are sensitive to the vulnerability of their neighbors.
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