Who led David to number the people? One place you read that it was God and yet in another place it was Satan. Is this a contradiction in the word of God?

Most people will not slow down to understand difficult passages like this. It deals with the architecture of Solomon’s Temple and uses unfamiliar words. But, for most of us, the passage is no more difficult than a description of a modern building by an architect. We would have to work to understand that as well. Be willing to look up some words and take time to understand the structure. Realize also that you will not be able to answer all your questions. However, your efforts will be rewarded. And your increased understanding of the Temple will prepare you to receive spiritual truths behind the physical structure. May the Lord help you in this special study.

Bible commentators recognize this chapter as a difficult one to interpret. It is good to approach this chapter as having three major sections: 1) the coming destruction of the land which will come because of 2) their rejection of the good shepherd and 3) their acceptance of the evil shepherd. This chapter points to the rejection of Jesus Christ as Messiah and to the acceptance of the antichrist and the destruction of the land of Israel during the Tribulation.

This chapter continues the description of Solomon’s Temple and related items. In this passage, the molten sea is of special interest. There was nothing quite like it in the tabernacle of Moses. Notice also the great size of the items that do have parallels in the tabernacle.

Solomon began to build the temple for which he is famous. Here we learn of the general dimensions, the coverings, the cherubim, and the pillars. Most people tend to see portions of scripture like this as difficult and boring. However, many hidden treasures are reserved to those who take the time to look for them.

What would you do if I told you that there was someone that lived really close to you that was out to get your family? It’s not necessarily going to be an obvious attack but maybe a subtil one. It might even be so subtil that you may sit there and watch it happen and not even know that there has been an attack. Now, what would you do if I told you that most of the time the thing that is going to harm you may already be in your home? Tonight we want to take a look into the word of God at something that God hates but most Christians live with.

Solomon began the work of building the temple. He assigned workers, made agreements to receive building materials, and obtained the skilled labor he needed for the work. He carefully prepared to build a house for the Lord that would be wonderful great.

What a difference we see between Saul and David. One impressed men by his exterior appearance; the other impressed God by the condition of his heart.

In this lesson, we learn from Jonathan’s faith in God and his bravery in battle. We also learn from Saul’s fearfulness and his foolishness in making an unreasonable oath.

Both the sin of Saul in sacrificing and the absence of smiths (blacksmiths) in Israel point to the danger of fighting God’s battles according to the ways of man and the world