PILLARS OF GOD. I Kings 7:13-22. 06/05/2022. #17
13 Now King Solomon sent and brought Huram from Tyre. 14 He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a bronze worker; he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill in working with all kinds of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and did all his work. 15 And he cast two pillars of bronze, each one eighteen cubits high, and a line of twelve cubits measured the circumference of each. 16 Then he made two capitals of cast bronze, to set on the tops of the pillars. The height of one capital was five cubits, and the height of the other capital was five cubits. 17 He made a lattice network, with wreaths of chain work, for the capitals which were on top of the pillars: seven chains for one capital and seven for the other capital. 18 So he made the pillars, and two rows of pomegranates above the network all around to cover the capitals that were on top; and thus he did for the other capital. 19 The capitals which were on top of the pillars in the hall were in the shape of lilies, four cubits. 20 The capitals on the two pillars also had pomegranates above, by the convex surface which was next to the network; and there were two hundred such pomegranates in rows on each of the capitals all around. 21 Then he set up the pillars by the vestibule of the temple; he set up the pillar on the right and called its name Jachin, and he set up the pillar on the left and called its name Boaz. 22 The tops of the pillars were in the shape of lilies. So the work of the pillars was finished.
1. Huram the metallurgist
a. Solomon hired a metallurgist from Tyre
a1. Huram had an Israeli mom and Phoenician dad
a2. Even though God commanded to marry within one’s tribe, mixed marriages occurred
b. Huram (“noble born”) = father a metallurgist
a1. Known for his great craftsmanship
a2. Sol. sought out the best to do his work
c. Notice that even though the covenant was with the Jews, God allowed Gentiles to participate in work
a1. God’s temple, though mainly for the Jews, was open to all who believed
a2. No indication what Huram’s religion was
2. 2 impressive pillars
a. Huram cast 2 large bronze pillars for the entrance of the temple (bronze = copper + tin; brass = copper + zinc)
b. Pillars were enormous (27 x 5.7)
c. The capitals on top of the pillars were 7.5 tall
a1. Capitals were made in likeness of lilies
a2. Capitals were decorated in the likeness of pomegranates
3. Symbolism
a. Sol. gave names to the 2 pillars: Jachin and Boaz
a1. Jachin = it is established
a2. Boaz = he gives strength
b. The symbolism is obvious
a1. God established the covenant with Israel
a2. God gives strength to his people
c. One either could see the grand pillars and marvel at the them, or meditate on what the pillars meant
d. Many symbols in the temple
a1. Holy of Holies = throne room of God
a2. Ark of the Covenant = where God meets his people to give them grace
a3. Showbread = God provides for his people
a4. Incense = God hears his people’s prayers
a5. Altar = sacrifice for sin
a6. Laver = God washes away sin
e. When the symbol becomes sacred within itself, one worships and idol and not God
f. Christian symbols are the same
a1. Not to reverence the symbol, but the Lord
a2. Communion elements are a reminder of the Lord in his sacrifice for us, not holy in their own rights (not worship bread + wine)
a3. Baptismal water is not sacred, but the commitment to serve the Lord is
a4. We do not worship the Bible, but the Bible instructs us how to serve and worship God
a5. The cross is a symbol, but not to be worshiped
g. If people came to the temple to admire the architecture and gold, they missed the point (Mt. 24)
a1. 1 Cor. 3:17 the temple of the Lord could not save anyone (just an object)
a2. Rom. 1 by transferring true worship and faith from God to an object, one is an idolater
h. Symbols are aids (communion, baptism, Bible), but are neither objects of adoration nor givers of grace
i. Jachin and Boaz were impressive, but manmade