Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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1 Kings
Book: 1 Kings
Chapter: 7
Overview:
Solomon's buildings.
(1-12) Furniture of the
Temple.
(13-47)
Vessels of
Gold.
(48-51)
1-12 All
Solomon's buildings, though beautiful, were intended
for use.
Solomon began with the
Temple; he built for
God first,
and then his other buildings. The surest foundations of lasting
prosperity are laid in early
Piety. He was thirteen years
Building his
House, yet he built the
Temple in little more than
Seven years; not that he was more exact, but less eager in
Building his own
House, than in
Building God's. We ought to
prefer
God's honour before our own ease and satisfaction.
13-47 The two brazen pillars in the
Porch of the
Temple, some
think, were to teach those that came to
Worship, to depend upon
God only, for strength and establishment in all their religious
exercises. "
Jachin,"
God will fix this roving mind. It is good
that the
Heart be established with
Grace. "
Boaz," In him is our
strength, who
Works in us both to will and to do. Spiritual
strength and stability are found at the door of
God's
Temple,
where we must wait for the
Gifts of
Grace, in use of the means
of
Grace. Spiritual priests and spiritual sacrifices must be
washed in the
Laver of
Christ's
Blood, and of
Regeneration. We
must wash often, for we daily contract pollution. There are full
means provided for our cleansing;
So that if we have our
Lot for
ever among the unclean it will be our own fault. Let us
Bless
God for the
Fountain opened
By the
Sacrifice of
Christ for
Sin
and for uncleanness.
48-51 Christ is now the
Temple and the Builder; the
Altar and
the
Sacrifice; the
Light of our souls, and the
Bread of
Life;
able to supply all the wants of all that have applied or shall
apply to him. Outward images cannot represent, words cannot
express, the
Heart cannot conceive, his preciousness or his
Love. Let us come to him, and wash away our sins in his
Blood;
let us seek for the purifying
Grace of his
Spirit; let us
maintain
Communion with the
Father through his intercession, and
yield up ourselves and all we have to his service. Being
strengthened
By him, we shall be accepted, useful, and happy.