1 Kings 6:1 to 6:14; 8:22 to 8:30 God is greater than any building human hands can make, yet in His grace He chooses to dwell near His people. Trace the building of the first temple in Jerusalem by King Solomon. Examine Solomon's humble prayer of dedication. Understand that God's greatest temple today is the hearts of his people through the Holy Spirit. After King David died in peace, his son Solomon was given extraordinary wisdom by God. With peace across the land, Solomon spent seven years building the temple on Mount Moriah. The Blueprint and the Craftsmanship King [Solomon](/bible/explorer/person/solomon) gathered thousands of skilled workers to build the temple in [Jerusalem](/bible/explorer/place/jerusalem). Huge stones were shaped at the quarry so that no sound of hammer or chisel was heard at the temple site. The walls were lined with fragrant cedar wood from Lebanon, carved with gourds and open flowers, and overlaid with shining pure gold. It took seven years of careful, loving labor to complete. The Cloud of Glory Descends When the temple was finished, the priests carried the Ark of the Covenant into the Most Holy Place, beneath the golden wings of giant cherubim. As soon as the priests came out, the glorious cloud of the Lord filled the entire temple! The radiance was so bright and holy that the priests could not stand to minister. God had come down to dwell among his people! Solomon's Prayer with Spread Hands Solomon stood before the altar, spread out his hands toward heaven, and prayed with deep reverence: "Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant." Solomon asked that whenever people prayed toward this place with repentant hearts, God in heaven would hear and forgive. Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! 1 Kings 8:27 How many years did it take Solomon to build the temple in Jerusalem? Seven years Forty years One month Ten days Seven years 1 Kings 6:38 tells us Solomon was seven years in building the temple. What filled the temple when the Ark of the Covenant was brought inside? The glorious cloud of the Lord's presence A flood of water Smoke from fireworks A flock of white doves The glorious cloud of the Lord's presence 1 Kings 8:10 to 11 describes the cloud of God's glory filling the house. What did Solomon acknowledge about God in his prayer of dedication? Even the highest heaven cannot contain God God lives only inside stone walls God only cares about gold God was tired after seven years Even the highest heaven cannot contain God 1 Kings 8:27 highlights that God is immense and transcendent beyond any building. Treat your local church building and corporate worship time with quiet reverence this week, remembering that God's holy presence is among his people. Great and glorious God, even the highest heavens cannot contain your majesty! Thank you for your dwelling presence with your people. Thank you that through the Holy Spirit, you make our hearts your temple. Help me to worship you with reverence, joy, and clean hands. In Jesus' name, Amen. Why was it important that no hammer or iron tool was heard at the temple building site? If God does not live in buildings made by human hands (Acts 17:24), how can we honor God with our bodies as living temples today? Explorers learn about the majesty of Solomon's temple, discovering God's holiness, presence, and responsiveness to repentant prayer. Show a piece of gold foil or wood carving. Discuss how much care artists put into sacred things, and explain how Solomon built the greatest building of the ancient world! Where is Solomon's temple today? Babylon destroyed Solomon's temple in 586 BC because of Israel's unfaithfulness. Today, God's people are the living temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16)! 5 min Hook & Gold Display, 12 min Narrative, 8 min Memory Verse Tiles, 5 min Quiz