[Solomon]
adorned the temple with precious stones. And the gold he used was gold of
Parvaim (2 Chronicles 3:6).
We’ve already
acknowledged the cheerful heart with which the people of Israel donated monies
and materials toward the construction of the temple. They were a grateful
people, who gave enthusiastically to make the construction of the temple a
success.
Here we have another
illustration of this building project’s importance. This was no 21st
century construction project where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidders.
Without proper oversight that process can lead to inferior materials being
substituted for those in the engineering specs. There was no cutting corners in
building Solomon’s Temple. Only the best was good enough for God.
Precious stones were
used where the substitution of cubic zirconium would never have been detected.
Tyre’s best cedar was harvested and delivered to the worksite. More cedar,
along with juniper and algum wood, was brought in from Lebanon. Expert weavers
and embroiderers produced elegant tapestries and curtains. 80,000 stonecutters
used incredible precision to prepare limestone blocks in the quarry so that no
tool noises would be heard in Jerusalem. And when it came to the overlays, no one
was tempted to skimp with 10-carat gold. Solomon would accept only the gold of
Parvaim, the finest gold money could buy.
TODAY’S MEDITATION
When you leave your gift at
the altar (be it money, time or talent), can you walk away satisfied you’ve
given your very best? What would it look like to “leave it all on the field”?
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