1 Kings 6:12
"As for this temple you are building, if you walk in My statutes, carry out My ordinances, and keep all My commandments by walking in them, I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father David.
As for this temple you are building
This phrase refers to the construction of the temple by King Solomon, a significant event in Israel's history. The temple was to be the central place of worship for the Israelites, replacing the portable tabernacle. It was located in Jerusalem, on Mount Moriah, a site with deep historical and spiritual significance, as it was where Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:2). The temple symbolized God's presence among His people and was a fulfillment of God's promise to David that his son would build a house for God's name (2 Samuel 7:13).

if you walk in My statutes
This condition emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's laws. Walking in God's statutes implies a lifestyle of consistent faithfulness and adherence to His decrees. The statutes refer to the specific laws given to Israel, which were meant to set them apart as God's chosen people. This obedience was crucial for maintaining the covenant relationship with God, as seen throughout the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 28:1-14).

carry out My ordinances
Ordinances are specific commands or decrees given by God. Carrying them out involves active obedience and implementation of God's will in daily life. This phrase highlights the necessity of not just knowing God's laws but actively living them out. The emphasis on action reflects the biblical principle that faith without works is dead (James 2:26).

and keep all My commandments by walking in them
Keeping God's commandments involves both guarding them in one's heart and practicing them in life. The repetition of "walking" underscores the continuous and habitual nature of obedience. This comprehensive obedience is a recurring theme in the Bible, where love for God is demonstrated through keeping His commandments (John 14:15).

I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father David
This promise refers to the Davidic Covenant, where God assured David that his lineage would endure forever and that his throne would be established eternally (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Solomon's role in building the temple was part of this covenantal promise. Ultimately, this promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the Son of David, whose kingdom is everlasting (Luke 1:32-33). The conditional nature of the promise in this context underscores the importance of covenant faithfulness for the realization of God's promises.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
The king of Israel, son of David, who is responsible for building the temple in Jerusalem.

2. David
Solomon's father, the former king of Israel, to whom God made a covenant promise regarding his lineage and the establishment of his kingdom.

3. The Temple
The holy place being constructed in Jerusalem as a dwelling place for God among His people.

4. God's Promise
The covenant made with David, which includes the establishment of his throne and the continuation of his lineage.

5. Jerusalem
The city where the temple is being built, central to Israel's worship and identity.
Teaching Points
Obedience as a Condition for Blessing
God's promises often come with conditions that require our active participation through obedience.

The Importance of Walking in God's Ways
Walking in God's statutes involves a daily commitment to live according to His Word, not just a one-time decision.

The Role of Leadership in Spiritual Faithfulness
As leaders, Solomon's obedience would set a precedent for the nation, highlighting the influence of leadership in spiritual matters.

The Continuity of God's Promises
God's promises to David and Solomon remind us of His faithfulness across generations, encouraging us to trust in His enduring Word.

The Temple as a Symbol of God's Presence
The temple represents God's desire to dwell among His people, pointing forward to the ultimate fulfillment in Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Solomon's responsibility to obey God's statutes relate to the promises made to David, and what does this teach us about the nature of God's promises?

2. In what ways can we "walk in God's statutes" in our daily lives, and how does this impact our relationship with God?

3. How does the concept of obedience in 1 Kings 6:12 connect with Jesus' teachings in the New Testament about keeping His commandments?

4. What role does leadership play in guiding others towards faithfulness to God's commands, and how can we apply this in our own spheres of influence?

5. How does the building of the temple in Jerusalem foreshadow the New Testament understanding of God's presence with His people?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Samuel 7
This chapter details God's covenant with David, promising that his lineage will endure and that his son will build a house for God's name.

1 Kings 2:3-4
David's charge to Solomon to walk in God's ways, keeping His statutes and commandments, which echoes the conditions mentioned in 1 Kings 6:12.

Deuteronomy 28
Discusses the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience, providing a broader context for the conditional nature of God's promises.

Psalm 132:11-12
Reiterates God's promise to David and the condition of his descendants keeping God's covenant.

John 14:15
Jesus speaks about the importance of keeping His commandments, drawing a parallel to the Old Testament emphasis on obedience.
CharacterW. M. Johnston, M. A.1 Kings 6:1-14
Church Architecture1 Kings 6:1-14
Church Building1 Kings 6:1-14
Solomon's Temple Viewed as a Type of the Glorified ChurchJ. H. Hill.1 Kings 6:1-14
The Heavenly TempleJ. S. Bird, B. A.1 Kings 6:1-14
The Law of BeautyN. D. Hillis, D. D.1 Kings 6:1-14
The Soul's TempleN. D. Hillis, D. D.1 Kings 6:1-14
The Temple BuiltMonday Club Sermons1 Kings 6:1-14
The Temple BuiltS. S. Times1 Kings 6:1-14
The Temple BuiltH. A. Nelson, D. D.1 Kings 6:1-14
People
David, Israelites, Solomon
Places
Egypt, Jerusalem, Most Holy Place
Topics
Building, Carry, Commandments, Commands, David, Decisions, Decrees, Effect, Establish, Established, Execute, Follow, Fulfill, Guided, Hast, Judgments, Laws, Obey, Ordinances, Perform, Practise, Promise, Regulations, Rules, Spake, Spoke, Statutes, Walk, Walking, Wilt, Yea
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Kings 6:12

     5478   property, houses

1 Kings 6:1-37

     7236   Israel, united kingdom

1 Kings 6:11-13

     5548   speech, divine

1 Kings 6:12-13

     7922   fellowship, with God

Library
Great Preparations for a Great Work
'And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David. 2. And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, 3. Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the Lord his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. 4. But now the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

"When Solomon was Old. "
"It came to pass when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other Gods." 1 KINGS xi. 4. Who could have predicted that this would come to pass? And yet it is often so, for it is still true that NO AMOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE WILL SAVE FROM BACKSLIDING THOSE WHO REFUSE TO LISTEN TO GOD. We learn from verse 10 that God had taken pains to save Solomon from idolatry, (see 1 Kings vi. 12, and xi. 6). But what good is it for even God to try to save a man who will have his own way? And
Thomas Champness—Broken Bread

A Discourse of the House and Forest of Lebanon
OF THE HOUSE OF THE FOREST OF LEBANON. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. That part of Palestine in which the celebrated mountains of Lebanon are situated, is the border country adjoining Syria, having Sidon for its seaport, and Land, nearly adjoining the city of Damascus, on the north. This metropolitan city of Syria, and capital of the kingdom of Damascus, was strongly fortified; and during the border conflicts it served as a cover to the Assyrian army. Bunyan, with great reason, supposes that, to keep
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The First Part
Of the Apocalyptical Commentaries, according to the Rule of the Apocalyptical Key, on the First Prophecy which is contained in the Seals and Trumpets; with an Introduction concerning the Scene of the Apocalypse. As it is my design to investigate the meaning of the Apocalyptical visions, it is requisite for me to treat, in the first place, of that celestial theatre to which John was called, in order to behold them, exhibited as on a stage, and afterwards of the prophecies in succession, examined by
Joseph Mede—A Key to the Apocalypse

The Historical Books.
1. In the Pentateuch we have the establishment of the Theocracy, with the preparatory and accompanying history pertaining to it. The province of the historical books is to unfold its practiced working, and to show how, under the divine superintendence and guidance, it accomplished the end for which it was given. They contain, therefore, primarily, a history of God's dealings with the covenant people under the economy which he had imposed upon them. They look at the course of human events on the
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.),
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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