“And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.” I Kings 6:7
The temple was to be an exceedingly magnificent structure. After it was completed it was to be an absolute wonder, shimmering in gold. But it had to be built first, and construction sites are generally very noisy places; sounds of sawing, hammering, and shouting fill the air. But this site was to be different. The rule was that no sound of an iron tool could be heard there. All of the chiseling, hammering, chopping, cutting, and sawing had to happen offsite. The materials were prepared and brought in, but from time to time, something would not fit right. Normally, if a board is a little bit too long, you have a saw nearby so you can make another cut quickly. On this site, if a stone did not fit, it had to be transported offsite to have the necessary chiseling done and then brought back to see if it would fit. Under these constraints, the workers would have constantly increased the intensity with which they measured and planned. They would have been trying their best to get everything right the first time. These men were constantly reminded that they were building a house for God. Every task they performed was completed in solemn reverence. The temple was a place of worship for hundreds of years, but I believe that God was pleased as He watched these workers build His house with hearts filled with awe and wonder.
Morning: I Kings 6-7
Evening: Luke 20:27-47