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Most commentators agree that it took longer than expected to complete Solomon’s house simply because there was not an urgency to get it done, however, it is suspicious that more time was spent on his own house than on God’s house. His house would have been equivalent to a 4-story building today. It came to be known as “The House of the Forest of Lebanon” due to its huge cedar pillars. Some ancient traditions say the entire place actually smelled like a forest of cedar because of all the Lebanese wood that was used to construct it.
In this chapter, a lot is revealed about the heart posture and temptations of Solomon. He obviously loved to build. He wanted to use the absolute best and most beautiful materials. When I read this chapter, I think, big, expensive, and beautiful. These are not sinful on their own, but they set an environment for the heart to be pulled away from God. Interestingly, in the following chapters, we will see how these qualities continue to chip away at Solomon’s heart.
I don’t want to give away too much, but the puzzle pieces begin to come together when we read of Solomon’s other building projects. He begins to look for beauty in other places. He turns to bigger, better, and “more expensive” possessions as time goes on and on. Anyone can read the book of Ecclesiastes and see this truth revealed. The writer expresses great sorrow over choosing to “chase” these temporary pleasures.
In this life, each of us has needs and each of us had desires. When they are fulfilled the way God intended, we are completely satisfied in Him and He receives the glory. When we look beyond His plan for something we think is better, we fall flat on our face. There is nothing wrong with big, expensive and beautiful until it steals away our heart. There is much to learn about the life of Solomon. He was richly blessed and loved by God. He was given so much! As we continue chapter by chapter, it is important to identify how and why we see Solomon drifting away. It’s a vital lesson for each of us with our own personal journey.