🤩 Bible Stories to Marvel At
Where God’s miracles grow big – for little and big children
📖 1 Kings Chapter 7 – A Palace for the King, Art for the Temple
🏛️ When People Build for God with Their Gifts
🌅 Introduction
Some people love building houses out of LEGO.
Others build sandcastles.
But Solomon built two very special buildings:
➡️ a temple for God—
➡️ and a palace for himself.
In Chapter 7 we see how beauty, art, and craftsmanship become important.
Because when we work for God with our whole heart,
even a bronze basin can become something holy.
📖 The Bible story
After the temple was almost finished,
Solomon began building his palace.
The palace was large—even larger than the temple—
and it took 13 years to complete.
Inside it were:
🏰 a great hall where Solomon judged cases
🌿 a “Forest of Lebanon”—like a hall made of trees
🪟 windows, pillars, precious wood, and many rooms for the royal family
But Solomon knew:
as beautiful as his palace was—
the temple was still more important.
🧱 Art for the Temple
To make the temple even more beautiful and useful,
Solomon brought in a special man:
🛠️ Hiram, an artist from Tyre.
Hiram was not an ordinary craftsman.
He could work with bronze like hardly anyone else.
He had a good eye for beauty—
and he knew how to connect art and faith.
Hiram made many things for the temple:
🔸 Two huge pillars at the entrance—
they were called Jachin (“He establishes”) and Boaz (“In Him is strength”).
🔸 A huge bronze basin that stood on twelve bronze bulls—
like a great round sea of metal.
The priests were to wash in it.
🔸 Many smaller basins, wheels, tools, and vessels—
all artistic, all for worship.
Every detail had meaning.
Nothing was “just decoration.”
Everything was meant to show:
God is holy, good, and worthy of our very best.
🟣 Summary
Solomon did not build only for himself—
he made sure the temple also became a place full of beauty and meaning.
With Hiram’s help, things were created
that reminded people in the temple of God’s power and purity.
Chapter 7 shows:
🎨 Art, craftsmanship, and beautiful design are not shallow—
they can honor God when they are made from the heart.
💚 Message for Children Today
Maybe you’re good at drawing.
Or crafting. Or building. Or creating ideas.
Then remember:
👉 God loves it when you use your gifts for Him.
Just as Hiram used bronze,
you can use your gifts to create something that encourages others.
You don’t have to be a king.
Just willing to give your best—for God.
💭 Thought Starter
🔹 What kinds of things do you like to build or create?
🔹 Have you ever made, painted, or crafted something for God?
🔹 What does Chapter 7 show you about beauty and faith?
🧒 👧 👦
💌 Invitation to 1 Kings Chapter 8
🎉 The Big Day – God’s Temple Is Dedicated
They built for so long.
With lots of gold, lots of wood, lots of work—
and even more reverence.
Now it finally happens:
👉 The temple is finished.
👉 The people are gathered.
👉 The Ark of the Covenant is brought inside.
Solomon stands before the people and before God.
And what happens next is not just a celebration—
it is a moment no one will ever forget.
🔔 Teaser for Chapter 8
Drums, music, smoke from sacrifices, joyful faces—
but also quiet awe.
Because God’s glory fills the temple!
The priests can no longer go in.
God Himself moves in—like a cloud of His presence.
Solomon prays, praises, and asks:
🕊️ “When we pray here, hear us, God.”
🕊️ “When we fail and come back—forgive us.”
A house of stone becomes a place for hearts.
Chapter 8 is like Israel’s heartbeat—
and it still shows us today:
📍 God lives where people truly want to meet Him.
