Solomon Builds Walls

Solomon had several construction projects pending—the most important was a house for the Lord. The fact there was no central place in which to worship caused the Israelites to begin worshiping and sacrificing on various hilltops.

This was problematic. “Two prime reasons may be given for the prohibition of sacrifices at high places: (1) to keep the Israelites from the places where the corrupting idolatrous worship of the land was carried on; (2) to prevent the springing up of unauthorized sanctuaries of the Lord, where false practices might be developed.” “Solomon . . . knew that it would take much time to carry out the grand designs given for the building of the temple; and before building the house of the Lord or the walls about Jerusalem, he should have prepared a temporary place of worship for the people of God. He should not have encouraged them, by his own example, to go to the high places to offer sacrifice.” Solomon’s act of “sacrificing in a place not made sacred by the presence of the Lord, but dedicated to the worship of idols, removed from the minds of the people something of the repulsion with which they should have regarded the horrible performances practiced by idolaters. This mingling of the sacred and the profane was the first step in the practice of Solomon which led him to suppose that the Lord was not so particular in regard to the worship of His people. Thus he was educating himself to make still greater departures from God and His work.” “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 9:23, 24).

“Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established” (Proverbs 4:26).