had turned his heart away, He was going to take the kingdom from him and give it to his servant. But, for the sake of David, God would not do it in Solomon’s days, but in the days of his son. God also told him that he would leave only one tribe to his son—just for the sake of David and Jerusalem. After Solomon’s death, his son Rehoboam became the king of Israel. In the fifth year of his reign, God raised up an adversary against him who plundered the Temple. The Temple then continued to decline in wealth, splendor and importance over the next 367 years. Solomon’s Temple was completely destroyed by the Babylonians lead by King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. The Temple only stood for 374 years. After the destruction of the Temple the rains dried up and the fruits of the trees lost their taste and no longer gave nourishment. Up until the time of its destruction, Solomon’s Temple had achieved a stature that greatly exceeded that of any of the previous temples. It was known to be the most glorious temple in all of Israel, and it became one of the cornerstones of biblical religion. But because of the people turning their backs on God, the Temple was destroyed and the Israelites were again taken captive. ConclusionSolomon’s Temple was built to meet the limitations and needs of God’s people. It represented the believer’s assurance of the grace of God for their joy and blessing. The Temple was to be a memorial to Israel to turn her heart away from the idols of the surrounding nations. The Temple would provide for them an incentive not to practice evil things. But, as we see from the actions of His people, the story of Solomon’s Temple serves the purpose of, once again, showing us that if we turn our backs on Him we will be punished. From the history of the Temple, to its lavish structure, to the Temple’s complete destruction, we can take home more than just the facts, but ...
