2 Chronicles 2

The Explanation

Solomon was a king. A big, wise king. His father was David. God had told Solomon: you may build Me a beautiful house. A house for God. That is called a temple.

Solomon thought: I need a lot of people! Very many. He counted. Seventy thousand men to carry stones. Eighty thousand men to cut stones in the mountains. And bosses to watch over them. So many people!

Solomon also needed wood. Beautiful, strong wood. That wood grew far away, in a land called Lebanon. There were tall trees there. Very tall.

So Solomon wrote a letter. He sent it to a king with a funny name: Hiram. King Hiram lived by the sea. His workers could chop wood. They could chop very well.

Solomon wrote: "Dear Hiram, I am going to build a house for God. Our God is great! Greater than all other gods. The heavens cannot hold Him. But I still want to build Him a beautiful house. Will you help me? Please send wood. And send a smart man. Someone who can work with gold and silver and cloth."

King Hiram read the letter. He was happy. He wrote back: "Yes! I will help. I will chop the trees for you. We will float them over the sea. And I will send you a very smart man. His name is Huram."

And so it began. The stones. The wood. The gold. All for God's house.

What Does This Mean?

Solomon was not building a little house. He was building a house for God. That is very special. So everything had to be beautiful. The best wood. The best stones. The best workers.

Solomon knew something. He knew: God is very great. So I will give Him my very best.

The Common Thread

Long, long after Solomon, Jesus came. Jesus said something amazing. He said: I am the true temple. You do not need a stone house to find God anymore. You can find God with Jesus.

And do you know something even more amazing? If you love Jesus, then God lives in you. You are His house now. Isn't that wonderful?

For You

You can also give God your best. Not stones. Not gold. But your singing. Your praying. Your laughing. Your loving.

When you make a drawing for someone you love, you do your very best, right? You choose the prettiest colors. That is how it is with God too. He loves it when you give Him your best.

Talk About It

What is the most beautiful thing you have ever made?

What can you give to God today? Maybe a song, or a hug for someone?

Praying Together

Dear God,

You are so big. Bigger than the sky. Bigger than the sea.

Thank You that I may know You.

I want to give You my best.

My singing. My hugging. My whole heart.

Amen.