1 Kings 7:39-51: a reflection

39He set the bases, five on the right side of the house and five on the left side of the house. He set the sea on the right side of the house eastward and toward the south. 40Hiram made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram finished doing all the work that he worked for King Solomon in the LORD’s house: 41the two pillars; the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars; the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars; 42the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks; two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars; 43the ten bases; the ten basins on the bases; 44the one sea; the twelve oxen under the sea; 45the pots; the shovels; and the basins. All of these vessels, which Hiram made for King Solomon for the LORD’s house, were of burnished bronze. 46The king cast them in the plain of the Jordan, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarethan. 47Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because there were so many of them. The weight of the bronze could not be determined. 48Solomon made all the vessels that were in the LORD’s house: the golden altar and the table that the show bread was on, of gold; 49and the lamp stands, five on the right side and five on the left, in front of the inner sanctuary, of pure gold; and the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of gold; 50the cups, the snuffers, the basins, the spoons, and the fire pans, of pure gold; and the hinges, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, of the temple, of gold. 51Thus all the work that King Solomon did in the LORD’s house was finished. Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated—the silver, the gold, and the vessels—and put them in the treasuries of the LORD’s house.

This passage brings the building of the temple to its completion. After all the pillars, the great bronze sea, the basins, the lampstands, and the countless vessels are made, the account concludes: So all the work that King Solomon did in the house of the LORD was finished. And then Solomon brings in the things his father David had dedicated, the silver and gold, and puts them in the treasuries. The great work is completed, and what one generation began, another has brought to its end.

Notice two things at this completion. First, the satisfaction of a great work brought to its finish: all the work was finished; the vision was fully carried out, the task completed. And second, that the completion brought together the work of two generations: David had dedicated much for the temple, but did not build it; Solomon completed what his father had begun and prepared for. The finished temple was the fruit of one generation's preparation and another's completion.

Both are worth taking to heart. There is a right satisfaction in finishing a work for God, carrying a task through to its completion rather than leaving it half done. And there is a beauty in the way God's work spans generations, one preparing and beginning what another completes. Be faithful to finish the work God gives you, carrying it through to completion. And recognize that you build on what others before you began, and may be preparing what those after you will complete. Do your part faithfully, whether beginning, continuing, or finishing; and give thanks for the way God's work is carried forward across generations, one laying the foundation and preparing, another completing, until the work is finished, as Solomon finished the house of the LORD his father had prepared for.

Lord, this passage brings the building of the temple to completion: all the work Solomon did in the house of the LORD was finished, and he brought in what his father David had dedicated. Take both truths to my heart. There is a right satisfaction in finishing a work for you, carrying a task through to completion rather than leaving it half done; help me be faithful to finish the work you give me. And there is a beauty in the way your work spans generations, one preparing and beginning what another completes; David dedicated much for the temple but did not build it, and Solomon completed what his father had begun. Help me recognize that I build on what others before me began, and may be preparing what those after me will complete. Help me do my part faithfully, whether beginning, continuing, or finishing; and give me thanks for the way your work is carried forward across generations, one laying the foundation, another completing, until the work is finished. Help me finish what I can, and build faithfully on what others began.