2 Chronicles 3 📓 Give God Your Best

1Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

 2And he began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.

 3Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.

 4And the porch that was in the front of the house, the length of it was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height was an hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold.

 5And the greater house he cieled with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains.

 6And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim.

 7He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the walls.

 8And he made the most holy house, the length whereof was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits: and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.

 9And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.

 10And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold.

 11And the wings of the cherubims were twenty cubits long: one wing of the one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.

 12And one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was five cubits also, joining to the wing of the other cherub.

 13The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward.

 14And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.

 15Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high, and the chapiter that was on the top of each of them was five cubits.

 16And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars; and made an hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains.

 17And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.

COMMENTARY by Dave Burnette

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: Ezra

Date Penned: (430 BC)

Overview: The Glory of Solomon's Kingdom and the Temple (c. 1-9)

Theme: The Building of the Temple (c. 3-5)

Message: Building the House of the Lord (v. 1-17)

2 Chronicles 3 Commentary

(3:1) God Chooses the Place of Worship - Solomon built the temple on Mount Moriah, the very place where God appeared to David at Ornan's threshing floor. This location is rich with biblical significance. Mount Moriah was also where Abraham offered Isaac (Genesis 22), making it a place associated with sacrifice, mercy, and God's provision. God often transforms places of testing into places of blessing and worship.

(3:2) God's Work Begins in God's Time - The temple construction began at a specific time during Solomon's reign. God's plans unfold according to His perfect timetable, not ours. Believers should learn to trust God's timing, knowing that He is never early or late but always accomplishes His purposes at the right moment.

(3:3-7) Give God Your Best - Solomon used the finest materials—gold, precious stones, carved wood, and skilled craftsmanship—to build the temple. The beauty of the temple reflected the greatness of the God it honored. While God is not impressed by outward wealth alone, He deserves our highest devotion, best efforts, and wholehearted service.

(3:8-14) The Most Holy Place - The Holy of Holies represented God's dwelling place among His people. Only the high priest could enter, and only once each year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). This separation reminded Israel of God's holiness and man's sinfulness. Through Jesus Christ, the veil has now been torn (Matthew 27:51), giving every believer direct access into God's presence through His finished work.

(3:10-13) The Cherubim Remind Us of God's Holiness - The large golden cherubim overshadowed the Most Holy Place, symbolizing God's holiness, majesty, and protection. Throughout Scripture, cherubim are closely associated with God's throne and His glory. They remind us that worship should always be marked by reverence and awe before the holy God.

(3:14) The Veil Points to Christ - The beautifully woven veil separated sinful humanity from God's holy presence. When Jesus died upon the cross, the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom, signifying that His sacrifice opened the way for believers to approach God directly (Hebrews 10:19-22). What the temple symbolized, Christ fulfilled completely.

(3:15-17) Jachin and Boaz - The two great pillars at the entrance to the temple were named Jachin ("He shall establish") and Boaz ("In Him is strength"). Their names reminded Israel that God alone establishes His people and provides their strength. Believers today likewise find their security and strength in the Lord rather than in human ability.

(3:1-17) God's Presence Is More Important Than the Building - Although the temple was magnificent, its true significance was that it represented God's presence among His people. Beautiful buildings, ministries, and programs have value only when they point people to the living God. The Lord desires hearts devoted to Him more than impressive structures.

(3:1-17) Preparation Leads to Worship - David spent years preparing for the temple, and Solomon faithfully carried out those preparations. God's greatest works are often built upon the faithful labor of previous generations. We should honor those who have gone before us while faithfully preparing the way for those who will follow.

(3:1-17) Christ Is the True Temple - The temple was the center of Israel's worship, but it ultimately pointed forward to Jesus Christ, who is the true meeting place between God and man (John 2:19-21). Today, believers are united with Christ and are themselves called "the temple of the Holy Ghost" (1 Corinthians 6:19). Our lives should therefore reflect God's holiness, presence, and glory as living temples dedicated to His service.

LIFE APPLICATION by Dave Burnette

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we Continue in the book of 2 Chronicles with Chapter 3 and we see Solomon beginning the construction of the temple. In the construction we see the best materials used of Gold and fine linens all to give Glory to God for who He is and what He has done. In making application we see how we express our love and adoration in what we give to our Lord, His Work, and His House. Do we give God our best in our treasures, time, and talents to express your love to Him. How about you? Do you give God your best? Let us learn from our text today and the building of the temple to remember what we Give to God expresses how much we love the Lord. Let us Give God our Best.