2. 20 years of building projects
1 Kings 6:38 – In the eleventh year … the eighth month, the temple was finished … He had spent seven years building it. (7:1) It took Solomon thirteen years, however, to complete the construction of his palace.

3. Waiting for God’s answers
Solomon begins building the temple (1 Kings 6:1)
Solomon dedicates temple with prayer (1 Kings 8)
God responds to Solomon’s prayer (1 Kings 9:1-2)
7 years
13 years
Builds Temple
Builds Palace/grounds
966 BC

5. God’s heart & my humility
2 Chronicles 7:14-15 – If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

7. God’s covenant with David
Psalm 89:32-37 – “If his sons forsake my law… 32 I will punish their sin with the rod… 33 but I will not take my love from him…35 Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness— and I will not lie to David— 36 that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun established forever. 

9. The pain and purpose of God’s discipline
“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
C.S. Lewis