480 years after the Lord brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, when Solomon had been king for four years, he started to build the house for the Lord God who made the heavens and the earth.

It was made with the very best wood and stone. It had an outer courtyard and an inner building and a very special place in the very heart of it.

The whole house was covered with gold.

In the very special place were two Cherubim fifteen feet tall that spread out two of their golden wings to touch each other and the other two of their golden wings touched the walls of the room.

Their wings covered the throne of God, the mercy seat where God sat and met with his special priest.

The house took seven years to build. God’s house was made of the finest and best material and covered with gold and decorated with precious stones.

Inside was a table of gold for the bread,

and an altar to make good smells to go up before God like prayers

and a lampstand with seven lights on it.

Solomon filled God’s house with all the treasures that his father David had given to God and the treasures the people had given to God.

Then they brought the Ark of the Covenant to God’s house and put it in the most special place under the wings of two gold Cherubim that were 15 feet tall.

When the priests came out of the house, God’s glory filled the house so full that no one could do anything.

Solomon said to God, I have built You a house to stay in forever.

Then Solomon told the people, God is happy, who has done what He said. He brought us out of Egypt and chose my father David to be in charge over the people. And He chose this city to live in.

It was in David’s heart to build a house for the Lord God. But the Lord told him, you will not build me a house, but your son will build me a house.

The Lord has done what he promised. I sit on the throne of Israel in my father’s place and have built a house with a place to put the ark of the covenant, our deal that God made with our fathers when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.

Solomon stood before the people and raised his hands to heaven and said, Lord, the God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or the earth beneath who keeps his covenant and special love with your servants who walk before you with all their heart, and You do what you say.

So, Lord God, keep your promise to my father David that you said, to keep one of his children sitting on the throne of Israel forever, if they do what You have told us.