Solomon’s kingdom became very strong and great because the Lord his God was with him.

Then Solomon gathered the people together and had a big party for the Lord God, and they gave the Lord 1,000 presents.

 

That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, Ask me for anything you want and I will give it to you.

 

Solomon said to the Lord God, You were very kind to David, my father, and have made me king in his place over this nation of people who are more than the dust of the ground.

 

 

 

Give me wisdom to know how to do right for this people of Yours.

God was very pleased that Solomon’s asked for this and did not ask to be rich or live long and said, Since it was in your heart to want this, I have given it to you AND I will make you smarter and wiser and richer and greater than any king on the earth ever was.

 

 

 

When Solomon got ready to build the temple for the Lord God he sent a message to another king in another country.

The message said, Please send me cedar logs like you did for my father, David, because I’m getting ready to build a temple for the Lord God, Maker of heaven and earth.

 

 

 

The temple I am going to build will be great because our God is greater than all gods.

 

Who is able to build a temple for Him since He can’t fit into the heavens, even the highest heavens. He is everywhere bigger.

 

 

 

And send me men who do the best work in gold and silver and everything.

 

My men will work with yours to make this huge and magnificent temple.

 

 

 

I will send you 20 thousand bags of flour and 20 thousands large bags of barley and big barrels of olive oil.

 

The king of the other country sent back his letter to Solomon. It said, Because the Lord God loves his people, He made you their king.

 

 

The king sent Solomon all that he asked for and Solomon sent the king all that he promised.

 

Solomon called the men of Israel and made them a work schedule to help build God’s temple on earth.

 

 

They built the temple like God showed David and covered its walls inside with gold and diamonds and rubies and emeralds and sapphires and all precious shiny stones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The doors were covered with bronze and there were great decorated pillars on the front porch.

 

 

Then they brought in the furniture: the altar, the tables, bowls for washing, the lampstand.

They brought many presents that showed God’s great love for us and played beautiful music as they brought God’s ark of the covenant into its special place.

 

 

They sang songs to thank the Lord because He is so good and his love for us will never stop.

 

 

When they did this the Lord God Himself came to fill His house, all beautiful and full of wonder.