He made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide and ten cubits high.
2 Chronicles 4:1
The “he” in question is King Solomon, last referred to by name in chapter 3:1. The intervening verses refer to David’s son over and over again, as the “he” who built the Temple and its furnishings. In addition to metal work, Solomon was evidently a journeyman weaver, stonemason, carpenter, and sculptor just to name a few of his trades, except he wasn’t. Ten verses later, a man named Huram gets honorable mention. Still, Solomon got the credit despite his uncalloused hands. That’s how the world works, but it’s not how the Kingdom of God works.
Still, Solomon got the credit despite his uncalloused hands. That’s how the world works, but it’s not how the Kingdom of God works.
You lift and tote and carve and weave with words and deeds spoken and done in the King’s name. Your job is to shape living stones and adorn God’s House with furnishings. It’s an exhausting, sometimes exhilarating, but mostly a work-a-day job, like Huram’s probably was. We can’t know what he thought of the Chronicler’s take on who did what but, but our faithful brother was probably honored to do his part. How much more should we be who serve a King whose hands bear the marks of his labor. Jesus laid the foundation by his own toil and is still on-site every day working alongside you, his craftsmen.
