He erected the pillars at the portico of the temple. The pillar to the south he named Jakin and the one to the north Boaz. – 1 Kings 7:21

Today’s Scripture Reading (May 5, 2013): 1 Kings 7

Melqart, which simply means “King of the City,” was the protector god of the Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon. Biblically, there is some thought it was actually Melqart that was introduced to Israel by King Ahab as the god Ba’al. But the idea was that it was this God that was the protector of the area. He had powers beyond that and demanded worship from outside of that area, but Melqart’s primary focus was on the area of Tyre and Sidon. This belief actually runs parallel to the early understanding of Israel’s God, who was known by Israel to be the only God, and yet there was an understanding that his focus was on and as a protector of the area of Israel – and maybe more specifically, the city of Jerusalem. And so in Tyre there was a temple that had been built in honor of Melqart. We know it more commonly as the Temple of Heracles.

For those that question whether or not the origin of Solomon’s temple was really God, it is this temple in Tyre that they believe might have been the model for Solomon’s temple. We really know very little about the Temple of Heracles in Tyre, but we do know that there is two bronze pillars that are thought to have possibly belonged to Melqart’s temple. And for those that already hold questions about Solomon’s temple, these pillars become “of the type” that might have been models for these two pillars in the temple of Solomon.

Both of the pillars in Solomon’s temple were named. To the one was given the name “Jakin” – which we are told means “God will establish.” Except that is reading a little into the name – it actually simply means that “he will establish” – the “who” is not specified. The second pillar was called “Boaz” – which means “in him is strength.”  And so these two pillars were strong and stable, and they were meant to carry the idea that God will establish and that in God there was strength – strength enough for the temple, and the people who would come and worship him, and the nation that would rely on him. But there was only one slight problem. The pillars were ornamental – they were in no way connected to the structure they were meant to support.

Whether or not Solomon based the idea of these pillars on similar pillars in other temples, the pillars themselves seemed to carry a prophecy of the way that Israel would move forward with their God. Too often he would become ornamental in their lives. There became a separation between the belief in God and the rest of life. There are two things that we need to do – one is that we worship, but then there is real life. 

And God as an ornamental God was totally disconnected with the rest of life. And this one reality left an opening for other God’s (like Melqart) to enter into the daily life of the people.

It is a reality that we still face. If we leave God unconnected with our lives, then we leave the door open for other things to take his place. And then the strength of our lives becomes severely compromised.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 8

Note: The talk "Just Around the Corner" from the series "Surprised By Hope" from VantagePoint Community Church (Edmonton) is now available from the VantagePoint Website. You can find it here. 

Personal Note: May birthdays, of which there are many, continue. So today it is Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter Alyssa. I hope you have a great day!