“Now it came about in the four hundred and eightieth year after the sons of Israel came out of the land of Egypt,” 1 Kings 6:1
Chapter 5 begins the Story of King Solomon’s building of the Temple. We read how King Hiram of Tyre “had always been a friend of David” and had helped in the building of his house in Jerusalem. Solomon utilizes this trusted Ally now in his need for Cedar Timber. This Huge undertaking would take him 7 long years. To put this Story into Context, the Author begins with Today’s Verse, and for some reason, jumped out at me!
Think about it; 480 years. That is a…LONG TIME – Much Longer than our Country has been around!!! Israel spent 40 years in the Wilderness, King Saul and King David’s reign was another 80; that leaves 360 years of History that we just have a few stories of in Joshua 1 – Samuel! There is so much that we don’t know. Simply Staggering!
But God knows every person that was born, lived, and died at this time. What they believed about Him, whether or not they loved Him, or loved their Neighbor, and where they will spend their Eternity. Even more Staggering! But ultimately, what God has given to us in this Book is all we need!!! Totally Mind Blowing! May we take that to heart and search for Him there today!