The Double Portion

Then the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying: “Concerning this temple which you are building, if you walk in My statutes, execute My judgments, keep all My commandments, and walk in them, then I will perform My word with you, which I spoke to your father David.” 1 Kings 6:11-12

Solomon began building the temple exactly 480 years after the children of Israel had come out of Egypt (1 Kin. 6:1). Why was the year given so precisely in the Scripture? The number “48″ in the Bible is the number implying priestly worship. There were 48 cities given to the Levites for conducting their worship when the Israelites came into the Promised Land (Josh. 21:41). The number “10″ is the fulfillment of the law. So “480″ (or 48 x 10) means that the emphasis in Solomon’s temple would be on worship done by faithful priests in accordance to the law. The primary reason for building God a house is really for the offering of sacrificial worship (2 Chr. 2:5-6).

Similarly, in the end-times, Father God is looking for true worshipers. Jesus says, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24). The first sanctuary God commanded man to build for Him was the tabernacle of Moses. It was 30 cubits by 10 cubits. But the measurement of the temple Solomon was building was 60 cubits by 20 cubits, which is exactly twice the dimensions of Moses’ tabernacle. Herein lies a beautiful truth. The fi rst tabernacle is a picture of the Early Church while Solomon’s temple is a picture of the End-time Church. The Church in the last days will receive a “double portion” of the Holy Spirit for a great global harvest (James 5:7). This will be the fulfillment of Jesus’ words when He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (John 14:12). The prophet Haggai also prophesied, “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former” (Hag. 2:9, KJV).

The building of the house of God in the latter days will be an urgent task. In 1 Kings 6:11-12, God came to Solomon in the middle of the construction process to spur him on, to encourage him to persevere to the end. God is doing the same to you as you read today’s devotion. “Don’t grow weary while doing good, for in due season you shall reap if you do not lose heart” (Gal. 6:9). Keep on keeping on!