2 Chronicles 8:11

2 Chronicles 8:11 says, And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of the Lord hath come.  Solomon had built a separate house for his wife, who was Egyptian.  Matthew Henry says she was likely a proselyte to God, but her servants may not have been.  For whatever reason, he felt it wouldn't be right for her to dwell in David's house.  None of us are Christians by birth, and if we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, there is no place that we are not good enough to be.  Verse twelve adds, Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the Lord on the altar of the Lord, which he had built before the porch,  Solomon continued to offer burnt offerings to God.  He built the temple and consecrated it, but it would be of no purpose if he didn't continue to worship God there.  We offer ourselves to God as a living sacrifice as Christians, but that doesn't mean we are not to do the same every day if we are to be effective in doing His work.  Verse thirteen continues, Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.  This verse just continues to speak of Solomon's observing the law of Moses, or God's law, in keeping all the sacred days.  As Christians, every day is a sacred day and we should observe God's commandments every day, not just one or two days a week when we gather to worship Him and study His word.  Verse fourteen states, And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required: the porters also by their courses at every gate: for so had David the man of God commanded.  The priests and porters were assigned their time to serve according to God's order of service that was given to David.  We need to do things orderly in worship today, with people serving where and how God has called them to serve.  Verse fifteen adds, And they departed not from the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures.  The priests, Levites, and porters didn't stray away from Solomon's command in this, which was in accordance with what God had established for their service. We need to all serve where and how God calls us to serve.  Verse sixteen continues, Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the Lord, and until it was finished. So the house of the Lord was perfected.  Solomon had followed the directions of God from the time the foundation of the temple was laid until it was completed.  Once the foundation of our faith is laid through putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we need to daily do our best to build on that foundation so that our faith may become perfected.  This is a lifelong calling.  Verse seventeen says, Then went Solomon to Eziongeber, and to Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom.  Solomon then moved on to other things.  Once we have completed one task for God, we need to move on to the next task that He calls us to.  Verse eighteen adds, And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.  Solomon entered into a business of commerce through sea trade with Huram.  Solomon sent his people to these ports but relied on Huram to provide the ships and knowledge to carry out the trade missions, with help from the Israelites.  We may have to work with those who are not Christians in order to more effectively do God's work, but we can never allow them to lead us away from serving and glorifying God.