Troublesome Topic: Solomon’s Participation in Worship at the Temple

I believe that, after the temple was constructed and dedicated, Solomon got very involved in temple worship. He wrote psalms for the choirs to sing (1005 total). (See my lesson entitled Where are the Psalms composed by Solomon?) Like his father, he oversaw the organization of the Levites, especially those involved in music.

Solomon’s songs began to be added to the psalter along with his father’s. Now that the temple was built the use of choirs found a whole new level of energy. The singing of choirs fit so perfectly with their new setting. The people loved it. It brought an energy to their worship experience that surpassed even what David had done.

The Jews used (and I think still use) dancing as part of their worship. We need to understand that there are two kinds of dancing, one points to God and one points to self – usually the human body. The first was characterized by spinning around while moving the arms and hands, often lifting them up, out and pulling them back in. It is hard to describe on paper how beautiful it is, but it is much more captivating and enjoyable to see it in person. If you ever get a chance to visit a messianic Jewish congregation do so; if they had trained dancers, they will most likely be dancing in the ancient way and you will see the beauty and reverence I am talking about. The other kind of dancing was characterized by movements of the body in such a way so as to call attention to the hips, buttocks, and breasts. These movements shouted, “look at this!” With very few exceptions, modern people only know the kind of dancing that calls attention to the human body. I think all of what you see on TV is that style, and unfortunately, most of what we find in churches where dancing is practiced show that they have been influenced by the world.

At this stage in his life Solomon was committed to the God-centered kind of dancing, but something in him was attracted to the other kind as well. Although I think most of the kings came to him to make their treaties, he may have had occasion to be in situations where he was a guest and gentiles were in charge of planning the entertainment, so he saw more of the human kind of dancing than the average Jew did. He was repulsed by it and captivated by it at the same time. While his commitment to God was strong in the early years, the allure to the sensual type of dancing was always present.

The next lesson is: Solomon’s Many Accomplishments