The pillars at the entrance of God's temple must have been an astounding sight. They stood about ten metres high, roughly three-quarters the height of the temple behind them, and Huram the master craftsman had worked them meticulously. Their capitals — the decorated blocks at the top — flared outward and upward like an opening lily, and around each one hung a lattice network of bronze chainwork (1 Kgs 7:15–20).
These two enormous pillars had names. One was Jachin, meaning He shall establish, and the other Boaz, meaning In it is strength (1 Kgs 7:21). A worshiper walked between those two words on his way in: the Lord will establish me, for in Him is strength.
Being a pillar established by God
That is what a pillar in God's church is for: to point others to the Lord and guide their hearts to worship Him.
What if we find ourselves struggling to be such a pillar?
A minister once told me that when young people came to him saying they struggled to serve, he would ask them to reflect: how has my Bible reading been? How have my prayers been? Most of the time, the answer was that both had been neglected.
We stand by strength God supplies. He is a kind God who warmly invites us to come and ask for it: boldly, to the throne of grace, where we find help in time of need (Heb 4:16). Our sufficiency comes from God. He is ready to make us sufficient in all things for every good work (2 Cor 3:5; 9:8).
Strength made perfect in weakness
Paul is the kind of Christian we hold up as a model, and often as one out of reach. But pillars are not perfect; they are made perfect by Christ.
Christ told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness,” and Paul answered, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Cor 12:9)
If we find our faith shaking, Jachin is a promise that God establishes us. Boaz tells us where to look for that strength.
The pillar that stands forever
The bronze did not last. When the Babylonians invaded Jerusalem, they broke the two pillars into pieces and carried them off to Babylon (Jer 52:17).
But Jesus makes a promise about a different pillar in His temple: “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more.” (Rev 3:12a) When we remain faithful to the end—by God’s strength—He will establish us. We will be pillars, dwelling in the house of the Lord forever (Ps 23:6).
When standing firm is hard, Jachin and Boaz send us to where they always sent the worshiper: Lord, establish me, for in You is strength.
Reflection questions
Answer the minister's question: how has your Bible reading and prayer been over the past month?
Where are you currently trying to hold yourself up by your own efforts, and what would it look like this week to seek God for His strength instead?
Someone around you is watching how you are handling something hard right now. What are they learning about God from it?
Prayer
In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Father, thank You for being the One who establishes me. Too often I have tried to stand in my own strength and found it running out. Keep me in Your word, and supply what I need to do Your will and live a godly life. Let the people around me see Your hand holding me up. Establish me to the end, and bring me to dwell in Your house forever. Amen.
