Solomon's Temple

by J. Bowman, Cowdenbeath | Category: The House Of God | Apr 1974

There are two accounts of the building of this magnificent edifice (1 Kings 6-8; 2 Chron. 3-7). The design, the measurements and the materials used are described in great detail. It is not our purpose to comment on all these details but simply to note certain features of this wonderful building and relate them to the house of God in the present age.

David said, "the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries" (1 Chron. 22:5). Solomon, before he began to build said, "the house which I build is great; for great is our God" (2 Chron. 2:5). Such was the reverent attitude of heart and mind of these two great men. The house to be built was for God and therefore it should be of surpassing grandeur. Solomon was filled with wonder as he reflected that the God whom the heavens cannot contain would in very deed dwell on earth in a house built by man (2 Chron. 6:18). Such an attitude of heart becomes all to whom the truth of a divine dwelling-place on earth has been revealed.

As we consider the details given we are impressed with the enormous cost of the building. This could not be computed. David said, "Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number" (1 Chron. 22:16). If the cost of Solomon's temple was beyond computation, what shall be said of God's house today which is composed of "living stones" (1 Pet. 2:5), that is, believers who have been purchased by the precious blood of Christ, and builded together to form a spiritual temple? It is the living Christ who gives value to God's spiritual house. He is the Chief Corner Stone; He is elect, precious (1 Pet. 2:6).

Not only was Solomon's temple of immense value but it was also very beautiful. The exiled Jews, mourning its destruction, said, "Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised Thee, is burned with fire" (Isa. 64:11). The sight which the priests enjoyed when serving in the holy place at night (Psa. 134:1) must have been delightful as the lamps on the ten golden lampstands shed their light upon the golden altar and on other articles of furniture in the sanctuary, and on the beautiful multi-coloured veil which divided the holy and most holy places. Little wonder that the psalmist said,

"And in His temple every thing saith, Glory" (Psa. 29:9). Solomon further beautified the temple by garnishing it with precious stones of every variety and colour (2 Chron. 3:6; 1 Chron. 29:2). The house of God today should be beautified, and this will only be so as Christ is reflected in the daily lives of the saints.

Before the temple could be built a site had to be chosen, a pattern or plan had to be drawn up, materials had to be provided and workmen had to be found to do the work. God chose the site and determined the design but men provided the materials and did the work of building. These are matters relevant to God's house today.

The Place

Before Israel entered the land of Canaan God told them that He would choose a place where He would put His Name. Of this place He said, "Thither thou shalt come: and thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings" (Deut. 12:5,6). It was to David that God revealed the place He had chosen (1 Chron. 21:28-22:1). The New Testament Scriptures clearly show that God's spiritual house is the place where He has chosen to put His Name (see I Tim. 3:15). Churches of God in the aggregate form the house of God where He can be served and worshipped. Being "of God" implies divine ownership.

The Pattern

God claimed the sole right to design His house and David received the pattern of the temple in writing from the hand of God (1 Chron. 28:19). The pattern of God's spiritual house in the present age was given to the apostles by the Lord. He prepared them for their work by the teaching He gave them during His ministry prior to the cross, and then during forty days following His resurrection He taught them the things concerning the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). The pattern of the spiritual house would surely be among "the things concerning the kingdom of God". We must build according to that pattern; there is no room for human ideas to be incorporated into the building. God's will, not man's, must be followed.

This principle is clearly demonstrated in the way that David, on that first occasion, arranged for the transport of the ark of the covenant. He substituted a human arrangement for a divine one, and incurred God's judgement (2 Sam. 6:1-7).

The materials and the builders

David gave a vast store of materials, and to this store Solomon his son was privileged to add (1 Chron. 22:14). The people of Israel, of whatever station and rank, also gave willingly unto the Lord (1 Chron. 29:6,14). A large labour force was employed to hew stones in the quarries, and another large group worked as burden bearers transporting the stones to Jerusalem. Then there were those who did the actual building and others who had special skills for various kinds of ornamental work.

As we have already noted, God's spiritual house is composed of "living stones" who have come to Christ, and continue to come to the One whom men have rejected but whom God has made the Chief Corner Stone in the building (1 Pet. 2:5,6). Paul described the church of God in Corinth as "God's building", and referred to himself as "a wise master-builder" (1 Cor. 3:9,10). Builders for God are still required, but they must take heed how they build. They must do so under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in accordance with the word of God. God is worthy of our very best whether we be like the highly skilled craftsmen or the ordinary workmen used in the building of the temple.

Priestly service in God's house

An order of priestly service was established in Israel in connexion with the tabernacle, and this was continued in the temple services (1 Chron. 24:19). In this the high priest figured prominently and he was assisted by his sons. God has ordained an order of priestly service in His house today. Our High Priest is Christ (Heb. 3:1), and God's people have been made priests (Rev. 1:6) so that as a holy priesthood they may offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. What an honour!

David introduced into the temple services a service of song, having been commanded by the Lord through His prophets to do so (2 Chron. 29:25). The singing of praise is part of the divine pattern for the service of God's house today: "... with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God" (Col. 3:16). Those who praise God in His house are partners with Him who said, "In the midst of the congregation will I sing Thy praise" (Heb. 2:12).

A House of Prayer

God promised Solomon, "Mine eyes shall be open, and Mine ears attent, unto the prayer that is made in this place" (2 Chron. 7:15). Prayer which is made in God's house has a special significance. It is a privilege which God's people should value highly. We should pray "at all seasons" (Eph. 6:18) for "all men" (1 Tim. 2:1). God's house should be a house of prayer for all peoples (Isa. 56:7). God's people should also supplicate for themselves, for divine forgiveness and divine blessing, drawing near through their Great High Priest who ever liveth to make intercession for them (Heb. 7: 25).

The Temple forsaken

The dedication of Solomon's temple must have been a moving occasion. It is suggested, from a comparison of 2 Chron. 5:3 with 7:8-10, that it took place on the tenth day of the seventh month which was the day of atonement. Normally on that day the high priest entered the most holy place, typifying the entrance of Christ into the heavenly sanctuary. On this occasion, however, it was the

ark of the covenant which was taken into the inner sanctuary. This also speaks of Christ. As the trumpeters sounded and the music and the singing of praise to God were heard, then followed the wonderful spectacle of the glory of the Lord filling the house, evidence that God was dwelling in the midst of His people. After Solomon's prayer sacrifices were offered in such abundance as had never been seen before. It was an occasion of great solemnity as well as of great rejoicing.

Shortly afterwards came the warning to the people, "If ye shall turn away from following Me, ye or your children, and not keep My commandments ... this house, which I have hallowed for My name, will I cast out of My sight" (1 Kings 9:6,7). Neither the beauty nor value of the house itself, nor its divinely ordained priestly service, would ensure God's continuous dwelling there. What was of vital importance was the continual obedience of God's people. Of the place He had chosen to put His Name, He said, "There thou shalt do all that I command thee" (Deut. 12:14). Alas, the warning was largely unheeded I And four hundred years later the beautiful temple built by Solomon was destroyed by fire. And the rebuilt temple of a later time was also forsaken by God and destroyed by the enemies of Israel.

It is a solemn fact that each house of God among men has been brought to ruin through the disobedience of God's people. The spiritual house of apostolic days was forsaken by God because of departure from the Faith. Will history repeat itself, or shall we and our children prize above all else the precious heritage committed to us? May we all heed the words of encouragement from our absent Lord, "That which ye have, hold fast till I come" (Rev. 2:25).

J. Bowman, Cowdenbeath | Apr 1974
The House Of God