Solomon's Temple - The Glory Of The Lord

by J.K.D. Johnston, Musselburgh | Category: Great Spiritual Revivals | Mar 1981

For about five hundred years God's dwelling-place had been the Tabernacle, constructed in the wilderness by a willing-hearted people in strict accordance with a divinely-given pattern. This portable structure was uniquely suited to the needs of a pilgrim people on their journeyings through the wilderness, but for a time it continued to be the centre for the corporate service of the nation when the land was possessed.

Eventually the chequered experiences of Israel under the Judges led to the establishment of the monarchy, firstly under Saul and then under David. Just as the historical record in the book of Judges shows the great influence exerted by the godly leaders, so the history of the period of the monarchy reveals the importance of the lead given by the king on the throne in relation to the service of God associated with His house.

Preparations by David

In the early part of Solomon's reign a high water mark was reached in Israel's experience when a magnificent temple was built and dedicated in Jerusalem. Although Solomon was the builder, the vision of such a building had first filled the mind of David his father. David's desire to build a more permanent structure for the Ark pleased God greatly, but it was not according to the divine purpose that he should actually construct it. David however was not discouraged and continued to prepare for the project by amassing the necessary materials. His ready submission to the will of God, although it meant that he would not see his cherished desire fulfilled, was very commendable and is worthy of emulation.

It is a fundamental principle clearly established in Scripture that God supplies the pattern for His house, but that men build it(see Exod. 25:40). Solomon, although endowed with unique wisdom, did not use his own ideas in the design and construction of the Temple; he conformed to the God given plan. The pattern, apparently in written form, was communicated to David by the Holy Spirit (1 Chron. 28:12-19). That pattern incorporated the details of the ordering of the service of song that David had introduced at the commandment of the Lord through His prophets (2 Chron. 29:25). God revealed that the Temple was to be built on the site formerly held by the Jebusites but captured by David early in his reign. Such considerations reveal to us the vital contributions David made to the fulfilment of his cherished desire. He selected Jerusalem as his capital, and then later moved the Ark of God there, before the precise site that God had chosen for His dwelling-place had been revealed to him; this further shows how closely he was in tune with the purposes of God.

David's Vision Fulfilled

David's military prowess and his competent administration laid the foundation for the peace and prosperity enjoyed by Israel in the halcyon days of Solomon's reign. Solomon "in all his glory" provides us with a delightful foreshadowing of the millennial glory of Christ. The land possessed or controlled by Israel reached its maximum extent in Solomon's day. He "ruled over all the kingdoms from the River unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life" (1 Kings 4:21). He had, "peace on all sides round about him. And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon" (1 Kin. 4:24,25). It was this man of peace whom God chose to build the Temple in Jerusalem (1 Chron. 22:9,10; 1 Kin. 5:5) and provide us with a further analogy of millennial times (see Zech. 6:12,13).

As Israel was strategically placed to control the major north-south caravan routes, Solomon derived an enormous revenue from the trade passing through his land. His alliance with Hiram, the king of Tyre, enabled him to exploit the sea routes also. So, "Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. And all the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart" (1 Kin. 10:23,24). These verses describe that golden age in Israel's history that was enjoyed during the reign of Solomon. The outstanding achievement of that remarkable reign was the completion and dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. The inspired books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs are productions of that golden age, and from these we derive much instruction.

Will God dwell on the earth?

The building of the Temple took some seven years, and when it was completed the Ark of the Covenant was brought from the Tent that David had pitched for it in Jerusalem, and placed in the most holy place of the Temple. The separate services at Gibeon and at Jerusalem then ceased, and the new unified service in association with the Temple began. Then a visible seal of divine approval was given for, "when the priests were come out of the holy place,... the cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD" (1 Kin. 8:10,11; cf. Exod. 40:34,35). As Moses had faithfully complied with the pattern given to him for the Tabernacle, Solomon likewise strictly followed the specification of the Temple given to him. Even so, it was a cause of wonderment to Solomon that the great God of heaven should condescend to dwell in the Temple that he had built (1 Kin. 8:27).

The vast concourse of Israel, assembled for the inauguration of the Temple services, witnessed a further unforgettable sight for, "when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house" (2 Chron. 7:1).

It should be noted that the dedication of the Temple took place in the seventh month; all Israel being assembled from the eighth day until the twenty-third day of that month (2 Chron. 7:8-10). This period would embrace the day of Atonement (the tenth day) and the feast of Tabernacles (fifteenth to twenty-second day). It was essential that priest, people and sanctuary be cleansed by sacrifice for acceptable service (Heb. 9:22-25), a cleansing that had to be repeated year by year.

Declension

After the dedication of the Temple God appeared again to Solomon and confirmed that He had hallowed the Temple and would not choose another earthly centre. He did, however, make it plain to Solomon that serious apostasy on the part of Israel would result in the Temple being forsaken by Him (1 Kin. 9:6,7). The existence of a house for God depends upon the continuing obedience of God's people.

Israel reached the zenith of her national glory in the early part of Solomon's reign because of the commendable attitude of the king:

"Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father" (1 Kin. 3:3). His request for an "understanding heart" so pleased God that he was given other blessings that he had not asked for (1 Kin. 3:9-13). In making this request he had evidently been influenced by the instruction given him by his father (Prov. 4:3-5). It is with sadness, however, that we note that he did not maintain fidelity throughout his reign. In his old age "his wives turned away his heart after other gods" (1 Kin. 11:4). His great wisdom did not keep him faithful, for he failed to take his own advice "keep thy heart with all diligence" (Prov. 4:23).

A Spiritual House

God does not now dwell in a temple made with hands (Acts 7:48), but in a spiritual house composed of living stones (1 Pet. 2:5). The pattern of the

spiritual house is given in the apostles' teaching. The apostles received it from the Lord Himself; particularly during the post-resurrection period when he was with them during forty days "speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3). In this there is a parallel with the transmission of the pattern of the Tabernacle to Moses (Exod. 24:18). The apostles, like Moses and like Solomon, faithfully put the transmitted pattern into practice and they too witnessed a dramatic indication of divine approval for "there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them" (Acts 2:3). The Holy Spirit had come down to indwell men and to take up His dwelling in the spiritual house that initially was formed by one hundred and twenty "living stones" (Acts 1:15; 2:1 4; cf. Lev. 9:24; 2 Chron. 7:1).

The provisos that applied to the material house in Solomon's day apply to the spiritual house in our day. Its continuing existence depends upon continuing obedience on the part of the people of God. This point is well made by the writer to the Hebrews: "whose house are we, if we hold fast our boldness and the glorying of our hope firm unto the end" (Heb. 3:6).

Millennial Foreshadowing

The glory of Solomon's reign provides us with many parallels to that future glorious day when David's greater Son will reign with world-wide authority, and it is evident that God intended this to be so. Solomon's work in building the Temple illustrates the fulfilment of the prophecy of Zechariah 6:12,13. A magnificent temple will be built in Jerusalem by the Lord, most probably according to the pattern given in the book of Ezekiel, and it will become the centre for the worship of all the nations of the earth (Isa. 2:2,3). The unique wisdom of Solomon, as exemplified in the judgement he gave in the incident related in 1 Kings 3:16-28, foreshadows the perfect, righteous judgements of the "greater than Solomon". When He reigns, "He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears: but with righteousness... and with equity..." (Isa. 11.3,4), for He is able to "bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts" (1 Cor. 4:5). The peace and prosperity that will characterize the millennial age is beautifully described in Psa. 72:7,8, a psalm fittingly ascribed to Solomon. Creation too will rejoice and know a liberation when the Creator reigns in that future golden age.

"All shall be well in His kingdom of peace, Freedom shall flourish and wisdom increase; Foe shall be friend when His triumph we sing, Sword shall be sickle when Jesus is King".

J.K.D. Johnston, Musselburgh | Mar 1981
Great Spiritual Revivals