READ 1 Kings 6–9
The NT says that each Christian is a temple of the Holy Spirit, a place where God dwells. The OT describes the temple that Solomon built. Today’s reading sparks my imagination; I see parallels between the old literal builfing and the new spiritual reality.
For instance, when the house was built, it was with stone prepared at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was being built. (1 Kings 6:7) Similarly, God’s work in the life of a Christian is quiet. He does not broadcast our sin to the world nor His transforming work of cleansing — unless I make this known! Obedience is important to keep the work moving along (6:11–13) yet the focus is always on the inner person. God wants my heart beautiful, just as Solomon focused first on the inside of that OT sanctuary and covered it with pure gold. (6:21)
My life is guarded by unseen angels that touch every part of what I do, just as the cherubim in the temple touched all of its walls and each other. They too were overlaid with gold. (6:27–28) However, the outer court was full of windows, suggesting that I’m also to be open, transparent, a person of integrity easily seen, without deceit or pretense. (7:4–5) Costly materials were involved suggesting value and a sacrifice made to purchase them, a reminder of Christ and salvation. (7:8–9)
The OT tells of a workman and his helpers who were “full of wisdom, understanding, and skill for making any work” and who “did all his work.” These helpers were involved in the practical stuff as well as the ornate and beautiful décor (7:14; 40–47), pointing to the work of Jesus through the Holy Spirit to make my life useful and beautiful for His glory, even to the other people He uses to accomplish that!
Solomon’s temple stored all the treasures of the king and was dedicated to the Lord. Certainly this speaks of His NT people also. We are perfected by the presence of Christ in our lives and our total dedication to Him. He is our treasure. (7:51)
The ark of the Lord and all former activities of worship were sacrificed to God and put under the wings of the cherubim, a wonderful picture of a NT life dedicated to the God who creates and sustains it. While much of that life is unseen, what is seen is intended to evoke worship in His people. “King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.” (8:4–9)
Yet we know that our bodies cannot contain the fullness of Almighty God, just as Solomon said: “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!” (8:27)
Even so, Solomon prayed great truths that are repeated in NT teaching. We know when we sin, we can turn to our Savior, acknowledging our sin and His power, and He will hear us and forgive our sins, whether they bring defeat, lack of fruit, emptiness, sickness, or unanswered prayer. (8:33–48) We also know that God gives us rest, keeps His promises, is always with us and He will “incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules . . . . that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God” just as Solomon prayed. And as happened back then, we will also bless our God and King for all his goodness. (8:56–66)
The Lord also says to us, “I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time” (9:3) He will never leave us or forsake us!
Like the OT, the NT warns about disobedience, not that we will lose our relationship with God but that the consequences of sin always detrimental to the joy He gives. This is where the OT story does not parallel NT reality. Those OT saints who failed to defeat some of their enemies were able to make slaves of them (9:20–21), but if I choose to live with sin, it becomes my taskmaster . . .
Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. (Romans 6:16–18)
Praise God that He is building this temple where He has chosen to dwell. It is humbling to realize that He allows and enables me to participate in His work!
