Read 1
Kings 6-7 & Luke
23:27-38
To discover:
As you read consider the
significance of the elements within the temple.
To ponder:
Being told the temple was begun 480
years after the Exodus marks its construction as a hugely significant step in
the fulfilment of God’s purposes in history. The number (12 generations of 40
years) suggests the completion of the Exodus phase and the formation of the
nation. God’s people are now securely established in his place under his rule
and what seems to be a supreme ruler. Most important of all, the temple signifies
that God is permanently dwelling amongst them.
This
is all emphasized by the detail of the temple: Its holiness is stressed by
nothing outside being able to be inserted into its walls and the blocks being
prepared elsewhere. But the focus is on the cedar, gold, palm trees, pomegranates,
lilies, animals and cherubim it was decorated with. They were the furnishings
of Eden (Gen 2v8-11, 19-20, 3v24),
the place of God’s presence and the centre of the creation, from which life
flowed throughout the earth which man was commissioned to rule. This was now
God’s purpose for Israel,
hinted at already by the inclusion of workers from other nations. And when the
worshipper entered the temple it would be like entering Eden,
reminding them of this purpose, to be fulfilled now by David’s house, and
resulting in a renewed earth.
But was Solomon the
man to do this? God’s word to him is clear, the temple is all well and good,
but for his promise of an everlasting kingdom to be fulfilled requires Solomon
to obey (6v11-13). Otherwise, the inference is that God would “abandon his
people,” meaning that his kingdom would not endure. This reflects the principle
that God desires “mercy not sacrifice” (Matt 9v13). Whatever religious
splendour or activity might be engaged in, it is nothing without hearts that
love and serve him. And we receive another hint that here Solomon might fail:
Whereas he devoted seven years to building the temple, he devoted thirteen to
building his palace! It seems his heart is not wholly the LORD’s. The fact that
the detail about the palace is placed in the middle of that about the temple
only highlights the point.
And so the
expectation of another son of David, the Christ, builds. And in teaching he
fulfilled the temple (Jn 2v19-22), we should realise Jesus was teaching that he
is the place of God’s presence and centre of the world (even cosmos). He is the
one from whom the living water of the Spirit flows throughout the earth (Jn
7v37-39), and in whom a new humanity will rule a renewed creation (Rev 21-22).
As we gaze on him rather than Israel’s
temple, we should be reminded of these things.
In terms of
further detail, the “Sea” was a huge basin of water, which may have represented
the waters of chaos from which the creation came, but was also used for washing
(2 Chr 4v6). Ten “moveable” stands on wheels were also constructed to hold
basins of water too. All the water was necessary not just for priestly
cleansing, but washing the animals according to God’s law, and removing blood
and other bits. Other items were also made, as were those prescribed for the
tabernacle (7v48-49).
Praying it home:
Thank God for the Eden-like
paradise the temple through Christ looks towards. Pray that we would have
hearts that love and serve the Lord rather than focusing on the
trappings of religion.
Thinking further:
To see an image of Solomon’s temple
click
here.
If you receive this post by
email, visit bible2014.blogspot.co.uk
and make a comment.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment