A Pattern that Reveals the Church (part 2) - Solomon's Temple
Introduction. In our first article, we learned that there was a very important reason why God gave Moses an exact pattern for the tabernacle. Both the structure and the furnishings of this sanctuary and dwelling place of God was a copy and shadow of heavenly things. For the five centuries it was used, the priests ministered and used the furnishing as a copy of what would happen when Jesus returned to heaven to complete the building of His church. It is amazing how much more is explained and revealed about our redemption from the “shadow” of the tabernacle (Heb. 8-10). But when David asked God if he could build him a house and temple, God gave a new pattern.
God promised David that his son Solomon would build “a house for the sanctuary.” After God’s promise, David began gathering and preparing the materials for its construction. During that time, God gave David a pattern just as He did to Moses.
Every aspect of this temple was described and revealed exactly as God wanted it to be built. “Jehovah has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary.” All that had been contained in the first tabernacle was now enclosed and incorporated into the temple in Jerusalem. Everything but the ark was made again to the new pattern revealed by the Spirit to David. Many details are recorded when it was being built. “They hewed out great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with wrought stone.” The temple was then “built of stone made ready at the quarry; and there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was being built.” The size of the most holy place doubled from 10x10x10 to 20x20x20. Nothing changed about the ark and the mercy seat, but large cherubim were added to spread their wings above it. (1Kings 5:17-6:38; 2Chr. 2-4).
After the temple was built, a cloud filled it and the glory of God was seen as He accepted it. In Solomon’s prayer, he requested of God: “Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My name shall be there.’ When God later appeared to Solomon He made clear the role of this temple in His eternal purpose. “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 14 ...I will hear from heaven, ... I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.” (1Kings 8:29-30; 1Chr. 7:12-16). This is the pattern that will help explain and reveal the true nature of the church that Jesus would build. The church has become this sanctified house and His eyes and heart are there perpetually (Eph. 2:20-22).
While these “copies and shadows” brought mercy and atonement from God, it was made very clear to Solomon and Israel that the power and value of this temple would be based on the faithfulness of their fellowship. God warned “if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments” “this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight.” (1Kings 9:6-7). Sadly beginning with Solomon and with many other kings after him, they did turn from following Him. While God allowed the temple to exist from Solomon’s time around 960 BC until Babylon destroyed it in 586 BC, He finally fulfilled all the curses of Deuteronomy 28, and then added one final curse: “I will also remove Judah from My sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, 'My name shall be there.” (2Kings 23:27). The destruction of Solomon’s temple set the stage for God to begin revealing that the pattern of the Solomon’s temple would be nothing compared to the temple built by the Messiah.
After the 70-year captivity, God used Zerubbabel the governor, and Joshua the High Priest, to build a new temple. (Haggai 1-2). He sent Haggai and Zechariah to encourage and rebuke them because they had not finished it diligently. (Ezra 5:1-2). After the foundation for this new temple was laid, many who had seen the glory of Solomon’s temple wept because it was so small in comparison (Ezra 3:12-13). God’s answer through both Haggai and Zechariah was to reveal that when the Messiah came, He would build a temple far greater and more magnificent.
These prophecies are the first indication the temple in the Old Testament and the church in the New would reflect each other. Since “the Branch” was already revealed as the Messiah (Isa. 11:1-2; Jer. 23:5-6; 33:14), this is a true Messianic prophecy. At some point during His work: “He will build the temple of the Lord.” This is repeated twice for emphasis! Soon after Jesus completed building this temple, He would “sit and rule on His throne.” Since the Holy Spirit revealed in Peter’s first sermon in Acts 2 that Jesus was already reigning on the throne, the temple He came to build was also completed. Yet not only did He reign, but He also became High Priest in this temple. (Heb. 8-10).
Another prophecy revealed that this new temple built by the Messiah would have more glory than the former temple (Solomon’s). First, God rebuked them for their lack of faith: “Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes as nothing?” God used the former glory of Solomon’s temple as the point of comparison to the temple that would come after they had completed this smaller temple: “the latter glory of this house will be greater than the former glory.” God also confirmed “I will fill this house with glory.”
This passage is confirmed to be the temple / kingdom / church when the Hebrew writer quoted it and applied it to Christians in the kingdom. The things that are shaken would be the things that were made (of this creation). The things that cannot be shaken are the things in the heavens, where our citizenship now exists. All of this was fulfilled when Jesus began to reign on His throne.
Not only will the temple be rebuilt by the Messiah with more glory than the former temple, but God will bring priests to minister in that temple. In a prophecy that Jesus read and concluded: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (Lk. 4:18-19), it is revealed that His servants will also become the priests of the Lord in the New Testament age.
After the Lord built this temple and began reigning, God revealed from that day forward David would never lack a man to sit on His throne. This has been fulfilled because Jesus has the “power of an endless life.” (Heb 7:16). Never again will that throne be empty. At the same time, a second promise was also fulfilled. The priests and Levites would also be restored and they too would never lack a man working in the temple, offering sacrifices.
The fulfillment of this was revealed by Peter. All Christians are “a holy priesthood,” “offering up spiritual sacrifices.”
Conclusion. This is only an introduction to the many analogies God will make to reveal more about being a Christian and ministering in the church. We are stones in this temple, priests in this temple, and a kingdom of priests to our God. We work with our High Priest who freed us from our sins.
God promised David that his son Solomon would build “a house for the sanctuary.” After God’s promise, David began gathering and preparing the materials for its construction. During that time, God gave David a pattern just as He did to Moses.
- David gave to Solomon his son the pattern…12 and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit...19 ‘All this,’ (said David), ‘have I been made to understand in writing from the hand of Jehovah, even all the works of this pattern. (1Chr. 28:10-19 ASV).
Every aspect of this temple was described and revealed exactly as God wanted it to be built. “Jehovah has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary.” All that had been contained in the first tabernacle was now enclosed and incorporated into the temple in Jerusalem. Everything but the ark was made again to the new pattern revealed by the Spirit to David. Many details are recorded when it was being built. “They hewed out great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with wrought stone.” The temple was then “built of stone made ready at the quarry; and there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was being built.” The size of the most holy place doubled from 10x10x10 to 20x20x20. Nothing changed about the ark and the mercy seat, but large cherubim were added to spread their wings above it. (1Kings 5:17-6:38; 2Chr. 2-4).
After the temple was built, a cloud filled it and the glory of God was seen as He accepted it. In Solomon’s prayer, he requested of God: “Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My name shall be there.’ When God later appeared to Solomon He made clear the role of this temple in His eternal purpose. “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 14 ...I will hear from heaven, ... I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.” (1Kings 8:29-30; 1Chr. 7:12-16). This is the pattern that will help explain and reveal the true nature of the church that Jesus would build. The church has become this sanctified house and His eyes and heart are there perpetually (Eph. 2:20-22).
While these “copies and shadows” brought mercy and atonement from God, it was made very clear to Solomon and Israel that the power and value of this temple would be based on the faithfulness of their fellowship. God warned “if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments” “this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight.” (1Kings 9:6-7). Sadly beginning with Solomon and with many other kings after him, they did turn from following Him. While God allowed the temple to exist from Solomon’s time around 960 BC until Babylon destroyed it in 586 BC, He finally fulfilled all the curses of Deuteronomy 28, and then added one final curse: “I will also remove Judah from My sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, 'My name shall be there.” (2Kings 23:27). The destruction of Solomon’s temple set the stage for God to begin revealing that the pattern of the Solomon’s temple would be nothing compared to the temple built by the Messiah.
After the 70-year captivity, God used Zerubbabel the governor, and Joshua the High Priest, to build a new temple. (Haggai 1-2). He sent Haggai and Zechariah to encourage and rebuke them because they had not finished it diligently. (Ezra 5:1-2). After the foundation for this new temple was laid, many who had seen the glory of Solomon’s temple wept because it was so small in comparison (Ezra 3:12-13). God’s answer through both Haggai and Zechariah was to reveal that when the Messiah came, He would build a temple far greater and more magnificent.
These prophecies are the first indication the temple in the Old Testament and the church in the New would reflect each other. Since “the Branch” was already revealed as the Messiah (Isa. 11:1-2; Jer. 23:5-6; 33:14), this is a true Messianic prophecy. At some point during His work: “He will build the temple of the Lord.” This is repeated twice for emphasis! Soon after Jesus completed building this temple, He would “sit and rule on His throne.” Since the Holy Spirit revealed in Peter’s first sermon in Acts 2 that Jesus was already reigning on the throne, the temple He came to build was also completed. Yet not only did He reign, but He also became High Priest in this temple. (Heb. 8-10).
- Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, And He shall build the temple of the Lord; 13 Yes, He shall build the temple of the Lord. He shall bear the glory, And shall sit and rule on His throne; So He shall be a priest on His throne, And the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (Zech. 6:11-13).
Another prophecy revealed that this new temple built by the Messiah would have more glory than the former temple (Solomon’s). First, God rebuked them for their lack of faith: “Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes as nothing?” God used the former glory of Solomon’s temple as the point of comparison to the temple that would come after they had completed this smaller temple: “the latter glory of this house will be greater than the former glory.” God also confirmed “I will fill this house with glory.”
- For thus says Jehovah of hosts: Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations; and the precious things of all nations shall come; and I will fill this house with glory, saith Jehovah of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith Jehovah of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says Jehovah of hosts; and in this place will I give peace, says Jehovah of hosts. (Hag. 2:6-9).
This passage is confirmed to be the temple / kingdom / church when the Hebrew writer quoted it and applied it to Christians in the kingdom. The things that are shaken would be the things that were made (of this creation). The things that cannot be shaken are the things in the heavens, where our citizenship now exists. All of this was fulfilled when Jesus began to reign on His throne.
- And this (word), Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, (Heb. 12:26-28)
Not only will the temple be rebuilt by the Messiah with more glory than the former temple, but God will bring priests to minister in that temple. In a prophecy that Jesus read and concluded: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (Lk. 4:18-19), it is revealed that His servants will also become the priests of the Lord in the New Testament age.
- The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor ... But you shall be named the priests of the Lord, They shall call you the servants of our God. (Isa 61:1, 4, 6).
After the Lord built this temple and began reigning, God revealed from that day forward David would never lack a man to sit on His throne. This has been fulfilled because Jesus has the “power of an endless life.” (Heb 7:16). Never again will that throne be empty. At the same time, a second promise was also fulfilled. The priests and Levites would also be restored and they too would never lack a man working in the temple, offering sacrifices.
- David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel; 18 nor shall the priests, the Levites, lack a man to offer burnt offerings before Me, to kindle grain offerings, and to sacrifice continually. (Jer. 33:14-18),
The fulfillment of this was revealed by Peter. All Christians are “a holy priesthood,” “offering up spiritual sacrifices.”
- you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God (1Pet. 2:5)
Conclusion. This is only an introduction to the many analogies God will make to reveal more about being a Christian and ministering in the church. We are stones in this temple, priests in this temple, and a kingdom of priests to our God. We work with our High Priest who freed us from our sins.
- To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Rev. 1:5-6).