The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Kings 6:7,
"In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built."
This simple observation is made of the construction of the temple King Solomon built. Prior to this the tabernacle Moses had made was used for worship, for the sacrificial offerings and provided the center for the religious observations of the nation. As Solomon constructed this temple, we are told that no sound from iron tools was heard at the site as it was being built.
I think of the temple the Lord himself is building today. That temple is made up of the communion of believers the Lord dwells within today. We read, "As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:4-5. Also, listen to these fascinating words as Paul addresses the Gentiles in Ephesus, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22.
The Lord is building his temple today just as Solomon built one three millenia ago for him. Where Solomon used cut stone and cedar to build the temple, the Lord builds his temple of all who embrace him in faith. Both are homes, residences, where the presence of the Lord dwells and so both considered sacred. Where Solomon's temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, the temple the Lord is building today will last forever.
One aspect to the building of both these temples is the quiet nature of the construction of both. Where Solomon's temple, being built of stone and cedar, required the use of tools, no sound of an iron tool was heard at the construction site. So, also, the Lord is quietly building his temple today. Right under our noses, the Lord is busy drawing people to himself. Right under our noses, brothers and sisters he has raised up for himself share the gospel with others, and right under our noses, people are receiving the inheritance the Lord has promised to all those of faith as they are built into the Lord's temple of today!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
"In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built."
This simple observation is made of the construction of the temple King Solomon built. Prior to this the tabernacle Moses had made was used for worship, for the sacrificial offerings and provided the center for the religious observations of the nation. As Solomon constructed this temple, we are told that no sound from iron tools was heard at the site as it was being built.
I think of the temple the Lord himself is building today. That temple is made up of the communion of believers the Lord dwells within today. We read, "As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:4-5. Also, listen to these fascinating words as Paul addresses the Gentiles in Ephesus, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22.
The Lord is building his temple today just as Solomon built one three millenia ago for him. Where Solomon used cut stone and cedar to build the temple, the Lord builds his temple of all who embrace him in faith. Both are homes, residences, where the presence of the Lord dwells and so both considered sacred. Where Solomon's temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, the temple the Lord is building today will last forever.
One aspect to the building of both these temples is the quiet nature of the construction of both. Where Solomon's temple, being built of stone and cedar, required the use of tools, no sound of an iron tool was heard at the construction site. So, also, the Lord is quietly building his temple today. Right under our noses, the Lord is busy drawing people to himself. Right under our noses, brothers and sisters he has raised up for himself share the gospel with others, and right under our noses, people are receiving the inheritance the Lord has promised to all those of faith as they are built into the Lord's temple of today!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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