Compare the temple's construction to Ephesians 2:21-22 about believers as God's temple. Setting the Old Testament Scene • The design came straight from God through David to Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:11–19). • Only the finest materials were used—cedar from Lebanon, quarried stones, and “pure gold” (1 Kings 6:20–22). • Each stone was prepared off-site so “there was neither hammer nor chisel nor any iron tool heard in the temple while it was being built” (1 Kings 6:7). • Precision ruled the project: exact measurements, ordered chambers, and separate courts. • When the ark entered, “the cloud filled the house of the LORD” and the priests could not stand to minister (1 Kings 8:10-11). • The temple’s purpose: a single, holy dwelling place where God’s name would reside and Israel would meet Him (1 Kings 8:27-30). Ephesians 2:21-22—The New Temple “In Him the whole building, fitted together, rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.” Point-by-Point Comparison • Divine Blueprint – Solomon built “according to all that the LORD commanded” (1 Kings 6:12). – Believers are “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand” (Ephesians 2:10). • Cornerstone and Foundation – Temple stones rested on massive foundation blocks (1 Kings 7:10). – Christ is “the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20); apostles and prophets form the foundation. • Choice Materials – Only the best cedar, cypress, gold, and precious stones were acceptable. – God now uses “living stones” (1 Peter 2:5)—redeemed people cleansed by Christ’s blood. • Skilled Construction – Hiram’s craftsmen and Solomon’s labor force worked with skill and order (1 Kings 5:13-18). – The Holy Spirit gifts and shapes every believer for precise placement in the body (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). • Progressive Building – The physical temple went up course by course over seven years (1 Kings 6:37-38). – The spiritual temple “rises” and is still “being built together” until Christ returns (Ephesians 2:21-22). • Holiness and Separation – Inner rooms were overlaid with pure gold; only priests could enter (1 Kings 6:19-30). – Believers are “a royal priesthood” called to holiness (1 Peter 2:9); bodies are “temples of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19). • Divine Indwelling – God’s glory filled the house so powerfully the priests had to leave (1 Kings 8:11). – God now dwells permanently in every believer: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Living Out the Reality • Guard the temple—reject sin and compromise (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). • Submit to the Master Builder; let Him chisel away rough edges. • Serve alongside other “living stones” instead of isolating. • Display God’s glory through holy conduct, just as the gold-covered sanctuary reflected light. • Anticipate the finished structure: a worldwide, redeemed people gathered in “the new Jerusalem” where “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (Revelation 21:22). |
    |