Topical Bible: Temple: Solomon's: Holiness of

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The holiness of Solomon's Temple, also known as the First Temple, is a central theme in the biblical narrative, reflecting its significance as the dwelling place of God's presence among His people. Constructed under the reign of King Solomon, the Temple was a fulfillment of God's promise to David, Solomon's father, to establish a house for His Name (2 Samuel 7:12-13).

Divine Design and Construction

The holiness of Solomon's Temple is first underscored by its divine design. The plans for the Temple were given by God to David, who then passed them on to Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:11-19). The meticulous details of its construction, as described in 1 Kings 6 and 2 Chronicles 3, highlight the sacredness of the structure. The use of precious materials such as gold, cedar, and stone, and the intricate craftsmanship, were intended to reflect the glory and majesty of God.

The Ark of the Covenant

Central to the holiness of the Temple was the Ark of the Covenant, which was placed in the Most Holy Place, or the Holy of Holies (1 Kings 8:6). The Ark represented God's covenant with Israel and His presence among them. The sanctity of this inner sanctuary was such that only the high priest could enter, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:2, 34).

The Dedication of the Temple

The dedication of Solomon's Temple further emphasizes its holiness. In 1 Kings 8 and 2 Chronicles 5-7, Solomon leads the nation in a grand ceremony, offering sacrifices and prayers. The presence of God is manifested as a cloud fills the Temple, signifying His approval and dwelling (1 Kings 8:10-11: "And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD"). Solomon's prayer of dedication acknowledges the Temple as a place for God's name, a house of prayer, and a symbol of His covenant faithfulness (1 Kings 8:22-53).

Holiness and Worship

The Temple's holiness was also reflected in the worship practices conducted there. The sacrificial system, as outlined in the Law of Moses, was central to maintaining the covenant relationship between God and Israel. The Temple served as the focal point for the feasts and festivals, drawing the people to worship and seek atonement for their sins (Deuteronomy 16:16).

Consequences of Defilement

The holiness of the Temple demanded reverence and purity from those who approached it. The defilement of the Temple through idolatry and unfaithfulness led to severe consequences, as seen in the prophetic warnings and eventual destruction of the Temple by the Babylonians in 586 BC (2 Kings 25:8-9). The prophets, such as Jeremiah and Ezekiel, lamented the loss of the Temple and called the people to repentance, emphasizing the need for holiness in their relationship with God (Jeremiah 7:1-15; Ezekiel 8-10).

Symbolism and Fulfillment

Solomon's Temple, in its holiness, served as a symbol of God's desire to dwell among His people and the need for holiness in worship. It foreshadowed the coming of Jesus Christ, who declared Himself to be the true Temple (John 2:19-21). In Christ, the fullness of God's presence dwells bodily, and through His sacrifice, believers are made holy and become the temple of the Holy Spirit (Colossians 2:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19).

The holiness of Solomon's Temple remains a profound testament to God's covenantal relationship with His people and His call for them to be holy as He is holy (Leviticus 19:2).

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1 Kings 8:10
And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,
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1 Kings 9:3
And the LORD said to him, I have heard your prayer and your supplication, that you have made before me: I have hallowed this house, which you have built, to put my name there for ever; and my eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually.
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Lamentations 1:10
The adversary has spread out his hand on all her pleasant things: for she has seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom you did command that they should not enter into your congregation.
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Matthew 23:17
You fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold?
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John 2:14-16
And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
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Library

The Holiness of God
... should not be the paint of holiness, but the life; it should not be like the Egyptian
temples, beautified without merely, but like Solomon's temple, gold within ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/7 the holiness of god.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... from the perfection of holiness in the immediate presence of Jehovah; and of this,
as well as of the whole Christian dispensation, the temple of Solomon was a ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

Acts III
... faced the inner side of the temple wall, called ... to them on the portico called Solomon's,
greatly wondering ... the cure rather to the singular holiness of himself ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts iii.htm

At the Temple Gate
... alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple: and they ... them in the porch that is called
Solomon's, greatly wondering ... as though by our own power or holiness we had ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 6 at the temple.htm

Solomon's Repentance
... and after the dedication of the temple, when once ... In gratitude Solomon acknowledged
the power and the loving ... exalted plane of purity and holiness from whence he ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 5 solomons repentance.htm

Results of Transgression
... of, not as the temple of Jehovah, but as "Solomon's temple.". ... against Israel in the
time when Solomon reigned are ... of error the beauty of holiness as manifested ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 4 results of transgression.htm

The Temple and Its Dedication
... connected with the completion of the temple, when during ... said during the dedicatory
services, Solomon had sought to ... and in the beauty of holiness, their coming ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 2 the temple and.htm

'Then Shall the Lame Man Leap as an Hart'
... alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they ... them in the porch that is called
Solomon's, greatly wondering ... as though by our own power or holiness we had ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/then shall the lame man.htm

Bunsen's Biblical Researches.
... not of composition, between the ages of Solomon and Hezekiah ... old time and means of
grace now; temple, Scripture, finger ... the Son of God by the spirit of holiness. ...
/.../essays and reviews the education of the world/bunsens biblical researches.htm

The Desire of all Nations
... finger have outdone the glory of Solomon's temple, but in ... be the glory of the second
spiritual temple. ... to come between their guilt and God's glorious holiness. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 61 1915/the desire of all nations.htm