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Solomon’s Temple - 2Chron 2-4
Solomon’s Temple - 2Chron 2-4
Our reading today includes both 1 Kings 5 and 2 Chron. 2 which speaks of Solomon’s temple. “The house which I am about to build will be great, for greater is our God than all the gods. "But who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him? So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except to burn incense before Him?” (2 Chronicles 2:5-6).
The temple was to replace the tabernacle – the earthly ‘tent’ structure that Israel carried through their years of desert wandering. By the time of Solomon such a tent would have been hundreds of years old. When we look at the preparations for this temple, they are indeed magnificent, thus the temple was a marvel among God’s people.
Today, WE have a greater temple than that which Solomon built, or even the one that Herod rebuilt. WE are the temple of the LORD. We, the church, are now being built into a holy temple, a dwelling place of God (Eph. 2:19-22). Again, it needs to be remembered that the church is THE PEOPLE, the people of God. He dwells in US, the church. We are the building blocks that make up this temple. As Peter said: “you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 2:5).
In one sense, it isn’t much of a ‘building’ – it is just ‘us’ added together. But, it is precious in the Lord’s sight. It is HIS temple. We are HIS people. It is HOLY unto the LORD for WE are holy unto the LORD.
The warning of 1 Cor. 3 is to be NOTED! “Do you not know that you (plural) are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you (plural)? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you (plural) are. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).
Be careful then on how you treat your brethren!
Hugh DeLong
