The Temple

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Introduction: Solomon Dedicates the Temple

Welcome to our study on the Temple of God. We will be looking closer at the Temple and its symbolism, and what it means for Christians today. Let's introduce our study by reading the account of the Temple's Dedication by Solomon:

"Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God. Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month. And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up the ark. And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up. Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude. And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims: for the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above."

Solomon continues, "And they drew out the staves of the ark, that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without. And there it is unto this day. There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt. And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course: also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:) it came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God."

"Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever. And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood. And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who hath with his hands fulfilled that which he spake with his mouth to my father David, saying, since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel: but I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel. Now it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. But the LORD said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart: notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house; but thy son which shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name. The LORD therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken: for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. And in it have I put the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, that he made with the children of Israel." (2 Chronicles 5:1-6:11).

Brief History of the Temple

The forerunner to Solomon's temple was the tabernacle, a tent which God instructed Moses and the Israelites to build while they were at Mount Sinai in the wilderness. God gave specific instructions as to how the tabernacle should be constructed, and how each of the vessels and furnishings should be fashioned and ornamented (Exodus 25-40). The tabernacle was designed to be taken down quickly, and each of the furnishings were equipped with rings through which poles could be placed for transporting. This "portable" sanctuary was used by the people of Israel as they traveled through the wilderness until they finally reached the promised land of Canaan, after which the tabernacle was set up permanently. It was used until the time of Solomon who built a glorious temple for God to dwell in, fulfilling the dream of his father David.

During the era of the kings, the temple went through several periods of defilement and restoration. It was ransacked by Shishak of Egypt during King Rehoboam's reign, and was later restored by King Asa (2 Chronicles 12:9, 15:8,18). After another period of spiritual decline and idolatry, King Joash repaired and restored the temple (2 Chronicles 24:4-14). King Ahaz gave several of the temple furnishings to the King of Assyria as a gift and closed the temple. His son Hezekiah reopened the temple and repaired and cleansed it. However, Hezekiah's son Manasseh would defile the temple again with idolatrous practices. These practices continued through Manasseh's successors until the temple was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzer of Babylon (2 Chronicles 28:21-24; 29:1-19; 33:1-7; 34:1,-13; 36:18-19). Fifty years after Nebuchadnezzer destroyed the temple, King Cyrus allowed the Israelites to return from exile in Babylon to Palestine and rebuild the temple under the leadership of Zerubbabel (Ezra 1:1-4; 3:8).

There was opposition to the rebuilding of the temple from other inhabitants in the area. This caused a delay of around 10-15 years. Under the stirring of the prophets Zechariah and Haggai, temple restoration continued till completion and dedication around 516 B.C. This second temple was smaller and less ornate than its predecessor. Much expansion and restoration, spanning 46 years, was done to the temple by King Herod during the time of Jesus, which is referenced in John 2:20. It is this temple which Jesus visited as a child with Mary and Joseph to celebrate the annual Passover feast. And it is this temple from which He would expel the moneychangers. The early Church gathered at this temple to worship, God used Peter to to heal a man at the temple's gate, and Paul was physically accosted and accused of defiling the temple by bring Gentiles into the inner court. Jesus prophesied the temple's destruction, "There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." (Matthew 25:1-2). This was fulfilled by the Roman military under the leadership of Titus in 70 A.D. who destroyed, not only the temple, but most of Jerusalem as well.

Biblical prophecies mention a time in the future when the Antichrist will desolate the temple and stop the sacrifices offered. Because of these prophecies, Israel must sometime in the future rebuild the temple and start offering sacrifices once again. Plans are already being drawn up to rebuild the temple and to fashion its furnishings.

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