Pieces of the Temple

The Temple Solomon Built

Have you ever tried to insert yourself in the narrative in as Solomon dedicates the Temple that his father David wanted to build but was not given permission from God to do so? I’ve imagined the scene a few times myself and it must have been a spectacular sight to behold and experience for those in attendance there that day.

2 Chronicles 7:1–4 ESV

As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house. When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the Lord.

2 Chronicles

Can you imagine watching fire come down from heaven? What is that amount of God’s glory really like? Can you imagine your heart pounding, struggling to breathe and keep from passing out?

There was a thrill of worshipping with other believers as this is happening as heaven intersects with earth in a more tangible way than any in that generation had ever experienced. A glimpse of the glory of God was for a moment made visible to human eyes.

God wants to be shown off among His people. He wants to be revealed among His people. He doesn’t want apologies. Any man who would apologize that his wife is at his side is being foolish. Any woman who would apologize that her husband is by her side is being foolish. And any Christian who apologizes for belonging to Jesus Christ is being foolish. ~Tony Evans

A Better Temple

The NT describes something better than Solomon’s temple as being part of the New Covenant for all believers. The fact that we sometimes covet those Old Testament experiences can be an indication that we do not appreciate the new reality in Christ as we should.

Many of us though would give anything to stand outside that Temple and watch as God’s glory descended on that scene.

But I get to experience something immeasurably better: I am literally a part of the temple itself!

Somehow by the blood of Jesus, I became worthy of joining with others to form a dwelling place for God! Peter describes us as “living stones”.

1 Peter 2:4–5 ESV

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:4-

You are a stone in the same structure on which the apostles and prophets are the foundation and Jesus Himself is the cornerstone!

When Paul spoke of this concept, he used the plural form of you and the singular form of the temple.

We are all joined together to form one house for God. Somehow I am a block of a temple that transcends both time and space. And because the structure is a temple , this means that God makes His home among us! The sheer thought of that should have you bursting at the seams right now!

Don’t try to solve the mystery and ruin it by trying to dissect it with your limited mind; just stare at the wonder of God and behold His love and mercy for you....

A Warning

When Paul explained the mystery to the Corinthians, he added a terrifying warning.

1 Corinthians 3:16–17 ESV

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Now think back to the scene in 2 Chronicles we talked about earlier. When the fire came down and God’s glory filled the temple, would you be able to conceive of someone taking a sledgehammer and striking the temple? Would you dare?

Of course not!!!

Then why are so many in the church so quick to gossip, slander leadership, and divide the Church?

“If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person.”

Why is God so harsh about this?

Paul explains that God’s temple is sacred, and we-collectively-are that temple by extension.

Every time you speak evil or slander a member of the Church, it is like taking a sledgehammer and striking the temple of God. Are you sure you want to keep doing that?

What I am saying is this; let’s be careful with our words and our actions. We are dealing with something sacred to God Himself, not just something people esteem.

Let’s stay on the right side of God’s protection. This is possibly why Paul says in ...

Titus 3:10 ESV

As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,

Titus

We should not and cannot be enablers of division. God hates this sin too much, His temple is too sacred.

Our culture today is so used to evaluating everything or giving our opinion. Whether it’s the pizza you ate, or the movie you watched, or a friend’s picture on social media, everything is set up for us to be able to critique and compare.

So in the Church, rather than marveling at the incredible mystery that we are a part of God’s body, we critique the leadership, the music, the programs, and anything else we can think of.

We point out the flaws in a sermon or a song with the same conviction we critique a movie star’s acting or our favorite team’s recent loss in a game.

Could it be that we are taking a sledgehammer to the temple in so doing?

Remember that the temple was the location where God chose to live on earth. And now the Church is that temple. Consider this as I close: - when the temple was dedicated- was not the only time fire from heaven onto the temple. It also happened in when the Holy Spirit descended on the Upper Room and the Church was born.

The disciples were united and praying when tongues of fire fell on them.

They were the temple.

Fire fell on them, and they spoke in tongues as the Spirit of God gave utterance. And you know the rest of the story.