2021.09.26

We Are Temple: Solomon’s Temple

The Tabernacle was much larger than I originally thought. When they call it the “Tent of Meeting”, I think of it as a single tent … and not very large … like maybe a 10-man popup tent.

Knowing how large Israel was, I should’ve realized it was humongous … but I didn’t. I made it smaller in my mind to help me comprehend. Sometimes I’m guilty of shrinking God for the sake of my comprehension, instead of increasing my comprehension to fit His enormity.

Sin has a way of shrinking God down and puffing ourselves up — Louie Giglio

We Are Temple: Solomon’s Temple

The Tabernacle was so big, I can’t imagine carrying it around the wilderness for 40 years. Then, the Jews moved into the Promised Land and CONTINUED to move it, even if not as often.

Eerdmans Bible Dictionary I. Before Solomon

After the people had entered the land of Canaan, they established or adopted shrines and sanctuaries in various locations. Some of these were places where the tabernacle or the ark were located (e.g., Shiloh, Josh. 18:1; Bethel, Judg. 20:26–27; Kiriath-jearim, 1 Sam. 7:1–2; Gibeon, 1 Chr. 16:39; 21:29; 2 Chr. 1:3). Some were sites of significant events (Gilgal, Josh. 4:19–24; 5:13–15; Shiloh, 22:12; Shechem, ch. 24 [cf. v. 26]; Mizpah, Judg. 20; 1 Sam. 7:5–12). Some were sites of existing ancient shrines (Shechem, Gen. 12:6–7; 33:18–20; Bethel, 13:3–4; 31:13; perhaps Gibeon, 2 Sam. 21:6; 1 Kgs. 3:4). At Shiloh (and perhaps elsewhere) a temple was built (Judg. 18:31; 1 Sam. 3:3) and an annual pilgrimage feast was held (Judg. 21:19). After Shiloh had been destroyed, priests of Shiloh maintained a shrine at Nob that possessed some of the furnishings of the tabernacle (1 Sam. 21–22; cf. 14:3)

Clearly a permanent location was needed!

2 Samuel 6:12–22 NASB 2020

12 Now it was reported to King David, saying, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, on account of the ark of God.” So David went and brought the ark of God up from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with joy. 13 And so it was, that when those carrying the ark of the Lord marched six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened steer. 14 And David was dancing before the Lord with all his strength, and David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with joyful shouting and the sound of the trumpet. 16 Then it happened, as the ark of the Lord was coming into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked down through the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she was contemptuous of him in her heart. 17 Now they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 18 When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of armies. 19 Further, he distributed to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, both to men and women, a cake of bread, one of dates, and one of raisins to each one. Then all the people left, each to his house. 20 But when David returned to bless his own household, Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel dignified himself today! For he exposed himself today in the sight of his servants’ female slaves, as one of the rabble shamelessly exposes himself!” 21 But David said to Michal, “I was before the Lord, who preferred me to your father and to all his house, to appoint me as ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. So I will celebrate before the Lord! 22 And I might demean myself even more than this and be lowly in my own sight, but with the female slaves of whom you have spoken, with them I am to be held in honor!”

David! Great King - conquering warrior - nation leader - man after God’s own heart - the closest thing you’ll ever see to God’s version of a teacher’s pet.

David planned to build a permanent structure, but God forbade him:

2 Samuel 7:5–16 NLT

5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in? 6 I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. I have always moved from one place to another with a tent and a Tabernacle as my dwelling. 7 Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel’s tribal leaders, the shepherds of my people Israel. I have never asked them, “Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar house?” ’ 8 “Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! 10 And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, 11 starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. “ ‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! 12 For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. 13 He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. 15 But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. 16 Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’ ”

· God says he wants Solomon instead of David because David is a man of war.

The Temple

NO SLIDES FOR THIS SCRIPTURE

1 Chronicles 22:8–9 NASB 2020

8 But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars; you shall not build a house to My name, because you have shed so much blood on the earth before Me. 9 Behold, a son will be born to you, who shall be a man of rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for his name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days.

It took Solomon 7 years to build the Temple.

Seven – the number of perfection

Compared to the Tabernacle

Solomon’s Temple began construction 480 years after the Exodus!

Much of the Tabernacle had been lost or in disrepair.

The Ark of the Covenant was the most important element that made it to Solomon’s Temple.

Sanctuary was double the size of the Tabernacle’s sanctuary.

A series of courts and porches Solomon added made the structure even larger than the Tabernacle.

Permanent vs. mobile

God’s instructions were no less detailed than they were with the Tabernacle:

The entire interior was cedar paneled

Loads of bronze-work

Gold, silver, iron

Purple, blue, and red yarn

The Temple was built over the rock of Mount Moriah

This is the location Abraham took Isaac and prepared to sacrifice him.

The Rock is considered a holy place for Christians, Jews and Muslims.

Today, there is a mosque over this location: “The Dome of the Rock”

Some scholars believe the structure of the Tabernacle and the Temple were laid out to represent a return to the Garden of Eden.

The angle was such that entry to the Temple was moving East to West – after the Fall, Adam and Eve were sent East of Eden

Cherubim were placed to stand guard at the entrance of the Garden, and the Temple was adorned with Cherubim on the doors, the walls, and even Cherubim statues in the Most Holy Place.

Solomon’s Temple

Divided into three segments just like the Tabernacle:

“Outer Court”

Represents the Fallen world

Main Hall

“The Holy Place”

Doors were made of cedar overlaid with gold & decorated with cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers

Room overlaid with gold and decorated similarly to the doors

10 large menorahs – constantly burning

Table of Shew Bread on the right

Altar of Incense near the entrance to the Holy of Holies

Designed to be similar to the Brazen Altar in the courtyard

Brazen Altar burned animal flesh as sacrifice

Altar of incense burned sweet aromatics to represent the prayers of God’s people ascending to Him

Only priests could enter the Holy Place

Sanctuary

“The Holy of Holies!”

Only the HIGH PRIEST could enter the Holy of Holies … and only on one day each year (Yom Kippur – the day of atonement)

Room is a perfect cube: 30’ x 30’ x 30’

More gold and decorations on the walls

Two large cherubim statues flanked the Ark of the Covenant – standing guard

THIS ROOM is where the presence of Yahweh dwelt!

Once per year, the High Priest would give a sacrifice on behalf of the nation and enter the Holy of Holies.

The priest would sprinkle sacrificial blood on the top of the Ark (the “mercy seat”) and if God accepted the sacrifice, God’s judgment would be converted to mercy!

A blood sacrifice was necessary for God’s judgment to change to mercy!

The Tabernacle and the Temple were made for worshipping Yahweh, and the purpose of worship was to return us to the relationship we enjoyed in the Garden of Eden.

Solomon’s Temple was destroyed by Babylonians when they captured Jerusalem and exiled much of the Jewish leadership to Babylon after nearly 500 years.

We Are Temple: Solomon’s Temple

What do we learn about God in this?

Still a God of order!

Today, the intention seems to be relationship-driven rather than suppression or “lording over” his people.

The emphasis is forever on God, His holiness, and our restoration.

God’s heart is driven by restoring us to proper relationship with him … THAT is his heart, and it’s the same today as it ever was in the Old Testament!

What do we learn about humanity?

God rejected David as the builder because he was a man of war.

David was still “a man after God’s own heart” - but God drew a line here.

Our actions may be "after God’s own heart”, but it doesn’t mean “anything goes”!

God draws boundaries around humanity.

David was a ‘man after God’s own heart’ because he accepted God’s boundaries.

How often do we try to move God’s boundaries to meet our own?

Humans often want God to conform to our expectations, instead us honoring his boundaries!

We always want to “go bigger” than the people before us.

Is that always the best decision...

…or is “bigger” a distraction from “more faithful”?

What can you learn about yourself?

I began this sermon with a confession:

Sometimes I’m guilty of shrinking God for the sake of my comprehension, instead of increasing my comprehension to fit His enormity.

Is there anything you find hard to understand about God? Have you tried to shrink that issue down to your size or your shape, rather than trying harder to comprehend God’s character?

Where have you tried to change God’s boundaries to match yours instead of changing your boundaries to match his?

Sin has a way of shrinking God down and puffing ourselves up — Louie Giglio

We Are Temple: Solomon’s Temple