Construction sites are typically very noisy with all the heavy equipment and tools and workers. That’s why the scene described in I Kings 5:13–6:7 of the construction of the temple under the leadership of Solomon is so incredible. The building of Solomon’s temple was one of the most remarkable construction projects in history. Much of the temple’s legendary beauty was attributed to the great stones–beautiful and costly stones quarried from beds of white limestone–that were used in its construction.  

     Maybe the most remarkable feature of the project was that each stone was carefully cut and dimensioned while still at the quarry, so that the temple itself could be erected in silence, with each stone fitting perfectly in place as it came to the temple site. I Kg. 6:7 says, “…and there was neither hammer nor axe nor any iron tool heard in the house while it was being built.” The temple, as the structure where God would meet with His people, was considered too sacred to permit the noise of construction during its erection. Only the High Priest was allowed access to the “Holy of Holies” in the temple where he made sacrifices for his sins and the sins of the people on the Day of Atonement each year.

     But then came Jesus Christ, our High Priest, who, through laying down His own life as a sacrifice, put away sin once and for all (Heb. 10:9:11,12; 10-14). . The large curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple was torn in half, symbolizing how believers now each have access to God through our High Priest, Jesus Christ, the “one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all…” (I Tim. 2:5,6).  Before Jesus left the earth He said, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it” (Mt. 16:18).  Ten days after Jesus returned to heaven (on Pentecost), the Holy Spirit came to indwell believers and to baptize (immerse)  them into the body of Christ, the church (I Cor. 12:12,13).  From that moment on, all who believed, both Jew and Gentile, were added to this body, the church. The Gentiles, who “were separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel. and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world…were brought near by the blood of Christ. For He made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall” (Eph. 2:12,14).  In the church, which Christ is building, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28).  Gentiles “are no longer strangers and aliens, but are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord..a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Eph. 2:19-22). 

     The physical temple that Solomon built is a type (picture) of the mighty house of God, the church, being erected by the Holy Spirit. Each believer is like one of the beautiful temple stones–so costly that the price was the shed blood of Christ Himself–taken out of the great “pit of sin” by the Holy Spirit, and one by one is being placed quietly (“fitted together”) in the great spiritual temple, the church. Peter wrote, concerning the building of the church: “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” (I Pet. 2:5 NASB).  The KJV calls the believers “lively stones.”  Having pastored a little rural church for 37 years, it was so exciting to see God quietly add new “lively stones” to our body as people came to know Christ and became part, not just of Three Lakes Community Bible Church, but of the universal church of all N.T. believers.  Some of them were livelier than others, and I hope, God willing, to write a book about those “lively stones”–some great stories!  Many have graduated to heaven by now. The last remaining (other than myself) early-on leader in our church, John Alex,  just went home to Glory this past Saturday. I can only imagine the scene in heaven of the “lively stones reunion” taking place!

Forever His,

Pastor Dave