The subject of Temples figures prominently in the scriptures.
In 1 Chronicles 29. 2-14, we read of David’s own private contribution to the Temple: “I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for the things to be made of silver, and the brass for the things of brass . . . even three thousand talents of gold . . . seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the houses withal . . .”, to the value of twenty-five millions in gold and three and a half millions in silver.
Over and above this were the materials he had gathered together, as recorded in chapter 22. 14, “Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the Lord . . .”, and at current values these things reached the staggering figure of approximately three thousand five hundred millions.
All this wealth, together with the brass without weight and the iron, was David’s gift to the Lord for the building of the temple. It is interesting to note that the gift of the princes included one thousand tons of brass and five thousand seven hundred tons of iron. The iron would be used for bolts and bars. It is probable that nails as we know them were not used in the construction of the temple, as there was no sound of hammer heard. It is more likely that a form of bolt and nut was employed.
All this wealth was given to Solomon by his father to build the Temple of God in Jerusalem. David accepted no honour for all this that he did. He says in 1 Ch. 29, v. 11-16, “Thine O Lord is the greatness . . . O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and all is thine own”.
As we reflect upon this aspect of the temple, we realise that nothing but our all is good enough for the work of the Lord. And should we think that we have worked mightily in the service of the Lord, let us think again about David. His was no parsimonious spirit. His contribution was no “tenth”, of his possessions. He says he amassed this wealth during his troubles. Few men passed through such a time of trouble as did David, hunted like a partridge in the mountains by Saul for years. Then there were all the domestic troubles he experienced. David did not wait for the “good times” to come before he worked for the Lord. He did it from day to day. It was in his heart to build an house for the Lord his God. Can we imagine his disappointment when Nathan came back with the word of the Lord, “Thou shalt not build me an house”. The dream of a lifetime, the work of a lifetime, was not to be realised. What would have been our reaction? For most of us it would have been a crushing blow. We would probably have been full of resentment and bitterness.
Fortunately for us we are not tried like David was. For sometimes we are not big enough in spirit even to accept a majority decision of the ecclesia in relation to the work of the Lord. Not that the ecclesia is wrong in principle, but we dislike the way it is proposed the work should be done. We disagree with the ecclesia and withhold help; furthermore, we weaken the hands of the brethren. In other words, we act as if we were bigger than the Truth. We have not learned to say, “Not my will but thine be done”. David had learnt just that, and so, while he was not permitted to build the house of the Lord, he encouraged Solomon to do the work.
David was spared the heartbreak that would have been his could he have known what would happen to all the efforts he had made in preparing to build an house for his God. In the readings from 2 Ch. 6 we have Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the house. He beseeches God to dwell in the house and to hear the prayers of his people.
God was entreated and promised to do so as long as they obeyed his commandments. What happened? Solomon himself led the way in departing from God with the result that, in less than 40 years from the dedication, Shishak—pharoah of Egypt—came against Jerusalem and took away all the treasures of the temple. All the wealth that David had amassed for the building of an house of prayer to his God went to Egypt and adorned the temples of the gods of Solomon’s wife. The lesson—unless our worship of God is true and sincere, then all the works of our hands, though done presumably for the Lord, will be swept away! God does not want our wealth or time that is not sanctified with love for his word and an earnest desire to do it. In 2 Ch. 6 18 Solomon asks, “But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth?” God wanted to do that in the temple that had been built for him by Solomon, but Israel would not dwell with God. They were prepared to serve the Lord and to worship their idols. It could not be done. God said of this people, “With their lips do they worship me, but their heart is far from me”. It was still true in Jesus’ day. He said, “In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men”.
Can the same be said of ourselves? God wants to dwell with us and for that very thing has called us to the truth. What are our temples like? Let us not forget the words of Paul, “Ye are the temple of the living God”. He also says, “Let God dwell in your hearts richly by faith”. Is God dwelling in our hearts, or will all the outward show of our activities in the truth be swept aside like “a refuge of lies”. It is to the man of a contrite heart, and who trembles at the word of the Lord, to whom God looks. In reading from John we are brought into contact with him who could say to his contemporaries, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up but he spake of the temple of his body” (John 2. 19-20). Here was the one in whom God indeed dwelt with men on the earth.
We find him saying in John 7. 37-38, “If any man thirst . . .”. This was on the day after the feast of Tabernacles. It was the custom of the high priest to draw water in a golden vessel from the water of Siloam (“sent”) and to pour it out at the foot of the altar of burnt offering. At the moment this was done the people raised their voices in praise and adoration to God in the words of Isaiah 12. Brethren, let us with joy draw water out of the wells of Salvation. Let us sing unto the Lord, for he hath done excellent things. The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad. Let us cry out and shout for great is the Holy One in the midst of us, even Jesus, Our Lord, who, in accordance with his promise, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them”, is here in our midst. Let us not as Israel “refuse the waters of Siloam that go softly”, but drink deeply of the “living waters”.
Let us be steadfast in the work of the Lord knowing that with David, we shall yet see that Temple of Ezekiel, the House of Prayer for all people, out of whose altar will flow that river of living waters on whose banks will grow the trees for the healing of the nations. The name of the city shall be, “The Lord is there”, for God will in very deed dwell with men. May we be amongst those who will in that day dwell with God.
Reflections on the Potter and the Clay