1 Kings: Walk Before Me FaithfullySample

This long section might appear dull, but the detail reminds us that this temple is built carefully for the glory of God and no corners are cut. 

The chapter describes the manufacture of items for the courtyard, outside the house of the Most Holy Place and the Holy Place. In the inner places, gold is the dominant metal; for the courtyard, where any clean Israelite could go, bronze is the dominant metal. There is a hierarchy of place with the structure of the temple. Hiram of Tyre, who is not an Israelite, makes all the bronze work for the outer court, but Solomon is given credit for all the gold work belonging to the inner sanctuaries (vv. 48–50). 

All of this serves the beauty and functioning of the temple. The imagery of fruit, flowers, water and animals used in the bronze work (vv. 15–45) represents the earth, whereas inside the house the imagery is more related to the sky or heavens, such as with the lampstand (v. 49) representing the lights in the sky. The emphasis on Solomon finishing the work (v. 51) reminds us of Moses finishing the tabernacle (Ex. 40:33), which in turn alludes to God finishing the work of creation (Genesis 2:2). 

The significance of the temple’s imagery and structure is that it is another step, following the tabernacle, towards a renewed creation. Here sin is overcome through sacrifice and people are restored to the presence of God. In a sense, the temple is like a model of the created universe, with its three stages representing the earth, sky and the unseen heavens, where God dwells. God’s purposes through the Old Testament are to restore the whole fallen creation to himself. 

Ultimately the better temple, sacrifice and priest are found in Jesus. Jesus reconciles everything in all creation to God (Colossians 1:20). That is why the temple’s detail matters because the temple was critical to salvation and crucial in pointing to Jesus. While we do not now need these vessels or this building, the detail shows us that God provides a way to approach him through atonement for sin.

Reflection

Give thanks that God graciously establishes a way for sinners to approach him through sacrifice.