The Temple in Redemptive History

Northwest Bible Church – Feb. 26, 2006 – Worship Service – Alan Conner

1 Kings 6-7

The Temple in Redemptive History

 

INTRO

As we move into these chapters that describe the building of Solomon’s temple, we need to put this in its biblical context of redemptive history.

 

 

1. THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF GOD’S PRESENCE WITH MAN.

 

1. GOD IN THE GARDEN – PARADISE REVEALED.

 

                                    1) God created man and put him in a garden (Gen. 2:7-8). The Immanuel theme.

2) Trees (v. 9), rivers (v. 10) and gold and precious stones in nearby Havilah (vv. 11-12).

3) The covenant of works: obey or die (vv. 16-17).

 

 

1. THE SEPARATION OF SIN - PARADISE RUINED.

 

1) Adam and Eve sin and are banished from the garden (Gen. 3:22-23).

2) Cherubim guard the way to prevent a return (Gen. 3:24).

 

 

1. THE COVENANT OF GRACE BEGINS – PARADISE RESTORED.

 

1) The early sacrificial system (Gen. 3:21; 4:3-4). Neither permanent nor perfect.

 

2) Occasional theophanies. Neither permanent nor perfect. Abraham.

 

3) The tabernacle – imperfect.

 

4) The temple – imperfect.

 

5) The Word became flesh (Jn. 1:14).

 

6) The spiritual temple of the church (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16).

 

7) Paradise restored in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:1-4; 22:1-5).

 

 

1. OBSERVATION.   There is a progression toward God’s presence becoming gradually more ________________ on the one hand, and more _________________ on the other. The whole Bible then can be viewed as the development of this Immanuel theme:

                                    God with us – Paradise revealed in the Garden of Eden

                                    God not with us – Paradise ruined by Adam’s sin, expelled from garden

                                    God with us – Paradise restored through Christ’s death and resurrection.

1. THE TEMPLE AND THE GARDEN OF EDEN.

 

1. The timing of the temple’s construction (1 Kings 6:1, 38). 480 years from the Exodus.

 

1. The size of Solomon’s temple. Twice the size of the tabernacle: 30 X 10 X 10 cubits, and 60 X 20 X 30 cubits (three times as high except for the H/H).

 

1. The layout of Solomon’s temple.

 

- Bronze altar – 20 X 20 X 10 cubits (2 Chron. 4:1).

- Sea with 12 oxen – 10 cubits diameter, 5 cubits high, 3,000 baths = about 10,000 gallons. Brim like a cup, like a lily blossom (2 Chron. 4:5). Designed for priests to wash in (4:6).

- 10 bronze wash basins (1 Kings 7:38-39) – to rinse things for burnt offerings (2 Chron. 4:6). About 200 gallons each.

- 2 bronze pillars in the porch – 35 feet tall (1Kings 7:15-22). 400 pomegranites on them, with lily designs on capitals.

Jachin – “He (Yahweh) will establish” = God is faithful to His covenant promises

Boaz - “In Him (Yahweh) is strength” – POWER of GOD – to do all His holy will.

- 10 golden lampstands (2 Chron. 4:7).

- 10 tables of showbread (2 Chron. 4:8).

- Golden altar of incense (2 Chron. 4:19).

- 2 Cherubim of olive wood overlaid with gold, 10 cubits high, 10 cubits wide each (1 Kings 6:23-28).

 

1. The decorations.

 

1) Costly stones (1 Kings 6:7).

2) Cedar wood (vv. 9, 15).

3) Gold (1 Kings. 6:20-22, 30).

4) precious stones (2 Chron. 3:6).

5) Carvings (1 Kings 6:18, 29). cherubim, palm trees (victory?), open flowers, gourds; 400 pomegranites on capitals.

 

 

III. THE TEMPLE THEN AND NOW.

 

1. Intentional imagery of Solomon’s temple:

 

1. The temple-church today.

 

We are now the temple and what materials are we building with? 1 Cor. 3:10-15

 

 

CONCLUSION