THE Tabernacle and the Temple differ considerably in the matter of interpretation. It has pleased the Spirit of God to give us the New Testament Epistle to the Hebrews as His inspired commentary on the institutions of the former, but no New Testament book opens up for us the latter. This is the more remarkable because the Tabernacle had long passed away, and the Temple was functioning in Jerusalem. The explanation is that the position of the saints when the Hebrews were addressed answered more to Tabernacle than to Temple conditions. For the world had become a wilderness to them because of their identification with the rejected Christ. Nevertheless, as we meditate upon the Temple and its vessels as described in the Books of the Kings and Chronicles spiritual suggestions will not be lacking.
There is nothing superfluous in the Scriptures, although we are not always able to grasp the significance of its varied contents. The question may easily arise in some minds, Why have we double accounts of the reigns of David, Solomon, and other kings? Why the Books of the Chronicles seeing that there were already existent the Books of the Kings? Examination will show that the Holy Spirit had His special aim and purpose in connection with each set of books. It is observable, for example, that in the Chronicles the sins of David and Solomon are omitted, while their triumphs and glories are emphasized. Also, as we look through the divine instructions concerning the Temple, we shall find some striking variations between the two accounts. As a general statement, it may be affirmed that the teaching of the Books of the Kings is moral, and the teaching of the Chronicles is typical. In the later books David and Solomon are foreshadows of Christ, but in the earlier books we see the men as they really were in their weakness and failure. It seems suitable that the typical should be prominent in the Chronicles, for the books were written after the return from Babylon, when the Holy Spirit sought to cheer the faith of the pious remnant with the glories of the coming Christ by the ministry of Haggai, Zechariah, and others (Ezra 5:11Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. (Ezra 5:1)).
The Threshing-Floor Site
What was it that constrained David to say when standing upon the threshing-floor of Oman the Jebusite, “This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of the burnt-offering for Israel?” (1 Chron. 22:11Then David said, This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel. (1 Chronicles 22:1)). There was no direct word from God to this effect. David was a man of spiritual perception, and the pardoning grace of God expressed at that spot suggested to his heart that in that place Israel’s Jehovah would delight to dwell. The grievous sin of numbering the people (mainly that the king might know how many soldiers he had!) brought down judgment. David’s humble repentance, and his pleading for the suffering sheep, brought him an angel from Jehovah bidding him set up an altar in Oman’s threshing-floor. As the smoke of the sacrifice ascended to heaven, Jehovah answered by fire, and He commanded the destroying angel to sheathe his sword (1 Chron. 21). This intervention of God in grace suggested to David that Jehovah had thus indicated His choice of site for the sanctuary. Accordingly, when building-time came, we read, “Solomon began to build the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem in Mount Moriah, where He appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshing-floor of Oman the Jebusite” (2 Chron. 3:11Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. (2 Chronicles 3:1)).
God delights to dwell with men, but it is only possible on the ground of accomplished redemption. In Patriarchal times He visited His own and communed with them, but He sought no dwelling-place with them. But when He took Israel into relationship with Himself on the ground of the blood of the lamb, He said, “Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them” (Ex. 25:88And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. (Exodus 25:8)). When the victorious Christ went up on high having finished His great redemptive work on earth, the Holy Spirit came down to build for God a habitation amongst the saints (Eph. 2:2222In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)). In keeping with this great divine principle, Solomon was to build the Temple of Jehovah on the spot where the sacrifice was offered and accepted. It was in the same neighborhood that Abraham laid Isaac upon the altar (Gen. 22:22And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. (Genesis 22:2)).
We note also that the Temple was to be built upon the threshing floor of a Gentile. Hiram, King of Tyre, another Gentile, collaborated heartily with both David and Solomon in the great work (1 Kings 5). Thus Israel’s God had Gentiles before His mind to share the blessedness of His presence on earth amongst His people. “Mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all the peoples” (Isa. 56:77Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. (Isaiah 56:7)). Just a hint in advance of the largeness and universality of God’s grace in this Gospel day.
Kings and Chronicles
It is not in vain that the Holy Spirit has given us four presentations of Christ in the New Testament. Each Evangelist, as surely we all know, had his own line given him by God; and in result we have all that the all-wise Spirit judged our limited capacity could receive concerning the wondrous theme (John 21:2525And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. (John 21:25)). In like manner the Books of Kings and Chronicles give us two views of the Temple. In Kings it is looked at as the dwelling-place of God, with special reference to the Millennial Kingdom; in Chronicles the Temple is rather the seat of divine government, and the place of approach for God’s people. This will account for the omission of the Brazen Altar and the Veil in Kings, both being reserved for the Chronicles. The chambers that were built into the walls of the house round about are a special feature of the Kings account. They were designed for the occupation of those who served in the sanctuary, for God delights to have men dwelling with Him. The attitude of the large Cherubim in the Holy of Holies, looking down the house as if they would fain look outside, is noted in Chronicles alone. This suggests that when the Kingdom of David’s greater Son is established righteousness will look abroad no longer in judgment, but in blessing upon men. Other points of difference between the two descriptions of the Temple will be noticed by the careful reader. Nothing in God’s blessed Word is without significance.
Jachin and Boaz
The Holy Spirit in 1 Kings 6:11And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the Lord. (1 Kings 6:1) dates the building of the Temple from Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. Thus would He emphasize the fact that it was amongst a people saved by sovereign grace Jehovah was about to make His abode. The work was commenced in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign “in the month Zif, which is the second month.” This month corresponds with the British May. Zif means “splendor.” Spring was in its glory, physically and otherwise. Israel was about to experience a glorious summer-time of blessing and prosperity. Alas, that it did not continue. The unfaithful nation has passed through a long dark night of sorrow since. But summer is approaching, for “HE is nigh, even at the doors” (Matt. 24:3333So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. (Matthew 24:33)).
The Temple was 60 cubits long, 20 cubits broad, and 30 cubits high. In its breadth and length it was double the size of the Tabernacle. The Holy of Holies was 20 cubits long, and the Holy place 40 cubits. In the front of the house broadways was a porch 20 cubits long and to cubits broad (1 Kings 6:2323And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high. (1 Kings 6:23)). The great pillars are described with much detail in 1 Kings 7:15-2215For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about. 16And he made two chapiters of molten brass, to set upon the tops of the pillars: the height of the one chapiter was five cubits, and the height of the other chapiter was five cubits: 17And nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter. 18And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter. 19And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits. 20And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was by the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter. 21And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz. 22And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished. (1 Kings 7:15‑22); much more briefly in (2 Chronicles 3:15-1715Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high, and the chapiter that was on the top of each of them was five cubits. 16And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars; and made an hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains. 17And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz. (2 Chronicles 3:15‑17). They were named Jachin, meaning “He will establish,” and Boa; “In Him is strength.” These great pillars, each about 18 cubits high, were a public testimony that stability is found in Christ, and only in Christ. Early in the building operations, Jehovah spoke afresh to Solomon. “Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in My statutes, and execute My judgments, and keep all My commandments to walk in them: then will I perform My word as to thee, which I spake unto David thy father: and I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel” (1 Kings 6:11-1311And the word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying, 12Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father: 13And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel. (1 Kings 6:11‑13)). Here again is the fatal “if.” Everything at the moment depended upon the faithfulness of king and people. All was soon lost, never to be restored until the day of the Lord Jesus. But “the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Rom. 11:2929For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. (Romans 11:29)), and He will yet fulfill all His promises of grace to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Such is the evil and instability of, poor flesh, that each one of us must humbly say, “Saved by grace alone; this is all my plea.”
The brass (more probably “copper” or “bronze”) of which the pillars were made was brought from Syria by David in war, so we are told in 2 Chronicles 18:88And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla. (2 Chronicles 18:8). Brass signifies the righteousness of God in judgment. Hence its use in the Altar of Burnt-offerings. Four figures of righteousness are found in Scripture:
GOLD―Intrinsic divine righteousness.
BRASS (or copper)―Divine righteousness as applied to man in judgment.
The ornamentations of the pillars suggest what Christ works for and in His own. “Nets of checker work”: He has caught us out of the sea of humanity for Himself (Matt. 13:4747Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: (Matthew 13:47); Luke 5:1010And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. (Luke 5:10)). “Wreaths of chain work”: He binds and secures all whom He acquires (Hos. 11:44I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them. (Hosea 11:4)). “Pomegranates” are frequently used in Scripture as emblems of fruitfulness. All who are Christ’s are meant to be fruitful. “Upon the top of the pillars was lily work”: the lily character, purity and lowliness, is precious in His sight. Solomon’s massive brazen pillars were in the Lord’s thoughts in His promise to the overcomer in Philadelphia: “I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God and He shall go no more out.” What encouragement to all who with little strength seek to keep His word and not deny His name! Looked down upon today by the great ones of ecclesiastical Christendom; small here and now; but made great and notable in the day of recompense by our appreciative Lord. Where will others be then?
“He will establish: in Him is strength” ―precious assurance both for Israel and for ourselves. He is willing: He is able. David’s royal house has forfeited everything by unfaithfulness; but Christ will restore it all in the day of His power. Meantime, Solomon’s noble pillars have been broken up as “scrap,” and carried to Babylon (Jer. 27:19-22; 52:17-2319For thus saith the Lord of hosts concerning the pillars, and concerning the sea, and concerning the bases, and concerning the residue of the vessels that remain in this city, 20Which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not, when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem; 21Yea, thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of the Lord, and in the house of the king of Judah and of Jerusalem; 22They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith the Lord; then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place. (Jeremiah 27:19‑22)
17Also the pillars of brass that were in the house of the Lord, and the bases, and the brazen sea that was in the house of the Lord, the Chaldeans brake, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon. 18The caldrons also, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the bowls, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away. 19And the basons, and the firepans, and the bowls, and the caldrons, and the candlesticks, and the spoons, and the cups; that which was of gold in gold, and that which was of silver in silver, took the captain of the guard away. 20The two pillars, one sea, and twelve brazen bulls that were under the bases, which king Solomon had made in the house of the Lord: the brass of all these vessels was without weight. 21And concerning the pillars, the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a fillet of twelve cubits did compass it; and the thickness thereof was four fingers: it was hollow. 22And a chapiter of brass was upon it; and the height of one chapiter was five cubits, with network and pomegranates upon the chapiters round about, all of brass. The second pillar also and the pomegranates were like unto these. 23And there were ninety and six pomegranates on a side; and all the pomegranates upon the network were an hundred round about. (Jeremiah 52:17‑23)). The Holy Spirit dwells mournfully upon their beauty whilst recording their destruction.
The Chambers
“Against the wall of the house he built chambers round about... both of the temple and of the oracle” (1 Kings 6:55And against the wall of the house he built chambers round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple and of the oracle: and he made chambers round about: (1 Kings 6:5)). The Tabernacle had nothing answering to this; but the Temple in contrast with the Tabernacle represents a settled condition of things, for wars were at an end, and rest had come. Privileged indeed were the men who were thus permitted to dwell with God. We are reminded of the longing of David’s heart as expressed in Psalms 27:44One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. (Psalm 27:4): “One thing have I desired of Jehovah, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of Jehovah, and to inquire in His Temple.” He spoke also of the joy of it. “Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee, that he may dwell in Thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, even of Thy holy temple” (Psa. 65:44Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. (Psalm 65:4)). The natural man understands nothing of this. The thought of God is repulsive to him. Gladly would he flee to the uttermost parts of the universe if thereby he could get away from God. Every atom of longing after God; yea, of delight in God that we discover within ourselves is the fruit of sovereign grace. The Apostle strikes a high note in Romans 5:1111And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. (Romans 5:11): “We joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the reconciliation.”
The Lord Jesus had the Temple-chambers in mind when He said, “In My Father’s house are many mansions (abodes).” In John 2:1616And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. (John 2:16) He called the Jewish Temple “My Father’s house,” and in chapter 14:2 He applies the same title to Heaven. At His coming we shall find ourselves in the presence of God known to us as Father; we shall be in the company of the Son; we shall bear His image; and we shall share with Him the infinite wealth of the Father’s love.
The Temple-chambers were built in three stories, the higher being reached by winding stairs. The lowest stories were five cubits broad, the middle were six cubits, and the third were seven cubits. Is this meant to suggest continual progress in the Father’s house above?
There is a beautiful notice of the chambers in 1 Chronicles 9:3333And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night. (1 Chronicles 9:33) (Revised Version): “These are the singers, heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites, who dwelt in the chambers and were free from other service: for they were employed in their work day and night.” Delightful picture! Elderly men, living with Israel’s God in His house, and released from all other service but praise! The time may come when some of us may have to cease active labor, but we can still praise our God. If our hearts are in tune!
In the midst of the instructions concerning the chambers in 1 Kings 6 we find these remarkable words: “the house when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor ax nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was in building.” A colossal work wrought without noise! How unlike man’s methods! God is preparing a building for Himself today. It is composed of living materials—sinners saved by grace. “The whole building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord” (Eph. 2:2121In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (Ephesians 2:21)). In the midst of all the clamor and turmoil of earth this work of God is proceeding. Unostentatiously, but surely, the work grows, and it will be seen in glorious result at the Lord’s return. Unlike Solomon’s Temple, it will never be overthrown,
The Walls
If the Church is to be God’s holy Temple eternally, the walls of Solomon’s Temple will show us something pictorially of our future state. The stones for the walls were fully prepared away from Jerusalem. God is today getting His stones out of nature’s quarry by means of the Gospel. Evangelists are God’s quarry men, and pastors and teachers are His masons, by their unfoldings of Christ shaping and fashioning the stones according to the mind of God. Direct divine dealing in the way of suffering also helps largely towards the desired end. David’s afflictions molded his character as uninterrupted prosperity could never have done. But no stone was seen in Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 6:1818And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen. (1 Kings 6:18)). All were completely covered with refined silver (1 Chron. 29:44Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal: (1 Chronicles 29:4)). In like manner, all that we were by nature is covered by Christ’s redemption. The walls were also covered with boards of cedar. In the Tabernacle shittim wood is prominent. It was the incorruptible acacia of the desert, the only wood that was available there. In the Temple the principal woods used were the cedar and the olive. The shittim wood suggests what was true of our blessed Lord even when in wilderness circumstances; the cedar points to what will be true of the saints in glory. “This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15:5353For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:53)).
The cedar-wood boards were beautifully carved. Cherubim, palm-trees, and open flowers were wrought upon them, and all were covered with gold. The walls were treated exactly as the doors, which will come before us in due course. Seeing that the doors typify Christ, who is the only way to God, the carved doors remind us that we shall be like Christ when the work of grace is completed in glory. “The whole house (Solomon) overlaid with gold” (1 Kings 6:2222And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold. (1 Kings 6:22)). “All was bright with the glory of divine righteousness that distinguished the throne of God which was placed there” (J. N. D.). Gold being the most precious of metals is frequently used in Scripture as symbolical of that which is of God.
Even the floor-boards were covered with gold. For the Tabernacle no floor was provided; the feet of the priests trod the desert sand. In the Holy City Jerusalem “the street is pure gold, as it were transparent glass” (Rev. 21:2121And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. (Revelation 21:21)). What a spectacle of glory and majesty was the interior of Solomon’s Temple! Above, the ceiling was “overlaid with fine gold” (2 Chron. 3:66And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim. (2 Chronicles 3:6)); below, the priests walked upon gold― “gold of Parvain,” says the record, as if to suggest to us that only the best was used. All around the ministering priests gold glittered; and as if this were not glorious enough, even the gold was “garnished with precious stones for beauty” (2 Chron. 3:66And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim. (2 Chronicles 3:6)). Truly, when we look around us in “God’s eternal day,” not at a mere material structure, but at the glorified saints who will form His holy temple, our eyes will behold everything that is expressive of Christ. None of His divine graces will be lacking in a single saint. “What hath God wrought!” (Num. 23:2323Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! (Numbers 23:23)).
The Great Cherubim
One of the most unique features of Solomon’s Temple were the great cherubim which were set up in the Oracle, or Holy of Holies. They were in addition to the gold figures which were upon the ark. The ark was exactly the same in the Temple as in the Tabernacle, save as regards its contents. The large cherubim were each ten cubits high (about fifteen feet); and each had two wings. “Five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits” (1 Kings 6:2424And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits. (1 Kings 6:24)). Thus the breadth of the wings was as the height of the cherubim themselves. They touched the walls of the Oracle on either side, and they touched each other in the middle. They were made of olive wood, and were covered with gold. (The four wings are put together in 1 Chronicles 3:1111Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, (1 Chronicles 3:11)―”twenty cubits long”).
The cherubim have been well described as “God’s judicial executive, to whomsoever entrusted, and in whatsoever circumstances displayed.” They do not appear to be a distinct order in the creation of God; they are rather symbolical figures. In His ways of government and judgment God sometimes uses angels and sometimes men. Whichever it may be, the instruments employed would be God’s cherubim for the moment.
Their faces (given not in 1 Kings, but in Ezekiel 1) suggest to us the varied qualities of God’s dealings in government and in judgment. The man’s face suggests intelligence; the lion’s face power; the eagle’s face rapidity of execution; and the face of the ox suggests patience.
The cherubim are mentioned for the fourth time in Scripture in connection with the Temple. (1) In Genesis 3:2424So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. (Genesis 3:24) we see them placed forbiddingly at the gate of the garden after Adam’s sin (living creatures doubtless). (2) In Exodus 25:18-2018And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. 19And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. 20And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. (Exodus 25:18‑20) we see golden cherubim upon the ark, beaten out of the same sheet of gold as the mercy-seat. The contrast between these Scripture passages is instructive. The executors of God’s judgment who are seen opposed to transgressors in Genesis 3 are seen in Exodus 25 looking down peacefully upon the mercy-seat from which the blood of the sacrifice was never lacking. Blessed be God, the atoning blood of Christ makes blessing sure for sinful men, and puts judgment far away. (3) The cherubic symbol comes before us next (but in the singular) in 2 Samuel 22:1111And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind. (2 Samuel 22:11): “He rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and He was seen upon the wings of the wind.” This is really part of Psalms 18, a rapturous song written by David “in the day that Jehovah had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul.” It is a remarkable outpouring. David was carried by the Spirit far beyond the circumstances of his own case. Israel’s deliverance from Egypt is also in the Psalm; and, what is much more important, the Psalm speaks of the deliverance of Christ from the power of death, and from all other foes. He becomes “head of the nations.” The cherub is introduced into the Psalm as expressive of the righteous government of God acting on behalf of the objects of His favor.
In a Chronicles 3:13 we have the interesting statement that the Temple cherubim “stood on their feet, and their faces were inward.” The margin reads “toward the house.” Now, seeing that the cherubim were situated at the far end of the Temple, “towards the house” would in result mean “outwards,” for they were looking in the direction of the front door. Here we have the delightful suggestion, so fully taught in the prophetic word, that in the day of Kingdom-glory all that God is in righteous government will look abroad in blessing upon men—not Israel only, but all nations. Judgment will have done its needful work.
The Doors
The doors and the walls were alike in their beauty, and together they speak of Christ, and of what divine grace will work in those who are His. The pitiful lament of Psalms 74 comes to mind here. Asaph describes the desolation of the sanctuary by an outside foe. In measure this Psalm was fulfilled in the days of Nebuchadnezzar; but its complete fulfillment awaits the period of “the great tribulation.” The King of the North will come down with overwhelming hosts; and because of the evil of the Jewish mass, he will be allowed to wreak his vengeance on their land and sanctuary (Dan. 11:4040And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. (Daniel 11:40); Joel 2). The pious remnant will feel the position keenly. “A man was famous according as he had lifted up his ax upon a thicket of trees. But now they break down the carved work thereof with axes and hammers” (Psa. 74:5-65A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees. 6But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers. (Psalm 74:5‑6)). Men once famous for felling trees now spending their strength in destroying the sanctuary of God! Heart-breaking to those who loved the house for the sake of the One who dwelt therein. Asaph was a contemporary of David. It is not certain that he lived to see the Temple built, yet he writes thus graphically of its destruction! The spirit of prophecy is divinely wonderful. By its means God “calleth the things which be not as though they were” (Rom. 4:1717(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. (Romans 4:17)).
But 1 Kings 6 speaks of palmy days when the blessing of Jehovah rested upon Israel, before the sin and folly of both king and people blasted everything. The recorder appears to speak of two sets of doors: in verses 31-32 folding doors into the Oracle, thus separating the holy place from the holiest of all; and in verse 32-35 folding doors into the Temple itself, the entrance into the Oracle being slightly the narrower of the two sets. The Oracle doors were made from the olive tree and the Temple doors from the fir tree. The Revisers in their margin, and J. N. Darby in his text, think the cypress to be meant rather than the fir. The following Scriptures connect this tree with desirability and beauty―Isaiah 55:13; 60:1313Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. (Isaiah 55:13)
13The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. (Isaiah 60:13); Hosea 14:88Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. (Hosea 14:8). A suitable type of Christ, assuredly! The doors were carved with cherubim, for this blessed One will rule and execute judgment for God; with palm-trees, for victory is with Him; and with “half-open flowers” (J. N. D.), suggestive that there are with Him always greater and more delightful things to come. Over all this was placed gold, typical of the righteousness and glory of God. Even the hinges of the doors were gold (1 Kings 7:5050And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple. (1 Kings 7:50)). The lintel and side posts of both sets of doors were made of olive-wood. The power of the Spirit is in mind in this. Only by His power are we able to avail ourselves of Christ for access into the divine, presence. Ephesians 2:1818For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (Ephesians 2:18) gives us a sweet statement in few words of our great privilege as men saved by grace. “Through Him (Christ) we have access by one Spirt unto the Father.”
This Molten Sea
This great receptacle for water was placed in the outer court of the Temple. Its full capacity was 3000 baths (about 22,000 gallons); the usual quantity therein was 2000 baths. In 2 Chronicles 4 the molten sea follows the brazen altar, with which in its teaching it was morally connected; but in 1 Kings 7 it follows the pillars Jachin and Boaz, the brazen altar being omitted altogether.
The molten sea took the place of the laver in the Tabernacle, but there are interesting points of difference between the two vessels. The laver was made from the women’s mirrors (Ex. 38:88And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. (Exodus 38:8)); the sea was made from the spoils of David’s conquests (2 Chron. 18:88And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla. (2 Chronicles 18:8)). The mirrors suggest renunciation on the part of those who gave them; the spoils speak of victory, in keeping with the Kingdom glories which are set forth in the reign of Solomon. The size and capacity of the laver is not stated; for the sea these particulars are recorded. Both laver and molten sea were for the use of the priests. From these vessels they drew water for the cleansing of their hands and feet when serving in the sanctuary of God. When Israel’s priests were consecrated, they underwent a total washing (Ex. 29:44And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water. (Exodus 29:4)). In Hebrews 10:2222Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22) and John 13:1010Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. (John 13:10) this is alluded to as typical of what we have experienced spiritually. The New Birth is meant. But more than this is required in those who would draw near to a holy God. The New Birth has made us in nature meet for His presence; but the laver and the molten sea teach us that we must also be meet in practice if we would enjoy His presence. The Psalmist said when confessing his love for Jehovah’s house, “I will wash my hands in innocency; so will I compass Thine altar, O Jehovah” (Psa. 26:66I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord: (Psalm 26:6)). Grace has made “a holy priesthood” of the whole household of faith, but holiness demands purity of thought and life in us all. The Book of Leviticus was the guide-book of the Aaronic priests, and throughout purity is inculcated. chapter 10 is particularly solemn in its instructions and warnings, having been occasioned by the impiety of Nadab and Abihu. God resents irreverence and carelessness in the holy things, as the Corinthians experienced painfully (1 Cor. 11:3030For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (1 Corinthians 11:30)).
The molten sea, unlike the laver, “stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward” (1 Kings 7:2525It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward. (1 Kings 7:25); 2 Chron. 4:44It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward. (2 Chronicles 4:4)). In all probability there were pipes running downward through the mouths of the oxen whereby the water, when needed, flowed forth. Possibly the Lord had this in view when He stood and cried on the great day of the feast of Tabernacles, “If any man thirst let him come unto Me and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-3837In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (John 7:37‑38)). In the great kingdom age the water of the Word will first be applied to Israel. “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness” (Zech. 13:11In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. (Zechariah 13:1)). “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols will I cleanse you” (Ezek. 36:2525Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. (Ezekiel 36:25)). The pious remnant, preserved through the great tribulation, nucleus of the new nation, will not then need to teach every man his neighbor and every man his brother, “Know Jehovah,” for all will know Him, and that as a pardoning God (Jer. 31:3434And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. (Jeremiah 31:34)). Great spiritual activity will result. “Out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the Word of Jehovah from Jerusalem” (Isa. 2:33And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3)). “They shall declare My glory among the Gentiles” (Isa. 66:1919And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. (Isaiah 66:19)). “The remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles as a dew from Jehovah, as showers upon the grass” (Mic. 5:77And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men. (Micah 5:7)). The ox is in Scripture a type of the patient laborer for God: twelve is the number of Israel’s tribes. Under the mighty impulse of the latter-day outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Israel will be filled with desire that all the nations should know their God, and join with them in songs of joy (Psalm 67). Blessed contrast to their attitude during this day of grace. Their determined hostility, and their evil efforts to hinder the Gospel being preached to the Gentiles is described in 1 Thessalonians 2:1616Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. (1 Thessalonians 2:16); Acts 13:45; 14:2-59. But when the Redeemer comes to Zion, and their hearts are wrought upon by divine grace, they will realize the purpose of God in their election, and will gladly throw themselves into the current of the Spirit’s operations, thus spreading blessing far and wide. Did not God say to Abraham, “in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed?” (Gen. 22:1818And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. (Genesis 22:18)). For Israel’s conversion the world’s blessing waits.
Israel will in that day, as compared with other nations, stand in priestly nearness to God. At Sinai He said, “If ye will obey My voice... ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests” (Ex. 19:66And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:6)). This has never yet been realized. In Hosea 4:66My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (Hosea 4:6) we hear the voice of Israel’s indignant God, “I will reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me.” But in the day of kingdom-glory, “ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah: men shall call you the ministers of our God” (Isa. 61:66But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. (Isaiah 61:6)). The knowledge of God and His great salvation will be spread universally. The twelve oxen under the molten sea looked north, west, south, and east.
Meantime, while Israel continues in obstinate unbelief, it is our privilege and responsibility to preach the Gospel of the grace of God to every creature. Are we wholeheartedly in this blessed service?
Ten Bases and Ten Lavers
Ten bases of brass, with wheels, were made upon which ten lavers rested. Remarkably, more is said about the bases than about the lavers. This would scarcely be man’s method of writing; but the Holy Spirit’s ways are always divinely wise whether we understand them or not. The bases and lavers are described at some length in 1 Kings 7:17-3917And nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter. 18And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter. 19And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits. 20And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was by the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter. 21And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz. 22And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished. 23And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about. 24And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast. 25It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward. 26And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths. 27And he made ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof, and three cubits the height of it. 28And the work of the bases was on this manner: they had borders, and the borders were between the ledges: 29And on the borders that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubims: and upon the ledges there was a base above: and beneath the lions and oxen were certain additions made of thin work. 30And every base had four brazen wheels, and plates of brass: and the four corners thereof had undersetters: under the laver were undersetters molten, at the side of every addition. 31And the mouth of it within the chapiter and above was a cubit: but the mouth thereof was round after the work of the base, a cubit and an half: and also upon the mouth of it were gravings with their borders, foursquare, not round. 32And under the borders were four wheels; and the axletrees of the wheels were joined to the base: and the height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit. 33And the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel: their axletrees, and their naves, and their felloes, and their spokes, were all molten. 34And there were four undersetters to the four corners of one base: and the undersetters were of the very base itself. 35And in the top of the base was there a round compass of half a cubit high: and on the top of the base the ledges thereof and the borders thereof were of the same. 36For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders thereof, he graved cherubims, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions round about. 37After this manner he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one size. 38Then made he ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty baths: and every laver was four cubits: and upon every one of the ten bases one laver. 39And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south. (1 Kings 7:17‑39); but their use is told us in 2 Chronicles 4:66He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in. (2 Chronicles 4:6). “Such things as they offered for the burnt-offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.” Every sacrifice that was brought to the altar spoke to God of Christ. This being so, they must be absolutely clean. When Noah came out of the ark, he “builded an altar unto Jehovah, and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt-offerings upon the altar” (Gen. 8:2020And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. (Genesis 8:20)). This action showed that he had been taught of God. When the leper was to be cleansed, a very lowly offering was prescribed― two sparrows; but it was stipulated that they should be clean (Lev. 14:44Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: (Leviticus 14:4)). Thus would God teach us pictorially lessons concerning His Holy One:
Well may we sing: ―
“Thy life was pure without a spot,
And all Thy nature clean.”
His spotlessness was necessary for His sacrifice. Prove one flaw in the Christ of God, and the blood of His cross loses its value, and nothing can save us from the damnation of Hell.
“Which of you convinceth Me of sin?” was His challenge soon after His pointed words to the accusers of an adulterous woman, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” (John 8:7-467So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. 12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 13The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. 14Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. 15Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. 16And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. 17It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. 18I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. 19Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. 20These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come. 21Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. 22Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. 23And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 24I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. 25Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. 26I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. 27They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. 28Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 29And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 30As he spake these words, many believed on him. 31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 37I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 38I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 41Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? (John 8:7‑46)). Men felt constrained to say of Him, “He hath done all things well” (Mark 7:3737And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak. (Mark 7:37)); and the Father said immeasurably more when twice He opened the heavens, and testified, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17; 17:517And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:17)
5While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. (Matthew 17:5)).
Ten Lampstands
The number ten and its multiples has a large place in the Temple arrangements. The Temple itself was 60 cubits long, 30 cubits broad, and 30 cubits high; the Oracle was 20 cubits long, 20 cubits broad, and 20 cubits high; and the porch in front of the house was 20 cubits long, 20 cubits high, and 10 cubits broad. Amongst the furnishings we find ten brazen lavers set upon ten bases; ten candlesticks (lampstands) of gold (1 Kings 7:4949And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold, (1 Kings 7:49)); ten tables of gold, and a hundred golden bowls for sprinkling (2 Chron. 4:88He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. And he made an hundred basons of gold. (2 Chronicles 4:8)).
Numbers in Scripture have meaning. Ten is the number of responsibility, evidenced in the ten commandments of the Law. The prominence of ten in Solomon’s Temple is thus a reminder that everything was being set up on the ground of responsibility, and that the continuance of that marvelous system of glory and blessing depended upon the faithfulness of king and people. “The candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, five on the left, before the Oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold” (1 Kings 7:4949And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold, (1 Kings 7:49)). The Tabernacle had but one lampstand, and for the Millennial Temple none at all are mentioned. The ten in Solomon’s temple are therefore particularly suggestive. Would the royal house of David be true to its trust as witness for God amongst the nations? Alas, for the answer! Yet the forbearance of God was wonderful. When in His anger He told Solomon that his kingdom should be rent, He added, “but I will give one tribe to thy son for David My servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen” (1 Kings 11:1313Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen. (1 Kings 11:13)). To Jeroboam He said that David His servant was to have a lamp always before Him in Jerusalem, “the city which I have chosen Me to put My name there” (1 Kings 11:3636And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. (1 Kings 11:36)). When recording the unfaithfulness of Abijam, Solomon’s grandson, God said, “Nevertheless for David’s sake did Jehovah his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem” (1 Kings 15:44Nevertheless for David's sake did the Lord his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem: (1 Kings 15:4)).
In 2 Kings 27 the whole situation as regards Israel is divinely summed up. After 260 years of separate national existence under nineteen kings, all evil, Jehovah gave the ten tribes up to the Assyrian oppressor. “Jehovah was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of His sight: there was none left but Judah only” (vss. 8). Judah learned no lesson from the ruin of their brethren. For 130 years longer Jehovah bore with their evil ways, and finally gave them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. “Judah kept not the commandments of Jehovah their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. And Jehovah rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hands of spoilers, until He had cast them out of His sight” (vs. 19-20). The “throne of Jehovah,” established in Jerusalem, was overthrown; and David’s lamp was extinguished. All is lost on the ground of responsibility, but grace will yet more than restore what Solomon and Israel so foolishly threw away. God has pledged Himself that David shall never want a man to sit upon his throne. Christ is the fulfillment of this. Rejected by the people in their blindness at His first corning, He now sits at Jehovah’s right hand in heaven. “Sit Thou,” is God’s word to Him today; “Rule Thou” will be His mandate to Him shortly (Psa. 110:1-21<<A Psalm of David.>> The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 2The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. (Psalm 110:1‑2)). Until that great day Israel and the nations must continue to writhe in ever-increasing wretchedness. “The times of the Gentiles” must run on to their appointed end (Luke 21:2424And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24)). Sin’s wages are very terrible.
The Veil
The Oracle was shut off from the Holy Place by folding doors made of olive wood, joined to the side posts by hinges of gold. But there was also a veil as in the Tabernacle, apparently hung with chains of gold (2 Chron. 3:14-1614And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon. 15Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high, and the chapiter that was on the top of each of them was five cubits. 16And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars; and made an hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains. (2 Chronicles 3:14‑16)). It is noteworthy that neither the veil nor the brazen altar are mentioned in the “Kings” description of the Temple, but in the “Chronicles” account only. This is because in the earlier description the Temple is viewed primarily as the dwelling-place of God; but in the later it is rather the seat of divine government, and the place of approach for God’s people. A somewhat similar distinction is found in the instructions concerning the Tabernacle. In Exodus 25-27:19 the manifestation of God is the great thought; thus we begin with the ark and other vessels of display. From Exodus 27:2020And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. (Exodus 27:20) onwards we have the means whereby the people could have to do with God, and in those chapters we find the priesthood and the altar of incense. In the first section we have God drawing near to men, and in the second we have men drawing near to God. Let us seek grace and wisdom to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:1515Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)).
The veil was alike in both Tabernacle and Temple. Hebrews 10:2020By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (Hebrews 10:20) teaches us that it typifies the flesh of Christ. A divine wonder is here. Hebrews 1 is occupied with the greatness and majesty of the Son. He has an eternal throne, and angels worship Him. Yet He took to Himself “the likeness of sinful flesh” (Rom. 8:33For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Romans 8:3)). He became truly man in order that He might undertake our cause. But He is nevertheless our Lord and our God (John 20:2828And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. (John 20:28)): Not only is He the perfect and only manifestation of God to men, He is the only way of approach to God. “Through Him we have access.”
No one but the priests ever saw the veil either in the Tabernacle or in the Temple. Others saw the entrance to the sacred enclosures, and they could enter through them in order to reach the altar of sacrifice; further, the people in general dare not go. When King Uzziah ventured into the Temple itself he was smitten with leprosy for his presumption (2 Chron. 26:1616But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense. (2 Chronicles 26:16)). Our privileges as believers in the One who has entered in in the power of His own blood are truly wonderful. Not only have we been permitted to draw near to God as sinners seeking pardon (this would answer to the Israelite approaching the brazen altar); we are now worshipping priests, and may enter freely into the holiest. We not only gaze upon the veil, we pass through it.
The divine action at the moment of the Saviour’s death, whereby the veil of the Temple “was rent in the midst” (Luke 23:4545And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. (Luke 23:45)) “from top to bottom” (Matt. 27:5151And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; (Matthew 27:51)) signified God’s rejection of that order of things which kept His people at a distance from Himself. But how persistently has Satan labored through the centuries to enslave men to priestly orders and ritualistic observances, to the dishonor of the work of the Lord Jesus and to the damage of their souls! Every believer should be able to joyfully sing:
“So near, so very near to God,
I cannot nearer be;
For in the person of His Son
I am as near as He.”
But this would raise a great outcry, and the unwanted officials might say as Demetrius of old to his fellows, “Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth!” (Acts 19:2525Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. (Acts 19:25)).
One verse describes the Temple Veil. “He made the veil of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubim thereon” (2 Chron. 3:1414And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon. (2 Chronicles 3:14)). Its very existence proclaimed that “the way into the holiest was not yet made manifest” (Heb. 9:88The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: (Hebrews 9:8)). But it nevertheless spoke of Christ. The blue reminds us that He is “out of Heaven,” in contrast with the first man who was “out of the earth, earthy” (1 Cor. 15: 47). Such is our wonderful position in relation to God that we need a heavenly Priest (Heb. 7:2626For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; (Hebrews 7:26)). If the Aaronic priesthood existed today, Sit could not help a people who are nearer to God than themselves. Purple is suggestive of His universal dominion. Not yet is this in His hands; but we shall yet behold Him honored and adored throughout God’s wide creation. Crimson speaks of both suffering and glory. He who suffered here will in God’s appointed time have glory here. Meanwhile, the harlot of Revelation 17 arrays herself with every mark of earthly splendor. The fine linen into which the colors were wrought tells of the spotlessness of Him who suffered on the tree; the cherubim assure us that it is He who will judge righteously for God, when the present period of grace has come to an end.
“Within the Holiest of all,
Cleansed by His precious blood,
Before the throne we prostrate fall,
And worship Thee, our God.”
The Brazen Altar
As with the veil, so with the altar of Burnt Offering, the Holy Spirit gives us but one verse concerning it in the Book of Chronicles. In the Book of Exodus fifteen verses are devoted to its predecessor in the Tabernacle, and in Ezekiel many verses are appropriated to the altar and its service in the Millennial Temple. Solomon “made an altar of brass; twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof” (2 Chron. 4:11Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof. (2 Chronicles 4:1)). Here we have no description whatever of this most essential vessel. But its great size is noted. In length and breadth it was four times as large as the altar in the Tabernacle. It was approximately 30 feet long, 30 feet broad, and 15 feet high! Its measurements in length and breadth exactly corresponded to the Oracle, “the most holy house” (2 Chron. 3:88And he made the most holy house, the length whereof was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits: and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents. (2 Chronicles 3:8)), thus giving us the sweet assurance that the sacrifice of Christ is equal to all the demands of the holiness of God. What rest and peace this gives to conscience and heart!
The altar of Burnt Offering was made of brass. Bronze or copper is perhaps the correct word for the metal used. Here is a quotation from a departed friend: “Gold is the righteousness of God for drawing near where God is; brass is the righteousness of God for dealing with man’s evil where man is” (W. Kelly). This being so, the vessels within the house were made of gold, and those outside―altar, molten sea, bases and lavers, were made of brass.
The brazen altar leads us in thought to “the wondrous cross on which the Lord of glory died.” No vessel in the Temple compared with the altar for size. Truly, there is nothing like the cross. When the great sacrifice was drawing near, “Jesus said, Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God be glorified in Him, God shall also glorify Him in Himself, and shall straightway glorify Him” (John 13:31-3231Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. (John 13:31‑32)). Man’s side of the cross―the shame and spitting, is not in view in these words. (1) The cross was the glory of the Son of Man. Perfect love and perfect obedience were expressed there. (2) God was glorified. All that He is shone out in the cross of Jesus―His righteousness, holiness, truth, grace, and love. In no other way could God have thus displayed His glory. (3) As surely as the Son of Man delighted to glorify God at all cost to Himself, so God delighted to glorify Him. He has not to wait for the day when He will sit upon David’s throne, God “straightway” glorified Him at His own right hand in heaven.
Every sacrifice offered upon the brazen altar spoke to God of Christ. All the offerings prescribed in Leviticus 1-7 found their perfect and final answer in His death upon the tree. Calvary’s cross became for Him, in His wondrous grace, the altar of sacrifice. The fire of God’s judgment went forth against Him in the day of His grief, and the whole dread question of sin was settled by His sacrifice never to be raised again with those who believe in His name.
The GOLDEN ALTAR, upon which incense was burnt daily (Luke 1:99According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. (Luke 1:9)), is only mentioned incidentally in the Temple instructions, no description at all being given in the three brief notices of it (1 Kings 6:22; 7:4822And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold. (1 Kings 6:22)
48And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the Lord: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the showbread was, (1 Kings 7:48); 2 Chron. 4:1919And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon the showbread was set; (2 Chronicles 4:19)). Yet fourteen verses are devoted to the golden altar in the Tabernacle. For the Millennial Temple, no golden altar is indicated in Ezekiel.
In close proximity to the altar of Burnt Offering in Solomon’s Temple stood the molten sea. Atoning blood characterized the one, and water for cleansing characterized the other. This recalls two utterances from the lips of the Lord Jesus on the night of His betrayal. As He sat down with His disciples at the Supper Table, having first washed their feet, He said:
After supper, He took up, not the basin again, but the wine-cup, and said:
The water and the blood! thus meeting our whole need as guilty before God, and also in nature unfit for His holy presence. Nothing but the blood could make expiation for our sins. Solomon’s multitudinous sacrifices were not sufficient to remove even one sin (1 Kings 8:6363And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the Lord, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord. (1 Kings 8:63); Heb. 10:44For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. (Hebrews 10:4)); but they spoke eloquently to God of the coming sacrifice of His beloved Son, by which He made an end of our sins once and forever. In virtue of His one offering God is able to say to His people, “Your sins and iniquities will I remember no more,” and we stand before Him “sanctified” and “perfected forever” (Heb. 10:12-1712But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:12‑17)).
But this applies to our guilt. More than this, we are in nature evil irremediably. The life inherited from the first fallen man is corrupt. “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing” (Rom. 7:1818For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (Romans 7:18)). A new life as well as pardon, for sins, is necessary ere any man can dwell with God. Blessed be His name, our whole need is met in the death of Christ. He died for the sinner as well as for his sins, and faith can say “our old man has been crucified with Him” (Rom. 6:66Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (Romans 6:6)). The Word of God brings this home with power to heart and conscience, and the believer henceforth lives before God in the life of the risen Christ. He “is our life” (Col. 3:44When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)). The proof of this is seen in new tastes and aspirations. The things once loved are no longer wanted, and the things once despised are the objects of deep delight. It is a moral purification—new birth. This can never be repeated. Hence the Lord’s words to the impulsive Peter, who first refused to allow Him to wash his feet, and then said, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head, He that is washed needeth not, save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit” (John 13:9-109Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. (John 13:9‑10)).
Aaron and his sons on the day of their consecration were washed with water by Moses at the door of the Tabernacle (Lev. 8:66And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. (Leviticus 8:6)). This typified new birth, and was never repeated. Hebrews 10:2222Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22) applies the reality of this to Christians. But Aaron and his sons needed daily cleansing, and for this they had recourse to the laver. In like manner we need continual cleansing for our feet, for we walk in a sinful world, and for this there is “the washing of water by the Word” (Eph. 5:2626That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (Ephesians 5:26)).
The efficacy of the blood of Jesus has been applied to us by the Holy Spirit, and it abides. There is no repetition of it, for our guilt has been canceled forever. But the water, by means of which Christ and His great work wrought on our behalf is brought before us, is a daily and hourly necessity. Only thus can we walk with God in unclouded communion.
The Ark of the Covenant
The ark was not a distinctively Temple vessel. It was the same as was placed in the Tabernacle, and which accompanied the children of Israel in all their vicissitudes. But amongst all the beautiful and costly things that Solomon made for the sanctuary of God none compared with the ark in importance. Indeed the Temple was the resting-place of the ark! Quoting the words of Psalm 132, we hear Solomon saying at the close of his great prayer at the dedication of the Temple, “Now therefore arise, O Jehovah God, into Thy resting-place, Thou, and the ark of Thy strength: let Thy priests, O Jehovah God, be clothed with salvation, and let Thy saints rejoice in goodness” (2 Chron. 6:4141Now therefore arise, O Lord God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness. (2 Chronicles 6:41)) The ark was the highest type of Christ in that age of types. The shittim wood (acacia), and the gold which covered it speaks of His person as both man and God; the mercy-seat upon the ark speaks of His sacrifice, for the blood of the sin-offering was always upon it. As the receptacle for the tables of the law, righteousness was expressed by it. Grace in God has found a way whereby transgressors can be blessed. That way is Christ and His atoning sacrifice.
The history of the ark may be briefly stated:
The ark passed through Jordan before the people (Josh. 3:1111Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. (Joshua 3:11)). It was carried around the walls of Jericho on the shoulders of the priests (Josh. 6).
Dagon fell before it (1 Sam. 5), and Philistine cities were smitten: Jehovah thus asserted His majesty amongst the heathen.
Bethshemesh was smitten because of irreverence on the return of the ark (1 Sam. 6).
The report of the great blessing to the Gittite led to the ark being removed on the shoulders of the Levites to the city of David with great rejoicing (2 Sam. 6:14-1914And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 15So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. 16And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. 17And they brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 18And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. 19And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house. (2 Samuel 6:14‑19)).
Amongst the sacred vessels that were restored in the days of Zerubbabel, the ark is not mentioned.
Before the captivity, in the good reign of Josiah, Jeremiah was guided to write thus of days of blessedness yet to come: “It shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith Jehovah, they shall no more say, The ark of the covenant of Jehovah: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall it be done any more. At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of Jehovah, and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of Jehovah, to Jerusalem” (Jer. 3:16-1716And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the Lord, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more. 17At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. (Jeremiah 3:16‑17)). There is no mention of an ark for the Millennial Temple as described in Ezekiel.
Amongst the visions shown to John in Patmos we find the following: “And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His Temple the ark of His covenant: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail” (Rev. 11:1515And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15)). It was but a vision, but very sustaining to faith as assuring us of the immutability of divine counsels. In the opening verses of the same chapter we see the earthly city Jerusalem, with its Temple, at the mercy of Gentile oppressors; the concluding verse assures us that nevertheless the counsels of God stand. His ancient people are remembered in Heaven, and His covenant of grace is to be fulfilled. The world’s last fearful crisis will revolve around Israel. The judgments of God will overwhelm all their enemies, and the people will emerge from their afflictions the better fitted to lead the nations. The following vision (Rev. 12) shows us Israel in queenly splendor, adorned with all the symbols of authority—sun, moon, and stars. Satan’s opposition to this divine purpose, and much more to the Christ in whom everything is centered is also shown with God’s delivering power and grace.
“Scoured” Brass
If we understands 1 Kings 8:43-5043Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name. 44If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the Lord toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house that I have built for thy name: 45Then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause. 46If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near; 47Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness; 48And so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name: 49Then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause, 50And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them: (1 Kings 8:43‑50) aright, Solomon personally superintended the making of all the vessels of gold for the house of Jehovah, and Hiram, King of Tyre, made all the vessels of brass. Under him wrought a skilled man of the same name, “son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre” (2 Chron. 2:1414The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father. (2 Chronicles 2:14)). The association of the Israelite and the Gentile in the two kings, and the union of both in the person of the skilled workman, reminds us again that Jehovah had Gentiles in His mind for blessing as well as His people Israel when He caused the Temple to be built. “Let not the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to Jehovah, speak, saying, Jehovah hath utterly separated me from His people.... Even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer: their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon My altar; for Mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all people” (Isa. 56:3-73Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. 4For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; 5Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. 6Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; 7Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. (Isaiah 56:3‑7)). How evil therefore were the zealots who assaulted Paul in Jerusalem because they supposed that he had taken Trophimus an Ephesian into the Temple area! (Acts 21:2828Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. (Acts 21:28)). Our Lord’s warning in Matthew 8:1111And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 8:11) might well have been thundered into their ears.
The brazen vessels for the Temple were numerous. The princes of Israel, before David’s death, gave 18,000 talents of brass, in addition to their contributions of gold, silver, and iron (1 Chron. 29:77And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron. (1 Chronicles 29:7)). But this was not all. “Solomon left all the vessels unweighted, because they were exceeding many; neither was the weight of the brass found out” (1 Kings 7:4747And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because they were exceeding many: neither was the weight of the brass found out. (1 Kings 7:47)).
We are told that “all the vessels which Hiram made to King Solomon for the house of Jehovah were of bright brass” (1 Kings 7:4545And the pots, and the shovels, and the basons: and all these vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the Lord, were of bright brass. (1 Kings 7:45)). “Bright brass,” or, as the margin reads, “made bright,” or “scoured.” A small detail not to be overlooked by those who would learn the mind of the Spirit. Thus scouring makes bright. Surely a parable is here! “No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb. 12:1111Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:11)). There are three ways in which chastening may be treated. We may despise it; we may faint under it; or we may be exercised by it. For the exercised soul there is a blessed “afterward.” The scouring has done its work. Yet we all shrink from the ordeal. Paul, when first conscious of the thorn in his flesh, besought the Lord to remove it. He was persistent. No immediate reply being granted him, he besought the Lord thrice. But when the word of the Lord came to him, the suffering man was satisfied. “He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Cor. 12:7-107And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7‑10)). If his afflictions, which tended to reduce him to a nullity, furnished opportunity for the power of Christ to spread itself like a tent over him, it was enough. Christ was seen, not Paul. This was as it should be.
God sometimes gets His best out of suffering saints. The late G. V. Wigram said, “With a heart broken, and a will subdued, I have given thanks for sorrows in which the iron entered into my very soul. I say not with levity, but as before God, ‘Thou knowest that I could not have lived through this and that if Thou hadst not given me grace to receive it at Thy hand, and to find that out of the eater came forth meat.’” The philosopher Bacon reminds us that “the pencil of the Holy Ghost hath labored more to describe the afflictions of Job than the felicities of Solomon.” It is noticeable also that the Spirit of God has devoted more than treble the space to the history of David than to the history of Solomon. The suffering David has left us a priceless heritage in the Book of Psalms, but it is certainly true that “David’s psalms had ne’er been sung, If David’s heart had ne’er been wrung.”
The Spirit has recorded the locality, and the character of the ground, in which Hiram did his work. “In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan” (1 Kings 7:4646In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan. (1 Kings 7:46)). We are all surely living in “the clay ground” while we await the coming of the Lord Jesus; but we are being formed and fashioned by His hand, and as certainly as Hiram at the end of his labors presented to Solomon a multitude of brightly shining sacred vessels fit for the sanctuary of God, so the Holy Spirit at the end of His present gracious work will present in heavenly glory a multitude of souls meet in every way for the companionship of the Firstborn Son.
It is painful to refer, if ever so briefly, to the after history of all that which Solomon and Hiram wrought. Only five years after Solomon’s death, Shishak, King of Egypt, plundered the Temple. “He took away the treasures of the house of Jehovah, and the treasures of the king’s house: he even took away all: and he took the shields of gold which Solomon had made” (1 Kings 14:1616And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin. (1 Kings 14:16)). There were probably some replacements, but the Temple was plundered more than once by unfaithful kings in order to pay tribute to Gentile Powers. In due course came the terrible day when Jehovah could no longer tolerate the evil nation, and everything was given up to destruction. With sorrow of heart the inspired historian tells us of the breaking up of the famous pillars Jachin and Boaz, the bases, the molten sea, the twelve brazen bulls, etc.—all then loaded up as “scrap” in a dismal convoy of wagons, and transported to Babylon! “The brass of all these vessels was without weight” (Jer. 52:2020The two pillars, one sea, and twelve brazen bulls that were under the bases, which king Solomon had made in the house of the Lord: the brass of all these vessels was without weight. (Jeremiah 52:20)). Thus did “the times of the Gentiles” begin, and they are not ended yet. Israel still bleeds, and the nations of the earth find no rest. Oh, the folly of sin against God!