Chapter 154. 1 Kings 6. The Plan of the Temple.
GOD gave Solomon very exact directions as to the plan of this wonderful temple wherein He would come and dwell in the midst of His earthly people, not only that it might be worthy of Him, but also that it might speak of the way in which His spiritual house should be formed.
Like the tabernacle, the temple was to be a rectangle building ninety feet long by thirty feet wide, with a height of forty-five feet. It was to be divided in two rooms—the holy of holies, where God would dwell, thirty feet wide by thirty feet long; and the holy place where the priests alone could enter in order to minister daily; burning sweet incense before the Lord. This was sixty feet long by thirty feet wide.
The length of the porch in front was exactly according to the breadth of the house, thirty feet by fifteen feet wide, and its height one hundred and eighty. God had a marvelous thought in thus giving us these details. He was showing His people that in order to get into His presence a way according to Him must be provided. Jesus, the Son of God, was equal with God. He alone could make a way for us. “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man cometh to the Father but by Me.” So, as the porch, or way, was equal to the most holy where God’s presence on earth was, so is Jesus equal with God—for He is God. And if He is God His sacrifice is accepted of God who is fully satisfied. Surely, then, we are set at rest, too, and have “boldness to enter into the holiest by the Blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He has consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say His flesh.” (Heb. 10:1919Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (Hebrews 10:19).)
On the outside of the building, around it, were three stories of little chambers where the priests who were serving God could dwell. Does not this recall Jesus’ words to His disciples, “In My Father’s house are many mansions.” In front of the house, on each side of the porch, were two pillars, each twenty-seven feet long. The name of the one on the right was Jachin, meaning “He will establish,” and the other on the left, Boaz. “In Him is strength’ We are reminded by this of the Lord’s promise that he who overcomes will be made a pillar in the house of His God. (Rev. 3:1212Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. (Revelation 3:12).)
Around the temple was to be an inner court separated from the other court by a wall made of three rows of hewn stone, and a row of cedar beams. In this inner court the children of Israel were to bring their sacrifices for the priests to offer on the brazen altar.
ML 03/19/1916