Although the Books of Kings give us the public history of God’s government of Israel, in the Chronicles we rather find the history of His ways in grace; all is told out in Kings, while in Chronicles only those sins are mentioned which exalt the God of all grace—yet, when we come to look at the two books in their typical aspect, we shall find that the Books of Kings surpass the Chronicles, in that the former point us to heavenly, the latter to earthly things.
Of this principle the two descriptions of the various buildings erected by King Solomon are a striking illustration. Each have their own peculiar place—each their especial signification.
Let us briefly glance at the description of each, and at their typical bearing.
There can be no question as to whom King Solomon; points when we read in Zech. 6:12,1312And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord: 13Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (Zechariah 6:12‑13), “Behold the; man whose name is The Branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord: even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the I glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne.” It is Christ, the son of David. Joined with Him do we find King Hiram, and he likewise, (how common are these double figures in Scripture!) points us to the One that “shall rise to reign over the Gentiles,” and in whom “shall the Gentiles hope” (Rom. 15:1212And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. (Romans 15:12)). As head of Jew and Gentile, Jesus builds the temple of the Lord.
Cedar trees, fir trees, great stones, costly stones and hewed stones, were the materials needed for the work. Jehovah is the first thought of these united kings, and “the house of the Lord,” therefore, is their first design. Compact, and in unison as to its proportions, adorned with porch and windows “of narrow lights,” it is surrounded by chambers, the structure of which does not encroach upon the proportions of the house, seeing that their beams are dependent on “narrowed rests” round about.
This carefulness with regard to the Lord’s dwelling-place is further brought specially before us when we read that the house “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” (1 Kings 6:77And 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 axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building. (1 Kings 6:7)). How suited this is to the calm and dignified repose of the One who, when “a great and strong wind rent the mountains and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; ... and after the wind, an earthquake;... and after the earthquake, a fire,” was neither in wind; earthquake, nor fire, but in the “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:11,1211And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 12And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 19:11‑12)). Compare also Rev. 8:11And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. (Revelation 8:1).
“The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir,” says the Song of Songs (chap. 1: 17); and well chosen were those trees which represent creation’s fairest produce. (1 Kings 4:3333And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. (1 Kings 4:33)), and this earth’s fertility (Isa. 55:1313Instead 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)) to adorn the home of Him to whom earth and creation alike owe their existence. “Carved with knops and open flowers,” creation does its best to do Him honor; while the unseen stones tell us of beauty outwardly, and strength within (verse 18).
As in the Tabernacle, so in the Temple, was there the holy of holies, the oracle, where the ark of the covenant should have its place; but, unlike the wilderness habitation, no veil is here to shroud the glory of Jehovah, but merely a partition formed of doors of olive tree and chains of gold, with which most precious and lasting material the whole house was also covered. When we learn from Rev. 3:1818I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (Revelation 3:18) that gold signifies Divine righteousness, in contrast to human, wretchedness, the wondrous suitability of this is evident, as well becoming the house of the “righteous Lord,” that “loveth righteousness” (Psa. 11:77For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright. (Psalm 11:7)). The unvarying accompaniments of the throne, the cherubims, come now into prominence, and their very material, like that of the doors, seems to tell us that the One in whom all the promises of God are yea and amen (2 Cor. 1:2020For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. (2 Corinthians 1:20)) is now enthroned in glory; they are made of olive trees (Rom. 11:1717And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; (Romans 11:17)).
But the accomplishment of promises and triumph over the king’s enemies ever go together (Luke 1:51-55,71-7451He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. (Luke 1:51‑55)
71That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; 72To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; 73The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 74That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, (Luke 1:71‑74)), so we find the “ palm trees “ too brought in to tell of victory (Rev. 7:99After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; (Revelation 7:9)); and what a beautiful combination must it have been when “ all the walls of the throne round about “ were carved with figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers within and without, and the floor was “overlaid with gold,” and the doors of olive tree were adorned with “carvings of cherubim and palm trees, and open flowers, and overlaid with gold,” and the two folding doors of fir tree were “covered with gold fitted upon the carved work” (verse 29-31). How sweetly does it remind us that righteousness and promise, victory and creation’s blessings, can now be blended together in perfect harmony.
Seven years was the house in building. Perfection in spiritual things gives a period to the formation of the house. How could it be otherwise with the work of such a Workman?
But though first in order, and rightly so, was the House of the Lord built, there is yet another structure that occupies King Solomon; and though there may not have been the same energy in exercise as when the house of the Lord was in course of construction, yet in due time his own house was completed.
Next in order comes the house of the forest of Lebanon, with its porch of judgment, its pillars and its windows, denoting, doubtless, government characterized by firmness and perspicuity—ever the features of the throne of God. (Rev. 4:6,76And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. (Revelation 4:6‑7).)
And, lastly, private affections have their place as well as public government; and Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had taken to wife (a bride culled from the world, for Egypt is ever a type of this world’s glory), is not forgotten, and a house is erected specially for her who is the object of his love.
Durability, and that of the choicest kind, is evidenced in all these structures by “costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping.... stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits.”
And now we pass from the various (beautiful in their variety) structures themselves, to their internal fittings and arrangements.
And first in order come the “two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece,” with their “two chapiters of molten brass,” and “nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work,” and these adorned “with pomegranates,” and “lily work.” And these were erected in the porch of the temple, or house of the Lord; and when erected, duly entitled, “He will establish,” and “In him is strength.”
How eloquently do these, standing as they do at the entrance to the dwelling of the “Most High, possessor of heaven and earth,” tell of the power and stability of the throne of Him who governs man righteously, yet inseparably from graciousness. And this again consistently with the purity of His nature.
The brass, the pomegranates, and lily work are blended together in perfect unison.
If the pillars bear witness to the power and stability of the throne, the sea, which comes next in order, testifies to the holiness of Him who sits upon it. And though the oxen with their faces every way, may tell us of the patience that bears with evil throughout the universe (Matt. 5:4545That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:45)), yet “the brim thereof... wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies,” and the “bases of brass,” with their “borders” of lions, and oxen, and cherubim, and the “wheels,” and the “ledges... graved with cherubims, lions, and palm trees,” most assuredly remind us of the purity found to perfection in Him—His righteousness, that demands it from those who approach Him—His power in dealing with those who disregard it—His government in favor of the righteous, and against the wicked—the rapidity with which he carries out his purposes, and the victory that must follow when He has taken in hand the case. The lavers, the shovels and the basins, conclude the work of this widow’s son of Naphtali, whose father was a man of Tire, a simple figure of Jew and Gentile.
But of what inferior order was his work to that of Solomon, for it is not without a purpose that the Spirit of God has recorded that Solomon built the house of the Lord—His own house—the house of the forest of Lebanon, and even that of Pharaoh’s daughter; to Hiram were entrusted the lesser work of pillars, sea, lavers, basins, shovels. Cast of “bright brass” they might be, and without weight, but no one but Solomon must build the house or construct the vessels of gold that remain yet to be spoken of. For the house of the Lord were they, and of material suited to His glory. The altar, the table for the shewbread, the candlesticks, with their suited flowers, lamps and tongs, the bowls, the snuffers, the basins, the spoons, the censers, even to the hinges for the doors, were all to be of gold, and all to be the work of Solomon. How careful of His glory is the God who has thus recorded with minutest accuracy the material and structure of everything that He has ordained to surround Himself, from the house to the hinges of the doors!
Let us now turn to the Book of 2 Chronicles, chap. 2. At once the difference strikes one. “Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the Lord, and an house for his kingdom.” It is not so much the person of the dweller that is here before us as the dominions of the King—the earthly kingdom rather than the heavenly home. And this difference is manifest throughout. In Kings no site he named; in Chronicles, the Mount Moriah at Jerusalem is special designated as the place of the Lord’s selection.
And yet King Solomon takes an interest in it, and built it, seeing it is for Jehovah, sweetly reminding us of Christ attention to His Father’s interests, whether heavenly or earthly. It has its glory too, garnished with precious stones for beauty, and the gold was gold of Parvaim (ch. 3:6); but yet “the wail” is there (verse 14), telling of distance and imperfect access to the throne. The altar, too, brass (chap. 4:1), the lavers wherein to wash the offering in the sea for the priests to wash in (verse 6), remind us that we are not by any means on the same exalted ground we have already gone over from the Book of Kings; for whatever the privileges of the earthly subjects of the millennial throne of the Son of Man, they can in no way be compared to the higher order of privilege accorded to the heavenly saint.
I must leave the reader to draw his own conclusion from the comparison of these two accounts, merely adding a word as to the typical import of the various buildings all other Scriptures would seem to unfold them to us. As we have observed, in Kings we have rather the public government of Israel; in Chronicles, God’s ways in grace; but in the former, types of heavenly things; in the latter, types of earthly ones. This, by attentive study, can be easily ascertained.
May we not then expect in the one the heavenly glory? The Father and the Son to be set before us; in the latter the earthly glory of the Son of Man.
The house of the Lord, with its chambers, may surely tell us of the Father’s house with many mansions (John 14:22In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)) There He dwells in the atmosphere of love peculiarly His own. The love of His Son has formed this place for Him and not only for Him, but for those whom the same love had been pleased to gather around Himself—the companions o His glory, the sharers of His home. He has His own peculiar home, but immediately grouped around Him are the “chambers,” the “place” that the Son has gone to prepare for us.
But the Son, as well as the Father, has His own peculiar glory; as “Son over his own house” (Heb. 3:66But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:6)), the droll of His interests, the sphere of His attentions. He thinks of us, He cares for us, He meets our every need; and in connection with this peculiar place, this place of special preciousness to us, He builds “His own” house.
But more than this, there is the house of the forest of Lebanon, with its porch of judgment, reminding us that public sway will be the portion of Him to whom every knee shall yet bow and every tongue confess. From the heavens He must reign till He hath put all things under Him (1 Cor. 15:25-2725For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. (1 Corinthians 15:25‑27)). It therefore tells us of the glory of Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
And lastly, this fourfold picture is completed by the house of Pharaoh’s daughter, telling us that whatever may be the joys of the Father’s home, the sense of the care of Him who rules over His own house, the grandeur of the time when saints will follow in the train of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Bridegroom still will not permit the Bride to forget His precious love, that love that proved its fullest measure when He gave Himself that He might sanctify, having cleansed her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and without blemish. Truly this is love, “strong as death,” that “many waters cannot quench.”
It remains but to notice the scene of His earthly rule, the house of His kingdom. Jerusalem will yet be the throne of the Lord. Represented there, no doubt, He will be by the Prince of the house of David, but the earthly Jerusalem will be the scene of His government as the heavenly one will be that of His grace and glory.
How happy to have one’s portion there!
D. T. G.