From start to finish, God’s temple was a peculiar building. It was the Lord’s own house, designed by Him and built according to His specifications. King Solomon built this first earthly building for God’s glory, dedicating it totally to His honor. This granted it a special sort of beauty.
“Solomon’s temple is the most wonderful and interesting building in the world’s history. It was ‘the mysterious centre of Israel.’ It was far more to Israel than the Vatican is to Rome. It was, so long as it stood, God’s only earthly palace and temple. The Pyramids of Egypt were old when it was built, and they show no signs of decay. Solomon’s temple utterly perished after four centuries. Greek and Roman artists have given the laws of beautiful and stately architecture to the world, but no one has ever dreamed of copying, in any respect, the sacred building at Jerusalem. Brunelleschi’s dome at Florence, St. Peter’s at Rome, and the Milan Cathedral are almost miracles of daring genius and patient toil. The temple was, in comparison, a homely and plain building in its style. Its size was, as compared with these, small and insignificant. Yet God, in a peculiar sense, was its architect. He filled it with His glory. His eyes and His heart were there.” – Biblical Illustrator by Monday Club Sermons.
God’s presence there was palpable and tangible. It was as if His heart and His eyes were looking into and out of it.
Erected in silence
Yet the temple was built in silence, and that silence speaks loudly.
Matthew Henry wrote in his commentary that harsh and violent sounds were out of place in this divine building, so the workers prepared all of the materials for the temple at separate construction sites. Yet, when they were brought together at the temple site, each piece fit with perfect precision. It was a feat unparalleled in architectural history — and it was completed in silence.
God often works in holy silence
He performs His wonders and marvels in holy silence. He created the heavens, the earth, and everything in them without making a lot of noise and clamor. And He still works, in nature and in the Spirit, so silently that we sometimes scarcely realize He is working.
Enemies eventually destroyed the temple with axes and hammers, with a great roar (Psalm 74:4-6). But they could not stop God or keep Him from working. He is still at work today, often building in quiet, holy silence.
God comes to us softly
He also builds our lives in quiet stillness. He gently enters our hearts, quietly changing us on the inside — so that others can sense His presence in our lives, and see His light shining out through us.
Just as God’s presence was felt in the quiet of the temple, we can allow God’s light to shine through us without making a lot of noise and clamor. We don’t need to shout, “Look at me! I’m a Christian!” Our faith will be evident in the way we treat others, the words we choose, and our attitude toward money and possessions. If Christ dwells within us, it will be plainly evident.
Can others sense God’s sweet presence in us? Do they see Him in our lives?
The temple was constructed using finished stones cut at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any other iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.
1 Kings 6:7
📷 Image credits: temple by www.LumoProject.com; seashell from Canva.