Previous: [[Meditation on 1 Kings 5|1 Kings 5]] This chapter contains a description of the building of the temple by Solomon, and the careful design of it. The spiritual eye can see that the content of this chapter of scripture is not just a description of the beauty of the temple, long since destroyed, but is, though in a shadow, a display of the beauty of the church and her communion with Christ. In the final verses of the previous chapter, the foundation of the Lord’s house was laid. Christ himself is the chief corner stone of the Lord’s house, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Under the shadowy type, this house was small in comparison to the grandeur of the New Testament church yet to come. Another, greater image is seen in the vision of Ezekiel. Here in 1 Kings 6, the house is measured by tens. In the final chapters of Ezekiel, the house is measured by thousands. If the glory of the lesser temple is glorious, and the glory of the greater temple be exponentially more glorious, can the mind of man image the glory of the heavenly state, where all faults and corruptions are utterly purged out, and we dwell forever in the very presence of God? No sound of tools were heard in the house while it was in building, verse 7. All the materials were skillfully crafted in such a way that no tools or fasteners were needed to put them together on the site. Likewise, the Lord Jesus as a skillful craftsman, prepares his people to be beautiful for his dwelling. “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love,” Eph. 4:16. Christians should seek to fit themselves perfectly together with all other members of the church, that there be no flaw in the building up of one another. Solomon builds the house with boards of cedar, and with planks of fir, verse 15. He writes in Canticles 1:17, “The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.” These are costly, beautiful, and strong materials. The church is not content for the Lord merely to have his own house, but must dwell there with him. She says, it is “our house.” The Christian should do all in his power to prepare his heart to be a fit habitation for the Spirit of God. Solomon prepares a room for the ark of the covenant. This is called the “oracle,” verse 19. An oracle is something that speaks to the people to reveal to them the will of God. Jesus Christ is the oracle of God. He is the prophet for his people, speaking to them the words of Almighty God. The ark of the covenant, placed in the oracle, contained the visible signs of God’s holy ordinances, the Ten Commandments written on tables of stone, the manna that came from heaven, and Aaron’s rod that had blossomed. All of God’s ordinances are testaments of Christ. He is the ruler of the world, and the King of his people, speaking to them God’s law. He is the provision from God sent from heaven, to satisfy those that hunger and thirst after righteousness. He is the divine governor of his church, sending forth his pastors and other church officers, to shepherd his people and stop the mouths of the gainsayers. All the promises of God are in him yea, and in him amen. Every benefit of the covenant of grace flows to us through Christ, so that we may say, “Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle,” Psalm 28:2. In the oracle were statues of the angels. God’s angels are “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation,” Heb. 1:13. ”He shall give his angels charge over thee,” Psalm 91:11, to defend and protect his people in the spiritual war against the forces of darkness. The rest of the house was made beautiful with doors of olive tree wood, with images of flowers, and with overlays of gold. The church of God is ”all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold,” Psalm 45:13. A Christian may have sin and corruption dwelling in him still, but he is clothed with the precious righteousness of Christ. A righteousness costly bought with his suffering and death. We have no merit in ourselves, but only through the beauty of Christ’s works put upon us. May Jesus Christ work in me to fully craft me to be perfect for his service, as a potter moulds his clay, and give me spiritual sight to see him shining out of Zion, the perfection of beauty. Next: [[Meditation on 1 Kings 7|1 Kings 7]]