The Stones and the Temple

"One Year Bible" Old Testament History Passage
I Kings 5:1-6:38

"And the temple, when it was being built, was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built." I Kings 6:7 (NKJV)

Old Testament events often pre-figure New Testament truths. Solomon built an Old Testament temple that teaches us about the New Testament worship of God. The temple is a place of worship - of fellowship with God - of VERTICAL relationship with God.

In the days of Solomon, stones were used as building blocks - building material - in the temple. In similar fashion, we today are called "living stones" and are being built into a spiritual house (temple) for the Lord (I Peter 2:5). We are the building material today.

Scripture says that no sound of a hammer or chisel was heard at the Old Testament building cite. This translates into human effort, human, sweat, and carnal techniques. When we come to be built into God's house, He cares nothing for our wonderful human skills. He is not impressed with how hard we work or how difficult our path. He looks for only ONE THING: are you yielded? Are you His? Are you surrendered? Are you focused on how great HE IS?

That which happens at the quarry is so very important. God shapes us and works on us with a His hammer and His chisel. It is a necessary work. It affects our usefulness to Him in the world - and our personal happiness in life. But, when we come to be built into His temple, only ONE THING is important: HIM!!! Don't drag the quarry into the Holy Place!

What sounds do you hear in God's presence? Do you hear only the wonderful sounds of the glory and majesty of God? Or do you hear the sounds of human experience and human struggle? This is a sign of whether we are experiencing true worship or just man-made activity.