TEMPLE WORSHIP conclusion (sort of).
As Part of the series called:
Things That Make You Go H’mmm?

Matthew 12:6
“But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.”

Last time, we concluded by pointing out that there was no temple during King David's reign over Israel and that God would not allow David to build God a house or temple to dwell in. God would not allow David to build a house because God knew men would worship a temple built by human hands and not worship God Himself.

But Solomon built God a house. Why?

God never asked Solomon nor his father David to build Him a temple. God actually told David through Nathan the Prophet, not to build Him a temple!

1Chronicles 17:4 Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in: 17:5 For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from [one] tabernacle [to another]. 17:6 Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?

Hmm!

1Chronicles 17:7 Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, [even] from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel: 17:8 And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that [are] in the earth. 17:9 Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,

Now make sure you read this next part!

1Chronicles 17:10 And since the time that I commanded judges [to be] over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore I tell thee that the LORD will build thee an house.

“Furthermore the LORD will build thee an house.” I GUESS David heard but he did not completely understand what God was telling him? Keep reading!

1Chronicles 17:11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go [to be] with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

Obviously, David heard what he wanted to hear, filled in the gaps with David's own desires and decided it was his son Solomon.

1Chronicles 17:12 He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.

Who will establish his throne forever?

What man has a throne that can last forever?

MAKE SURE YOU CATCH THIS NEXT PART!!!

1Chronicles 17:13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took [it] from [him] that was before thee:

Did you catch what God told David about his seed (descendant)? God will be his father and he shall be God's son? I wonder who that could be????

1Chronicles 17:14 But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.

Now, Solomon also misunderstands what God is saying, just as David did not fully comprehend. Using a New Testament phrase, I guess they saw “through a glass darkly”. You can find the evidence that Solomon thought he was this promised “Son” just like his father David did, by reading 2 Chronicles 6, in which Solomon says as much.

Now, Solomon was sincere in his heart. He offered sacrifice, and he prayed that God would choose to inhabit this temple that Solomon, a son of David, built in the city of God (Jerusalem). Just like David, his heart was in the right place. He really wanted to be God’s man. Problem is no man is worthy to satisfy God’s terms. John the Apostle explains it very well in Revelation 5:4 when he says, “I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look theron.” However, in order to prove that no man was worthy to satisfy God’s Covenant Conditions, the LORD chose to allow the “Ark of the Covenant” to be temporarily placed in this temple made by man’s hands. But only IF Solomon and all of Israel would agree to God’s Covenant including all the Terms and Conditions. Solomon is just one example of every man thinking he can satisfy God’s conditions. Because we have freewill God will let everyone of us try on our own to satisfy His conditions. Solomon just like his father David got the fast-food version of what God was saying. And to prove that what God says is always true, God allowed Solomon and all Israel to try again to satisfy God’s sense of Righteousness.

We spoke earlier about “seeing through a glass darkly”. Before we stop for the moment let’s look at the little light shed upon this subject by one of the New Testament writers:

Acts 7:48 with Context
47But Solomon built him an house. 48Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, 49Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

Matthew 12:6
“But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.”
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