After a long day of school, my siblings and I would come home and grab a snack, do our homework (well, some of us), maybe do a chore or two, then argue over the TV for the after-school line-up.
Sibling 1: “It’s 4 o’clock, and I want to watch Arthur.”
Sibling 2: “No one wants to watch that baby show. Let’s watch Ninja Turtles.”
Sibling 3: “No one is about to watch either because I’m about to watch Boy Meets World.”
We bickered endlessly over what to watch on TV, but there were two shows we always agreed on: 106 & Park and MTV Cribs. Oh, the glories of MTV Cribs. The fulfillment you received from being invited into your favorite celebrities’ homes. These homes were not shabby. These homes were what you’d imagine a superstar home to be. It was not uncommon to see a celebrity’s residence have the most outlandish chandelier, 24-karat gold faucet handles, or a petting zoo in the backyard. Their homes were designed to match their prestige status.
The story of King Solomon building the temple for God was even more significant. Solomon offered his best. We might read passages on building the temple and view it as minute; however, every intricate description of the temple was to brag on the glory of God and highlight His holiness and splendor (Exodus 26:31–35, 2Chronicles 3–4). The temple may have been built to serve three purposes: It was a place for God and humanity to commune; It was a place for humanity to worship God; it was a place for humanity to offer sacrifices for the forgiveness of sin.
In the old covenant, the temple served as a cornerstone for the Israelites’ relationship with God. The Israelite priestly representatives had to enter the presence of God on behalf of the people to offer sacrifices for the forgiveness of sin (2Chronicles 5:1–14). It’s difficult to fathom the idea of depending on another sinful human to go before God on our behalf—a human that requires just as much grace. Imagine longing to commune with God and having to wait until you arrive at the temple. Or the anxiety of having the proper sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin.
This was the case before the Holy Spirit indwelled His people. Today, we know a different experience with God under the new covenant. We know Jesus to be the bodily fulfillment of the temple (Hebrews 9:11–14). Our worship is not limited to a specific place, and our forgiveness is not dependent upon our sacrifice or the sacrifice of other humans.
Jesus is the dwelling place for humanity to commune with God. By the shedding of His blood, His death served as the perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin. He is the cornerstone of our relationship with God. Now when we want to pray, sing songs of praise, or confess our sins, we can go boldly in Jesus’s name. Anytime and anyplace.
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40 thoughts on "Building the Temple"
Thank you Lord!
Yes we take the ability to go to God under Jesus our high priest and sacrificial lamb. The miracle that we are the temple of tgd livinv God this blows my mind and I think how can it be.
Happy Monday! So grateful for longer sunshine today! @Michelle Patire hang in there girl! I have been in your shoes when it feels like nobody is going through what you are. I have felt the angry and resentment and honestly just wanted to give up. God sees your pain and feels your hurt. Keep going it will get better. @Sarah D. Praying for your job situation I just know you’re going to find something so fulfilling! Glad your date went well. @Rhonda J. Even in your pain you still have such a positive attitude! Praying for quick healing.
Thank You Jesus for the Bills applies. Thank you Jesus you have washed me white. Thank you Jesus you have save me my life, brought me from the darkness into glorious light. Amen.
@Sharon, Jersey Girl- you are the second person to share that scripture with me. Thank you for listening to the Holy Spirit and praying over me. ❤️:)
Thank you for all the prayers, everyone. I so appreciate all of you for praying over me. ❤️ May God help all us hurting Shes today.
The temple of God was inlaid and garnished with pure gold. That stands true of His design for His temple now -us- the living and walking temple of today. He will purify us until we become the pure gold temple, He will remove walls, He will bring light into the secret dark chambers that we didn’t even know exist, He will re-arrange the furniture, remove some walls…, so we are becoming the finished design of His blueprint each day. He is the Master of the house (us), and He is a kind, wise and wealthy master. He really wants to show us off. If only we know how much He wants to make us into a beautiful and luxurious structure of Him.
PRAYING…
@FOSTER MAMA, @MICHELLE PATIRE: praying over you dear sisters, “So it will be on that day, that his burden will be removed from your shoulders, and his yoke from your neck; and the yoke will be broken because of fatness.” Isaiah 10:27
@Rhonda: it’s an interesting transition for sure. Praying for your household as you and your dear husband adjusts. & quick healing.
@Victoria E: praying you’re doing okay. May God cover you and your sweet family.
@Heidi: how is your seminary going?
Be blessed dear sisters.
I am struck by two things in today’s reading: 1. Every detail of God’s temple was planned out. 2. Now we are God’s temple and the place where his spirit dwells. I pray that I don’t ever take for granted the fact that God’s Holy Spirit dwells in me.
My dear Michelle, I hear your pain. I pray for you His comfort and assurance. I pray He send in folks to minister to your needs and surround you with His almighty, unfaltering love. May the Lord turn toward you and give you peace.
Hello Shes. Had an “aha” moment this morning listening to the podcast with Melissa Zaldivar, writer & podcaster. She spoke to the abundant & awe-inspiring; elaborate & exquisite building of the temple. Helping me see this was ancient construction, enabled by God, for His glory, not through the eyes of modern manpower & machinery. THEN the precision, particularity & point by point description of the process began to make more sense. There needed to be a written record, how to manual, blueprint. Accuracy mattered. Obedience to detail mattered. The opulence: metal basin fashioned like the brim of a cup or a lily blossom; four hundred pomegranates; blue, purple, crimson yarn & fine linen curtain; gold tongs of purest gold. To this day, we honor plans & procedures in church & synagogue exterior & interior design & development & presentation; altar preparation & service; communion; vestments; and much more. While, in most instances, under ordinary circumstances, on the whole, we don’t deal in precious stones & purest gold & polished bronze…we are engaged in ritual consecration & guided by “beauty, goodness & truth” in floral displays & silver chalices. We continuously invoke His holy presence. We glorify Him with our best.
As the Body of Christ. Selah.
In today’s Scripture 1Chronicles 4:10 says “Nothing was in the Ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Mount Sinai, where the Lord made a covenant with the people of Israel when they left Egypt.” But if we go back to Exodus 16:33-34 it says “Moses said to Aaron, “Get a jar and fill it with two quarts of manna. Then put it in a sacred place before the Lord to preserve it for all future generations.” 34 Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded Moses. He eventually placed it in the Ark of the Covenant—in front of the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant.” So what happened to the manna or did they just not mention it?
Yesterday, I was listening to my church service online, our regular Children’s pastor wasn’t there, she was at home with a sick child, so our senior pastor did the Children’s Minute. We have a tube for the children to put quarters in so they can eventually purchase an animal through the Heifer Project, well the tube was full and the guy in charge of taking care of the money took it to the bank. The kids were wanting to get a pig which was $120, there was $103.94 in the tube — in a tube that was supposed only be for quarters — so the church staff got the other six cents to make it even. Then Pastor Sunday asked a member as she greeted if they had a dollar — she wanted to use it in her service — this member’s wife said I don’t but the member did; but also a lot of other members started saying to Pastor, “I have a dollar” and pulling out a dollar and giving them to her. Well in the end they had more than the $16 they needed to buy the pig…..BUT GOD….ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE.
Sisters be blessed and know that with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit at your side you can handle anything.
❤️ MICHELLE PATIRE ❤️
MARI V ❤️ Praying for Mar 16
SRT SISTERS – small victory seen last week re: the thing that weighs heaviest on my heart….please pray for God to continue in his faithfulness!
So thankful for Jesus’ sacrifice! Because of it we can come boldly to the throne of grace! I am so thankful for all God has done for me. He gives me what I do not deserve and doesn’t give me what I do deserve! God is good!
I am so thankful we have the ability to approach God at any time! Thank you Jesus for the New Covenant! ❤️
So thankful for the diagram of Solomon’s temple and to be able to go back and forth and look at it, just sinks in the enormity of the temple.
@Michelle Patire. I’m praying for you right now sweet girl.
It’s funny how a broken foot can put you back in a place of dependency quick! My husband had to do everything for me that first night as I was in pain through the night. And yesterday morning and this morning, carrying my laptop for me to the couch, making the coffee (a very specific way), and bringing it to me. Breakfast…and so on. I don’t know what I would do without him. It is that same dependency with Jesus, we are helpless without him, our Lord and Savior, our connection to the Almighty God! We must rely on him through every part of our life. It still completely floors me that he GAVE us the HOLY SPIRIT to live IN us to help us as well, through all things. I may be broken, physically and spiritually, but though him I am made whole, eternal, in his presence forever, thank you God, thank you!!! You are a God of goodness, that cares for his children.
@Michelle Patire- keep strong dear friend, you are his precious daughter, he will keep you in his embrace and not let you go.
Jesus is the dwelling place for humanity to commune with God. I cannot imagine what they had to go through before we had Jesus. We can talk to Him anytime and any place. We are so blessed.
Prayers for all requests.
We can go straight to Jesus at anytime, anywhere. No need for in-betweens.  Thank you Jesus! Happy Monday sweet She’s!
TINA, you quoted my favorite words from Jamika’s devo. So very THANKFUL for Jesus and all He represents for me! As wonderful as that mighty temple was, I’d rather have Jesus. That just reminded me of the old song : “I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold…” I never connected those lyrics to the temple before!
HEIDI, I have missed you and I was so glad to see you here. Love what you shared!
MICHELLE, praying God grants you patience as you walk this troubled path. I know how hard that is! God has a plan!
The Most Holy Place (2 Chronicles 5:7) – the inner sanctuary of the temple, the place where only the high priest was allowed to enter and only once a year at that. The curtain in front of it separated the the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place separating man from God. (Exodus 26:33). But God… God had a plan, God made a way to end that separation. That way was Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God. Upon Jesus death on the cross the veil was torn – allowing all who have received Him, to come in – we are no longer separated! Praise God that He has made a way and we can boldly enter into His throne room (Hebrews 4:14-16), the Most Holy Place, through Jesus Christ our Lord!
@Indiana Christina – praying for your sister-in-law Tammy. May God extend His grace, mercy and love and give the doctors wisdom in treating this tumor. God willing, may she be healed.
@Sarah D. – praying for your job situation – God’s wisdom and direction and for your new relationship. So glad your date went well!
@Rhonda – sorry to hear about your little accident – praying for a quick healing.
Blessings to all on this Monday morning!
@ Michelle Patire – praying for you! Even though others can’t understand what you are going through – God knows, He sees, and He is right there beside you. A beautiful passage of scripture is Isaiah 43:1-3. I hope your are comforted in knowing you are redeemed, God has called you by name – you are His. He will be with you through the deep waters and will not let them overflow you; when you walk through the fire – you will not be burned. May God renew your strength and restore your hope…you are loved. ❤️
Jesus, thank You for Your temple, Your body, Your sacrifice. I am so grateful for Mercy and Grace through Your Blood. Amen
Amen
Pure gold, gemstones, exclusive fabrics, intricate thread work, etc. These things are filled with such extreme value. He is worthy of what is most valuable. It makes me pause to take a look at what valuable things I HAVE that I save for myself, only offering Him what is leftover. My time (first and foremost), my free-will/choices, finances, mental/physical energy. There is so much that I claim as valuable in my life – and they ARE of great value – that I need to prayerfully seek help in not just giving Him parts of, but laying it all down. It is all His anyway – who am I to try to hold it so tightly for myself?
Praise You Jesus! You were the sacrifice for us! Hallelujah!
Have a blessed Monday sisters.
Hey ladies. I’ve not even gotten myself to read these passages yet bc I’ve been trying to deal with my feelings for the past half hour.
I’m worn out from my family and their lack of care and concern.
It’s so hard to live here day after day. And yes, I’ve sought God. I’ve literally done all I could. Yesterday I feel He reminded me that I can’t afford to move out and that’s part of the reason. I’m truly waiting and doing all I can until He provides the way out. The waiting…the preparing…. it’s just taking a huge toll on me. Truly, I rely so much on all your prayers. It’s so hard to find people who understand what I’m going through. “How long will you keep me in this furnace?” is all I’ve been asking God. I don’t wanna beg or cry or fast for answers anymore. I just want things to change. Or my heart to learn to shut off or something and let God deal with it. Please pray for strength and hope. Thank you, friends. I love you all.
My soul is so thankful today that Jesus’ blood marked the final sacrifice on our behalf. Thank you, Jesus!!!!!!
Good morning ladies! Praying for you all.
Thank you for your prayers this weekend, my date went well yesterday! I’m excited to see where it goes :) Would love your continued prayers for my job situation, I am conflicted as to what to do. It is starting to take a toll on me mentally again, even though I am pushing through. Still waiting to hear back about the position I applied for, and I don’t see many other job opportunities that look promising right now. I am hoping to work for my university so they can pay for my masters, but I’m not sure if anything will come up. Trying to stay positive, but I’m very ready to leave my current job. Thank you all!
Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice. Because by it not only did you redeemed us with your precious blood, but in the process, split the veil— literally and figuratively— that was separating us from directly worshipping God. In your sacrifice, you open a direct line of communication between God and those who believe in. I am humble by your grace, forgiveness and love.
6 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. – 2 Chronicles 5:6,11-14
This struck me – no more blood sacrifice- thank you Jesus!
6 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. – 2 Chronicles 5:6,11-14
This struck me – no more blood sacrifice- thank you Jesus!
Praise the Lord! thank you Jesus!
Yes, TINA, the verses from Hebrews are so powerful. The old hymn Jesus Paid It All came to mind as I read those verses – I am so thankful He did!!
Continuing to pray for the many requests of last week.
SKY HILTON – you are on my mind this morning, praying you are well.
So thankful that through his blood we can access him any time and any place. ❤️
Everything about the temple was extravagant. Where the tabernacle had one lampstand and one table, the temple had ten of each. The brazen alter and basin were enormous. Yet it seems the original altar of incense and ark of the covenant were used. I know we read earlier that God gave these plans to David, but I don’t recall reading or hearing any teachings on why the temple was so much different from the tabernacle.
RHONDA J – praying your foot heals quickly
INDIANA CHRISTINA – praying that Tammy’s surgery is a success
Think of all the blood and sacrifices. The sins are/ were great and God is Holy. Thank You, Jesus! There is no other way! Praise Your Name that we can come and bow reverently and repent. It’s all by Your mercy and grace! Thank You for forgiveness, help, and the hope You give. Jesus can change everything!
Thank you Lord
Thank you JAMIKA MUNN.
I love this truth.
Jesus is the dwelling place for humanity to commune with God. By the shedding of His blood, His death served as the perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin. He is the cornerstone of our relationship with God. Now when we want to pray, sing songs of praise, or confess our sins, we can go boldly in Jesus’s name. Anytime and anyplace.
BUT GOD..
AMEN.
Happy Monday dear hearts, wrapped in thankful love for you.. Be blessed whatever your day looks like, and in whatever you do today..❤