Articles
So Much Detail
In 1 Kings 5-8 we read the historical account of Solomon building and dedicating the original temple to YHWH in Jerusalem. Like other construction accounts (i.e. the tabernacle in Exodus 35-40), the narrative is noteworthy for its incredible attention to the minute details of the materials used, the cost, and the intricate designs of the décor. Personally, I find such details more fascinating when I consider the book of Kings was written after 560 B.C., perhaps some 20-30 years after Solomon’s temple was destroyed and the people were living in Babylonian captivity. It leads modern readers to wonder why the author of Kings felt compelled to include so much detail in this account. While I cannot be definitive on his mindset, two possible motives come to mind.
Theological: It is a testimony to the beauty of the house devoted to the God who always stays true to Israel, even if they are not true to him. The Lord is worthy to have a home that is given the best materials and the beauty of intricate detail.
Historical: While they are in captivity, they must not forget their heritage and the beauty of what they once had (still had) with God. That covenant relationship is unique, and the temple served as a reminder of it.
Under the New Covenant, Christians do not have a singular structure that serves as our temple to God. Instead, the Bible tells us that WE are God’s temple: collectively as the church (1 Cor 3:16-17) and individually in our bodies (1 Cor. 6:19-20). As such, there are some important parallels we can learn from 1 Kings’ detailed account.
Theological: We serve the God who is worthy of our greatest efforts and praise. As such, we have a responsibility to present a temple for His use that is “made from” the best materials we have to offer. We keep it cleaned, maintained, and in proper order for His divine use at all times.
Historical: We are part of a heritage of faithful followers that has gone for over 2,000 years. Like the generations before us, we enjoy a unique covenantal relationship with God that is reserved for those who put their faith in the Messiah. The spiritual temple today reminds us of that heritage, but also exists as our venue for walking with and interacting with God on a special plane.
The amount of minute details in the temple narrative are often hard to read. We struggle to envision it, but also to see any application for us. Perhaps, though, these intricate descriptions give us a bigger picture to meditate on as we consider the spiritual temple of the Lord in our time. May we be so awed by the work and presence of God that we, too, have the care and concern to think of our temple with so much detail.
