Solomon's Temple as it relates to a Believer 503s - 6 -

This second temple was started in the time of Ezra and was continually attacked until Nehemiah was given permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Later Herod, an Edomite, extended the temple into its form as witnessed when Jesus walked the earth. Herod thought it would make him more acceptable to the people, nevertheless, he was pretty much universally hated. The Shekinah Glory did not dwell in the temple as it did in Solomon’s temple.

The construction plans for Solomon’s Temple were given to King David but not the permission to build it; rather the building of the temple would pass to his son. In addition to The Shekinah Glory residing in Solomon’s Temple, the Ark of the Covenant was present.

Judah turned against God once too often and The Shekinah Glory was removed from Solomon’s Temple.

Ezekiel, 11:22-23, “Then did the cherubim’s lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city."

In reading Ezekiel one can almost feel the sadness and disappointment of God as he withdrew his Shekinah Glory from his chosen people.

With thanks to Nancy Missler,

The Holy of Holies is analogous to a believer’s new spirit; his or her pneuma

The Holy Place represents to a believer’s new heart; his or her kardia

The Porch including the pillars is parallels a believer’s new willpower or volition; his or her dianoia.

The secret, hidden, wooden chambers around the main sanctuary represent a believer’s subconscious; his or her cheder

The Inner Court represents the conscious part of a believer’s soul; his or her psyche

The Outer Court represents a believer’s body his or her soma

It is very interesting and insightful to compare a believer to Solomon’s Temple, however, I prefer to focus on each of us as the Temple of God wherein we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. This is the model that brings me closest to God and imparts upon me a sense of responsibility to be so filled with the Holy Spirit that it leaks out on others as I am replenished with it.

As an aside, there was no requirement for The Shekinah Glory being present in the second Temple as Jesus was there. After the crucifixion and resurrection the slab where Jesus’s body had laid and the two angels sitting on either and would present a very decent facsimile of the Mercy seat.