"And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building." (1 Kings 6:7)
Here is a remarkable testimony to the engineering and construction skills of the ancients. In order to erect the magnificent temple of Solomon, every portion was so carefully fabricated, far away from the construction site, that the building could be completely erected in reverent silence.
Furthermore, the stones were not small and rough. "They brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house" (1 Kings 5:17). They were quarried from limestone beds beneath the city and had to be fabricated and brought to the temple site, all ready to be laid in place. "And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers" (1 Kings 5:18).
In both its unique beauty and its silent assemblage, the temple is a striking type of the spiritual temple now being erected by the Holy Spirit. "Now therefore ye are . . . built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord; In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:19-22).
In this spiritual temple, each new believer is a costly stone, carefully cut from the world's dark quarry, then silently placed in the growing structure by the Holy Spirit on the foundation of Jesus Christ, "to whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house" (1 Peter 2:4-5). "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16).
I don't care what you see, feel or understand... you are being chipped away and broken for the use of the Master. As david saught G-d's face and cried out "Create in me a clean heart, Oh G-d, and restore, renew, clean up a right Spirit within me" you too must look deep inside and let Him chip away at what is costic, foul, selfish, causes doubt and fear and let Him make you into what He needs you to be to fit in where He needs you. Here is where your peace in the midst of the storm is found. It is usually through struggles we find this place and it will take a struggle of a different kind to stay there. It's worth it. Come on- let's go together and emerge ready for His Kingdom's purpose. I am with ya'!
