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    2. - THE TEMPLE BUILT AFTER A PATTERN

    Nevertheless to David was given, by the Spirit of God, an accurate pattern of the temple, and all things pertaining thereto, just as Moses had received the pattern of the tabernacle in the wilderness of Sinai. This we find in 1 Chronicles 28:11, and onward. In verse 19, David ways: “All this the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even till the works of this pattern.”LUJ 66.2

    Besides thus receiving the pattern, it was permitted him to make also abundant preparation for the coming building. Its erection was committed to his son Solomon, and to him and the princes, David gave the following solemn charge concerning this work: “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord.” 1 Chronicles 22:19. This temple was to be built on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem.LUJ 66.3

    Again: 1 Chronicles 28:10: “Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.”LUJ 67.1

    Mark, it was the sanctuary for which provision was thus carefully being made, - the sanctuary, of which David had seen the pattern, for which he had made ready his material, and concerning which he gave this charge.LUJ 67.2

    The intimate connection of the temple with its prototype, the tabernacle, is shown in the general arrangement and furniture of the building. Like the tabernacle, it had its holy and its most holy place. But these, in all their dimensions - length, breadth, and height - were exactly double those of the tabernacle. Thus the most holy place was twenty cubits each way, instead of ten, and the holy place twenty by forty cubits, instead of ten by twenty.LUJ 67.3

    Besides these apartments there was a porch of ten cubits at the entrance, and surrounding chambers for the use of the priests, besides various courts and covered porches surrounding the whole. Altogether it covered a large area, and presented an imposing and magnificent appearance. Rising from its commanding height like a mountain of marble and gold, it stood before the world a monument of splendor more gorgeous and wonderful than man had ever looked upon before. The carving of the walls of the house with figures of cherubim, the overlaying of it with pure gold within and without, the doors of olive-trees adorned with carved work and overlaid with gold fitted to the carvings, with other innumerable and costly ornaments and embellishments, were accomplished at an expense, says Dr. Clarke, which it is impossible to estimate.LUJ 67.4

    Two gigantic cherubim, of olive-wood, overlaid with gold, each ten cubits high, were prepared for the most holy place, and put in position on either side of the spot upon which the ark was to rest. “And they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.” They thus constituted an impressive symbol of the two dispensations which span the day of redeeming grace, and touch each other over the mercy-seat and the law of God.LUJ 68.1

    Many of the vessels of the sanctuary were also enlarged and multiplied for the temple service. Ten golden candlesticks shed their light in the holy place and ten tables held the consecrated bread which was placed each Sabbath before the Lord. 2 Chronicles 4:7, 8.LUJ 68.2

    At the expiration of seven years and six months from the commencement of the work, the building was completed, though the dedication did not take place till the following year, the twelfth of Solomon’s reign. Having all things prepared for this joyful occasion, Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief and the fathers of the children of Israel, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, to its new abode. 1 Kings 8. And King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that there assembled unto him were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude. What an imposing and joyful procession must that have been!LUJ 68.3

    They also brought up the tabernacle. The original tabernacle was left at Gibeon thirty-eight years before; and it is generally supposed that David had erected a new one for the ark when he brought it to his city. Which of these was brought into the temple? Some think both; but Dr. Clarke suggests what seems the more probable view, that the original tabernacle was brought up from Gibeon, to be preserved in the temple as a relic, and the temporary one erected by David was destroyed.LUJ 68.4

    The ark was brought into its position in the most holy place between the wings of the cherubim, and thus again became connected with the sanctuary, after a separation of one hundred and thirty-six years. God approved of all that had been done suitably to prepare for his worship as adapted to that time; and as he had taken possession of the first tabernacle (Exodus 40:34), so now he takes possession of this; “And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.” 1 Kings 8:10, 11.LUJ 69.1

    That was a day of joy in Israel. The thousands of offerings consuming upon the altars, the clouds of incense that rose above the temple, the sounds of the instruments of music, and the voices of the singers, the inimitable prayer of Solomon, the wisest of men, the glory of the new temple, the vast concourse of people, and above all, the crowning visitation of the shekinah, or visible glory of God, as he took possession of his dwelling, all conspired to render this-LUJ 69.2

    THE MOST IMPOSING RELIGIOUS SERVICE EVER PERFORMED IN THIS WORLD, EITHER BEFORE OR SINCE THAT TIME. 1Philip Smith, in his “History of this World.” vol. 1, p. 173.LUJ 69.3

    Twenty-two thousand oxen and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep constituted Solomon’s peace-offering. Besides this there were his meat-offerings, his burnt offerings, and his drink-offerings, besides the offerings of the assembled multitudes. Fourteen days the king and all Israel kept a feast unto the Lord.LUJ 69.4

    During Israel’s sojourn in the wilderness, the tabernacle, as we have seen, was fifty-six times called the sanctuary. From its entrance into the holy land till its incorporation into the temple, it is nineteen times more called the sanctuary in the following passages:-LUJ 70.1

    Joshua 24:26; 1 Chronicles 9:29; 22:19; 24:5; 28:10; 2 Chronicles 20:8; Psalm 20:2, 28:2, margin, 29:2, margin; 63:2; 68:24; 73:17; 77:13; 78:54, 69; 96:6, 9, margin; 134:2; 150:1.LUJ 70.2

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