Peter Misselbrook's Blog
May 30 2019 - 1 Kings 6 – Solomon builds the temple

After looking at some of the Wisdom writings attributed to Solomon, we are now returning to the narrative of his reign. You may remember that Solomon's father, David, had wanted to build the temple – a house for the Lord – but had been told that he would not build it; it would be built by his son, Solomon. Nevertheless, David had made preparations for the temple by arranging for stonecutters to prepare dressed stone, iron and bronze to make nails and fittings and more cedar logs than could be counted (1 Chronicles 22).

Now Solomon is king and begins to build the temple. Hiram, king of Tyre, had been a friend to David and is now a good friend to Solomon also. In exchange for wheat and oil, Hiram provides even more cedar logs and juniper logs for the work of the temple (1 Kings 5:1-12). Now that all is prepared, Solomon sets men to work and in seven years of hard labour and making use of much costly stone, wood and gold the temple is finally finished.

As you were reading the description of the temple built by Solomon, were you able to visualise it? Many Bibles will contain an artist's impression of the temple or at least a diagram of how it was laid out. The main building of the temple was about 10 metres wide and 30 metres deep. It's height was about 15 metres. A square rear section, 10 metres by 10 metres was the most holy place or holy of holies. This housed the ark of the covenant overshadowed by the wings of two cherubim whose other wings touched each wall of the building. In Solomon's temple the most holy place was separated from the rest of the temple by a set of doors rather than the curtain that acted as a barrier in Herod's temple in the days of Jesus – in an imitation of the tabernacle. The inner walls of the temple were elaborately carved with flowers and trees and cherubim and every surface, even the floors, were covered with gold. It must have looked magnificent and dazzling.

Perhaps all of this was intended not only as the house of God but also as a picture of paradise – a paradise lost – a garden full of flowers and trees and guarded by cherubim; the shining gold representing the glory of God. The temple was the place of God's abode with his people and yet reminded them that they were barred from coming into his presence. Sin had shut the gates of paradise against them.

The temple, like the tabernacle that was its forerunner, was intended to act as a visual aid for the people of God. It was a place of worship and the place where the sin of God's people was atoned for through the shed blood of sacrifice.

The temple also points us forward to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the person in whom God has come to dwell among us. He is the one in whom we see the glory of God – the glory of God's love and grace as well as his holiness and justice. He is the one whose blood was shed to atone for our sins and reconcile us to God. He is the one who has flung wide the gates of paradise that we might live in God's presence and enjoy fellowship with him. He is the one through whom the whole of this creation shall at last be made anew and filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea. In that day there will no longer be a special temple or a fixed place to meet with God because:

… the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light. (Revelation 21:22-24)

Lord God, we are amazed at the magnificence of the temple built by Solomon, but we are even more amazed at your glory and grace revealed to us in the Lord Jesus Christ. We thank you that the blessings lost through human sin are more than restored through the saving work of Christ. We pray that you would open the eyes of men and women to see your glory in Christ Jesus and that the nations will walk by his light.

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May 30 2020 - Acts 20:1-38 – Caring for the flock of God

Paul is on his way to Jerusalem and knows that he is likely to be taken captive and will not have the freedom to return to many of the churches among whom he has ministered. At Troas the Christians met together with Paul on the first day of the week – celebrating the resurrection of the Lord Jesus as they broke bread together. Paul, knowing that his time with these believers would be limited, preached well into the night. At about midnight, a young man fell asleep and slipped from a window on the third floor, falling to the street. Many thought him dead, but Paul placed his hands on him and picked him up, alive and well. He then returned to the upper room and continued to speak to those gathered there until dawn. Both apostle and congregation had a deep longing to spend time with one another and encourage each other.

Paul had no time to return to Ephesus so he sent a message to the elders of the church to meet with him at the port of Miletus.

One of the finest books on the work of the Christian minister is, in my view, The Reformed Pastor, written by Richard Baxter in the seventeenth century. His work is an extended practical exposition of Paul’s words to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:18-35.

Paul encouraged the elders of the church to take care of the flock of God which he has purchased with his own blood (a remarkable phrase which finds an echo in some of our great hymns). Paul also reminds them of the example of care that he set for them when he laboured at Ephesus for more than three years. He was not greedy for anyone’s money – he did not minister to line his own pockets. He was careful to teach them everything needful, instructing them both publicly and teaching each family in their own homes (an example followed by Richard Baxter). His message focussed on repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus, and included clear warnings concerning the opposition the new converts might expect to experience.

The Ephesian elders are to continue the work begun by Paul, caring for those over whom the Holy Spirit has given them oversight. Paul warns them to be vigilant, for there will be those who, like fierce wolves, will seek to prey on the flock: there would even be those from within the flock who would seek to lead others astray. But the elders will not be left to do this work on their own. The Holy Spirit who appointed them to this task will equip and empower them for it: Paul entrusts them to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build them up and give them an inheritance among all God’s holy people.

The work of the pastor remains vital to the welfare of the church of God. It is a difficult, demanding and serious task, particularly in this highly individualistic age. It should be characterised by bonds of deep affection between pastor (shepherd) and flock. We see such affection in the tears with which Paul ministered among the Ephesians (20:19, 31), and the tears of the Ephesians as they said farewell to Paul (20:37-38).

Lord Jesus, we pray that those who have been entrusted with the task of caring for your flock, may be good and faithful shepherds. May they follow the pattern laid down by the Apostle Paul, both by example and in the instructions he gave to the Ephesian elders. Above all, we pray that they may faithfully reflect the character of the Good Shepherd. May we always encourage and support them in the work to which you have called them.

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Peter Misselbrook