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about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.

30. And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold, within and without.

31. And for the entering of the oracle he made doors of olive tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall.

32. The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and upon the palm

trees.

33. So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall.

34. And the two doors were of fir tree: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.

35. And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.

36. And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams.

37. In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the Lord laid, in the month Zif:

38. And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it."

Solomon's Temple is a symbolical representation of the Church of Christ.

Solomon is a type of Christ.

The Temple of Solomon, is the spiritual building of every believer. The foundation is Jesus. "For other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid which is Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. iii. 11. See Zec. xiv. 9. "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands." Acts, xvii. 24.

1 Kings, v. 17. "And they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house." 66 Behold, I lay in Zion, for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation." Isa. xxviii. 16. "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house." 1 Pet. ii. 5.

1 Kings, vi. 2 and 3. The length about the age of man-threescore. The entrance to the house equal to the breadth, from time to eternity. See Gen. xiii. 17.

4. The windows narrow without and broad within: before we know the Lord, our hearts are narrow towards him; narrow indeed without Christ, but widen as his love is increased in the heart-" Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 2 Pet. iii. 18.

5. The Lord is himself the wall of Salvation round about his people, "as the mountains are round about Jerusalem." Ps. cxxv. 2.

6. These chambers increased in number as they built upward; so does a believer increase in wisdom by "the knowledge of the Holy." "Through wisdom is an house builded, and by understanding it is established." Pro. xxiv. 3. We must begin at the nethermost-faith and humility: follow on to the middle-knowledge and patience; before we reach the third-Godliness and Charity; which is the most excellent." And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches." Pro. xxiv. 4.—Ezek. xli. 7.

8 and 10. Jesus is the door of entrance. John, x. 7. The entrance to his own mediation at the right hand of God! Winding stairs; led in a way they know not in the wilderness; yet knowledge is increasing, going up step by step, from the foundation to the top-stone. Five cubits about the height of man; and where can man safely rest, but on the house of his God, which is Jesus Christ. Heb. iii. 6.

7. Observe, it was built of stone, made ready before it was brought thither. See Prov. viii. 22, &c. Jesus said unto his Father, "For thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." Iron figuratively resembles man, as stone does Christ: its coarseness and roughness unfitting it to be united to the costly stone, so that neither hammer, or axe, or any tool of iron, was heard in the building. To descend from the figure; the voice of man in the great work of salvation must be mute. The Lord says, "My glory will I not give to another.”

Joshua, the Lord's type, told the people, they should not shout, or make any noise with their voice, until the day he bid them shout-and then it will be, "Grace, Grace unto it!"

9 and 14. It is remarkable, in both these verses, Solomon is said to have "built the house and finished it;" whereas, according to our limited apprehension, he had scarcely began it, so much remained to be done. See Ezra, v. 11.

12 and 13. In these two verses, the Lord seems to have called the attention of Solomon anew; and the manner of carrying on the building is quite different to the structure that is now said to be "finished:" it may therefore be regarded as the finishing of the Jewish ceremonies, and entrance of the intercessory offering, Jesus Christ, which the Lord promised to fulfil in "the fulness of time." Especially mark, the house is built by OBEDIENCE, to walk in all the commandments of the Lord. See 1 Chro. xxviii. 7-10. This is the Temple to build. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" 1 Cor. iii. 16. “In whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord." Eph. ii. 21. See 1 Kings. ix. 25; 1 Chro. xxii, 11, 12, 13.

15. To a common observer, this verse must bear a paradoxical aspect-the walls, the floor, and the ceiling, are said to be built within with boards of cedar: at the

conclusion we find they are covered on the inside with wood and fir. Evergreens are usual emblems of the Lord, and his united people; but it is to the Cross they must come to be covered with the Righteousness of Christ, who is the green Fir-tree, from whom it is found. Hos. xiv. 8. And yet such virtue is in this Cross-this green Fir-tree, it causes all Israel (the Israel of God) to make all manner of instruments of rejoicing to play before the Lord. "Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say rejoice." 2 Sam. vi. 5. See Ezek. xli. 22; Gal. vi. 14.

16. See Psalm xxviii. 2.

17. This verse is peculiarly expressed; bearing an allusion to the temple of Christ's body, under the forty day's fasting.

18 and 19. Enter but within the house, and the foundation-stone is only hid by greater beauties, sweeter perfumes, and a covenant never to be broken, because the LORD is our Lawgiver, Counsellor, Advocate, and Judge.

20. Oracle signifies covering: "Blessed is he whose sin is covered"-" covered with the robe of Righteousness." It also means "Sanctuary," though now chiefly understood as the word of life. But there is but one measure for the length, and breadth, and height, of "The Holy of Holies," who is the true Sanctuary. See Rev. xxi. 16.

21. The heart must be pure. See Ps. xlv. 13. The Lord separates his people by chains of gold; there must

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