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I. OF THE MATERIALS OF WHICH IT WAS BUILT. Solomon's temple was a type of the spiritual temple in the material of which it was built.

1. It was built of stone. The heart of man in its natural state is a heart of stone.

2. It was built of stones brought a long distance. God might have made His temple out of materials on the spot. He might have chosen angels and archangels and seraphs, and beings who had never sinned. But such was not His purpose. He selected the stones from a distant country, the souls of man from earth rather than the angels of heaven. It was made of stones, made ready before they were brought to the spot. The stones of the heavenly temple are prepared before they are removed to their eternal position. We must be hewn out of the rock, — converted here; we must be prepared on earth, and fitted to occupy the exact spot intended for us before the time comes for us to be taken away.

II. IN THE MANNER IN WHICH IT WAS CONSTRUCTED.

1. That it proceeded gradually. It was impossible for a building to be made all at once, when the materials were brought from a distance and one by one fitted together. The temple of God has been going on ever since Abel the first righteous man was admitted to heaven.

2. That it was carried on according to a plan. It was impossible that each stone could fit into its appointed place unless that place was pre-arranged and foreseen. Nay, every detail must have been provided for, and all the parts accurately suited one to another. So the wisdom of Almighty God has foreseen and provided for every detail connected with His heavenly temple. Not only have those been selected who shall form part of the building, but every stone is numbered and has its appointed position assigned to it

3. It was carried on in solemn and mysterious silence. A fit type of the mysterious work of God in the construction of His temple in heaven.

III. SOLOMON'S TEMPLE WAS A TYPE OF THE GREAT SPIRITUAL TEMPLE IN THE OBJECT FOR WHICH IT WAS ORDAINED. This was the glory of God. It was not for the pleasure of the king, or for manifesting the beauty of the carved stones — it was for the praise, the worship, and the glory of the Almighty. Let us remember that the end of our salvation is not merely, or even chiefly, our own advantage. There is a higher, a nobler object to be obtained — the praise of God. Conclusion: —

1. In all buildings, there are stones of all sorts, shapes, and sizes required. There are the massive pillars, the keystones to the arches, and the small rubble to fill up the courses. These may not all occupy so prominent a position, but they are all essential to the construction of the building. So the humblest Christians are required in the temple above as well as the more prominent and important.

2. In all buildings there must be builders. So God is the great Master Builder and the Divine Architect. He superintends the work. The under builders in this work are His ministers.

3. The foundation is Christ. The topstone is Christ. He is the Alpha and the Omega — the beginning and the end. He is the basis and the glory of the whole building.

(J. S. Bird, B. A.)

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KJV: And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.

WEB: It happened in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of Yahweh.