Temple Talk

Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (I Corinthians 6:19-20)


If our bodies are considered a temple, it seems we could benefit from learning about the purposes and plans of the original Jewish temple. In 2 Chronicles 2, Solomon determined it was time to construct the temple and states four overlying purposes for its construction:

* To dedicate it to the Lord.

* To burn before Him sweet incense.

* For the continual shewbread.

* For the burnt offerings.

These purposes provide good points of evaluation for Christians:

1. Am I dedicated to the Lord? Have I set myself apart for the purposes of God in my life or are there still parts I am reserving for other purposes?

2. Am I dedicated to prayer? The priests were commanded to burn incense every morning and evening at the same time the burnt offerings were made and the incense was to burn all day and all night. Incense is a picture of the prayers of the saints going up before God (Psalms 141:2, Revelation 8:3-4). It pleases God for us to pray. I Thessalonians 5:17 says we should “pray without ceasing.” Do I?

3. Am I dedicated to communion? The showbread “stood on the right side of the Holy Place across from the lampstand and held 12 loaves of bread, representing the 12 tribes of Israel. The priests baked the bread with fine flour and it remained on the table before the Lord for a week; every Sabbath day the priests would remove it and eat it in the Holy Place, then put fresh bread on the table.” (www.the-tabernacle-place.com) Shewbread literally means “face” and “bread.” Jesus said he is “the bread of Life.” In addition, bread is commonly associated with sharing a meal or communion. When we put all these aspects together, the imagery of the showbread was continual communion in the presence of God. Am I aware of God’s presence continually?

4. Am I dedicated to presenting my body a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1)? The burnt offering was a sacrifice to be completely consumed for God. Romans instructs us that this is our reasonable service. Jesus was completely consumed for us! Do I stay on the altar of sacrifice in my life?

Jewish history tells us that the temple was not always used in a way that fulfilled its original purpose and design. Often small compromises would be made which would inevitably lead to huge deviations from the law and ultimately some pretty severe consequences. Though we are not under the law any longer, God does ask for our complete dedication -- abandonment to Him to fulfill the purposes for which we were created. Human nature is to compromise, but we have the means with which we can avoid falling back on our human nature. We have the Spirit of God dwelling in us, teaching us His truth and empowering us to walk in it – if we will allow Him to do that. When we live out the purposes for which we were designed, it is not only pleasing to God, it is pleasant for us, and in doing so, we are completely fulfilled and satisfied. How’s your temple?