In First Kings, chapter six, verse two, the temple housing the ark of the covenant symbolizes God’s presence and character among His people. The temple communicated that God desired to dwell amid His people, as in Leviticus twenty-six, verse twelve, and John fourteen, verses twenty-one through twenty-three, respectively. This house of worship was a visible sign and pledge of His covenant relationship with His people, as in Exodus twenty-nine, forty-five through forty-six, respectively. The temple came to fruition so that God’s name dwells there, as in chapter five, verse five: chapter six, verse sixteen, and chapter nine, verse three, accordingly. The name of God is “holy,” as in Leviticus twenty, verse three, First Chronicles sixteen, verse ten, thirty-five, and Ezekiel thirty-nine, verse seven, correspondingly.
God wanted to be known and worshipped by Israel as the Holy One and the sanctifier of His people, as in Exodus twenty-nine, forty-three through forty-six, and Ezekiel thirty-seven, twenty-six to twenty-eight, respectively. The temple called the house of the Lord was directed and modeled by Him and not to be employed in His service. This house of worship gave it the beauty of holiness that it was the house of the Lord far beyond all other beauties. It was to be the temple of the God of peace where no iron tool was in operation. Quietness and silence suit and help religious exercises.
The work of God should be with much care and little noise. Clamor and violence often hinder but never further the work of God. Therefore the kingdom of God grows up in silence. For believers, the approach should internally be the same. We are the temple of God and should continue to build ourselves peacefully.
James One, verse nineteen, sums up how believers should be: be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.