Access to God

Today the Israeli National Police responded to Palestinian protesters acting violently at the Temple Mount. According to the AP reports, the violence erupted after rumors surfaced that Jews were going to be allowed to pray at the site near muslims. As events continue to unfold in the middle east, especially in Jerusalem over the Holy site, it is important to understand the significance from the Christian perspective.

King David made the request to God to build the Temple, however the Lord rejected his request because he had shed blood; therefore his son Solomon would be the builder of the Lord's Temple (2 Samuel 12:13). One of the resources used by Solomon was his alliance with Hiram, King of Tyre. The two leaders reached an agreement that in exchange for wheat, oil, and wine that Hiram would supply Solomon with cedar, cypress wood, and gold.  Many of Tyre's artisans and craftsmen were also sent for their expertise. In the fourth year of Solomon's reign, the construction began.

The main structure was surrounded by chambers that were connected. The entrance into the Temple was through a porch which had two bronze pillars on each side. There were three sections within the Temple compound, one for the Priests, one for the male worshipers, and one for the female worshipers.

The outer room, made of cypress wood, contained the necessary items of worship. The outer room held an Incense altar, the table for Shewbread, and ten lampstands, all made of gold. In front of the Temple itself there was a bronze water basin held by 12 bronze cattle. A bronze altar was housed in the outer room which was used for individual and communal sacrifices.

The inner walls of the Temple and the floor of the Holy of Holies were done with cedar wood. The walls were decorated with palm trees, gourds, cherubs, and flowers blooming which were all made of gold. There was a royal purple, 3 inch thick, 60 feet high and 30 feet wide veil seperating the inner room from the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies ,was only entered once a year on the Day of Atonement by the High Priest. He entered with a rope around his foot with a bell attached. If he was not sanctified before God, the priest would literally die and his body would have to be pulled out of the Holy of Holies.

Inside the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant had two cherubs on each side signifiying the presence of God. Contained in the the Ark of the Covenant were the Ten Commandments, Aaron's staff that budded, manna, and stone tablets of the covenant.

The temple design was not only for physical beauty, it held a purpose. The closer an individual could get to God's presence, the more sanctification it required. This principle applies to us today, the more you desire God, it will require greater sacrifices. However, we no longer have to follow the rituals to have access to God. When Jesus Christ died on the cross the veil of the temple was torn from top to the bottom (Matthew 27:51). When God tore the veil it was a message to the world that He is no longer seperated from His people and we all have access to Him if we so desire. 

However, today the Temple Mount is viewed by Muslims as the place where Muhammad made his third journey and his ascension into Heaven. The site houses a Muslim mosque and the Dome of the Rock. Although controlled by the Israeli government, it is an Islamic place of worship. It is important that Christians understand not only the Biblical meaning of the Temple but also the present and future significance for the Church. Psalm 122:6 says to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and it is our responsibility to do just that. When violence erupts in Jersualem it is not a world away. God is not finished with Jerusalem! In the book of Revelation it states that there will be a new Jerusalem that will come from God out of Heaven. Therefore, the significance of the Temple and Jerusalem is not only applicable to the Jewish people but to every Christian that has ever lived.