God’s temple was a peculiar building from start to finish. It was the Lord’s own house, planned, directed, and modeled by him. King Solomon built this first earthly building for God, totally dedicated and devoted to his honor. Which granted it a special sort of beauty.
“Solomon’s temple is the most wonderful and interesting building in the world’s history. It was ‘the mysterious centre of Israel.’ It was far more to Israel than the Vatican is to Rome. It was, so long as it stood, God’s only earthly palace and temple. The Pyramids of Egypt were old when it was built, and they show no signs of decay. Solomon’s temple utterly perished after four centuries. Greek and Roman artists have given the laws of beautiful and stately architecture to the world, but no one has ever dreamed of copying, in any respect, the sacred building at Jerusalem. Brunelleschi’s dome at Florence, St. Peter’s at Rome, the Milan Cathedral are almost miracles of daring genius and patient toil. The temple was in comparison a homely and plain building in its style. Its size was, as compared with these, small and insignificant. Yet God in a peculiar sense was its architect. He filled it with His glory. ‘His eyes and His heart were there’.” – Biblical Illustrator by Monday Club Sermons.
God’s presence there was palpable and tangible. It was as though his heart and his eyes were looking into and out of it.
Erected in silence
Yet the temple was erected in silence, and that silence that speaks loudly.
Harsh and violent sounds were out-of-place in this divine building, says Matthew Henry in his commentary, so the workers formed each piece at separate preparation sites. Yet when they were brought together at the building site, each one fit with perfect precision. A feat unparalleled in architectural history, and performed in silence.
God often works in holy silence
He often works his wonders and marvels in holy silence. He created the heavens, the earth, and all that is in them without a lot of noise and clamor. And he still works, in nature and in the spirit, so silently that we sometimes scarcely realize he is working.
Enemies eventually destroyed the temple with axes, hammers, and a roar (Psalm 74:4-6). But they could not stop God or keep him from working. His work continues today, and he often still builds in quiet, holy silence.
God comes to us softly
He is still building in quiet stillness today. He comes softly into our lives, changing us quietly on the inside. So that, as with the temple, others may sense his presence. And so that we can let his glory and goodness can shine out from our lives.
God comes softly into our hearts. Changes us quietly on the inside – until others sense his presence in our lives and see his light shining out through us.
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And this we can do without a lot of noise and clamor. Without shouting, “Look at me! I’m a Christian!” For it will show by the way we treat others, our attitude toward money and possessions. And in the words we say or don’t say. If he dwells within us it will show.
Can others sense God’s quiet presence in us? Do they see God in our lives?
When the house was built, it was with stone prepared at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was being built.
1 Kings 6:7 ESV
Images: Distant temple from FreeBibleImages by www.LumoProject.com | Seashell from Canva.
Signora Sheila 
Nice blog
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Thanks, Saania! I’m blessed that it spoke to you.
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Beautiful post! Yes, God does often come softly. And I love what you said here: “God comes softly into our hearts. Changes us quietly on the inside – until others sense his presence in our lives and see his light shining out through us.” That is my prayer for my life. Amen. Blessings to you!
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Thanks! All of us need to pray for that, Gayl! If he isn’t shining out through us then I guess we’d have to question, “What is??” Blessings to you, too!
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Sheila, this is beautiful! Thank you for reminding us to be still and wait on the Lord. May you be still to hear the whisper of God. Karen
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I agree, Karen. We need time before God in peaceful silence. Because we need his whisper in our hearts and lives!
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This is beautiful. Thank you Signora Sheila!!
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You’re welcome, Katie. I’m blessed that it encouraged you!!
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It did!! 🙂 Have a wonderful day!!
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You too!!
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I too was taken with how much God accomplishes in silence and wrote a poem (of sorts) on the theme several years ago. It became the post, In the Quiet. I pray people do sense God’s quiet presence in me. I certainly feel quieter of spirit than I did in early adulthood (not to mention the teenage years)!
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I’ll have to search for that poem, Nancy. Quiet is so lacking these days. May, like you say, bring God’s quiet, gentle peace with our presence!
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I hadn’t considered how the Lord built His house in silence, that no ax or tool of iron was heard. It’s such a beautiful picture of how He works in us, with quiet and purposeful intent–the opposite of the loud, clanging, demanding voice of the world. I love that quote by Matthew Henry–God’s work is done and befriended in silence. Great thoughts, my friend. Thanks for this wonderful picture.
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I hadn’t either, Dayle, until it struck me in my reading. Then further reading in the Biblical study aids, I really started realizing how significant it was. God does all things in his own special and perfect way. How great he is!!
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Amen!!! ❤ I think what He works on softly and quietly sometimes beams the brightest on the outside for others to see. 🙂
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I think so too TR. Often the people I have learned the most from are those who said the least. But their lives spoke such great wisdom and shined such pure love that they drew others like a magnet and imparted so much! Be blessed, Sheila
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Amen!!!
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Wonderful post Sheila. Thank you for this. Something to meditate on and really consider as we celebrate Jesus coming to earth as a baby. Many blessings. Karen
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Great correlation Karen. Coming to earth as a baby was one of his greatest works done in nearly hidden silence, wasn’t it? He truly does come softly! Be blessed, Sheila
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I love this One verse that has been so prevalent in my meditations for the last week or so is “Be Still and know that I am God”. This is when I can hear His voice. And, as you sad, this is how He does His work in us. Just because He’s silent at times does not mean He is not working – he is probably working more! Great post. I am going to reblog this!
Be blessed!
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Be still. That’s so hard in today’s world of noise and clamor, isn’t it? And perhaps even more so in this season of holiday rush. But God often seems to do some of his greatest work in moments of stillness. Or perhaps it’s just that we notice them more when our hearts and minds are quiet and still! Thanks for the reblog! God bless!
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You’re more than welcome. I’ve been getting some good comments on your article. I’m glad I ran across you. Be blessed
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I’m glad Pete that it seems to have encouraged many. That makes it all worthwhile! I’m so glad to know you too!! Blessings to you, Sheila
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