"Something greater than the Temple is here."

The Word for today:
1 Kings 8:12-66

[The book of Hebrews in the New Testament develops the rich spiritual significance of the Tabernacle's design and furnishings. Why does Hebrews use the simple Tabernacle to illustrate these truths when it could have used the ornate Temple? We began to answer that question over the past two days, and will conclude our answer today.]

God proposed the Tabernacle:

(Artists' renderings; night and day views)--

Man proposed the Temple:

There was nothing wrong with the Temple. It was good. But God's idea--the Tabernacle--was great.

The Tabernacle (also known as the Tent of Meeting) was always in the midst of the nation Israel as they encamped and as they were on the move through the wilderness.

John 1:14 tells us that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. "Dwelt," if literally translated, means "tabernacled" or "tented." Jesus is the tabernacle amongst us; our access to God.

In the same way, the Bible is like the tabernacle. It shows the Way for man to approach God. It’s portable, simple, and among us.

So the Word, the Word made flesh, and the Tabernacle--each were sent to be among us, showing us the Way to God.

Solomon, son of David, built a sumptuous palace, and lived in opulent splendor. But coming down the road, in a threadbare cloak, with calloused carpenter’s hands, the ultimate Son of David faced the religious leaders and told them,
Something greater than Solomon is here (1); something greater than the Temple is here (2).

Then he was gone. At the center of 12 sons of Israel as they walked down the road, he was a picture of the Tabernacle in the midst of the 12 tribes of Israel as they made their way through the wilderness. God was among them, on his way to Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, where he would build his Father's house with just 3 nails.

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(1) Matthew 12:42; (2) Matthew 12:6