THE TEMPLE OF TIME part 3
In the part 2 of this series, we took a look at the creation narrative as it is symbolized in the temple of Solomon. We are continuing that line of thought. We saw how the outer court was representative of the creation that happened in the first three days of the Genesis creation narrative, which is the time period when God separated and ordered the “non-living” structure of His world, the land, sky and seas, represented by the Altar, the Bronze Sea, and the area surrounding the temple respectively. Rising from the sea (outside the temple), going through the land (Outer court), to the top of the heaven piercing mountain (stone altar), through the heavenly firmament of water (Bronze Sea), the priest is entering the heavenly sanctuary, symbolized by the temple building, where the Holy place and Most Holy place are. Now we want to turn to these sections to find out what they represent in the creation narrative.
The Holy Place
If the Outer court represents most of the first three days of creation, then the Holy Place represents the events that took place from the end of the third day till the sixth day. The end of the third day saw the start of God’s filling of the earth with life. From then on, creation was filled with plants, birds, lights in the heavens and animals, culminating in the creation of man on the sixth day. The walls of the Holy place were covered with images of flowers, trees, and cherubim. These represented God’s filling of the land and sky. You may notice the absence of sea creatures in this symbolism, well I believe this is due to the focus of the temple on depicting God’s dwelling place in heaven and with man on earth, which is represented by coming together of sky and land in the mountain of Eden which is itself represented by the temple. The “Sea” is outside the temple, and by extension, outside the Holy land of Israel sanctified by the temple. In the Holy place, the land which is brought to its fullness in Eden is depicted, Eden’s plants and flowers are depicted, and the animal kingdom on land and air is represented by the cherubim, who are an amalgamation of land and air creatures. The Holy place was illuminated by ten menorahs, five on each side. Menorahs are a special form of lampstand, with one stem where three lamps branch out on each side, they represent the lights of the heavens. Eden is on a mountain reaching up to the sky, beyond the waters of the firmament, the firmament had lights to rule the seasons and passing of time, they had delegated authority, “light” to guide the seasons and in extension, life on earth, plants and animals need seasons, so do men, they represent God’s guiding light delegated to leaders.
The Altar of Incense and the table of showbread
Before the stairway into the Most Holy place is a Gold overlaid wooden altar for burning incense. This would represent glorified humanity (Fulfilled in Christ, wood for man, overlaid with Gold for God’s glory) whose good works and prayers in Christ rise up as a fragrant incense to the Father. All this would be consummated and fulfilled in the Most Holy Place. In the next part, we will continue this thought into the Most Holy place, and see how everything is consummated there. If you have any questions or insights, you can tell me in the comments section. Thank you for reading. Pax Christi.
All temple images are gotten from a walkthrough of Solomon’s temple depicted here.