Artwork by Alex Levin.
Ephesians 2:19-22 describes the people of God, the church, as a temple. So what does Scripture tell us about the proper role of the temple in the worship of God?
God chooses where and how He will be worshiped.
In contrast to pagan worship, which could be established on every hill and under every tree, God chose where and how He would be worshipped corporately (Deuteronomy 12:5). Families would regularly travel to the place where God made His name known as they lived a life of worship to their God.
The Old Testament teaches us that the temples built for worshiping Yahweh, the LORD, were constructed in the place of God’s choosing. Ultimately, God chose Solomon to build the temple in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 17).
We should remember that God shows us the right way to worship HIm. If we want to draw close to the Creator, we do not get to design a style of religion that works for us personally. When we gather with other believers, we worship God the way He intends for us to do so (Hebrews 10:25).
The temple is for knowing God not containing Him.
While the place of worship was called “the house of the Lord,” God had another description, “The place where His name would dwell” (Deuteronomy 12). Upon completing the temple, Solomon was clear that the building could not contain God! (1 Kings 8:27) Stephen reiterated that the earth is God’s footstool; therefore, He could not possibly be contained in a building (Acts 7:48).
The idea that God’s “name is known” in the temple shows us that it was a place for learning about God. Even in Jesus’ day, God’s temple in Jerusalem was an essential place of teaching and discourse. Jesus Himself regularly taught there as did the apostles. Gathering with the church in Christ should be a place of learning and encouragement (1 Corinthians 14:26, Hebrews 3:13).
The Temple is a place of celebration for God’s abundant gifts.
God’s people would gather regularly at His chosen place of worship and celebrate! Practically, worshippers who lived nearby would bring their animals to the temple for sacrifice (Deuteronomy 14), and then they would share in some of the cooked food. Those who lived far off could go to Jerusalem and buy what they needed for their celebration of thanks to God (Deuteronomy 14:26).
As Larry Trotter once preached, “Worship is a big party!” Since we worship the same God In Christ, our worship should continue to celebrate Him. Joyful sharing with one another continues to be a proper way to show that God is glorious among His people (Acts 2, 1 Corinthians 11, James 5:13).
The Temple is a place to connect with God the Father.
God’s place of worship has always been a place of prayer to connect to the Father. We see Hannah praying to God with her strong desire for a child (1 Samuel 1:1), and God blessing her. Isaiah taught that worshippers of God from every nationality could go to the temple to serve, worship, and pray to God (Isaiah 56:6-7). Jesus referenced this exact point when He cleansed the temple (Matthew 21:13, Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46).
Because of Christ, we can have a relationship with the Father and receive access to request His life-giving aid for our needs (Ephesians 2:18). We continue to gather to pray with and for one another (Acts 12:12, 2 Corinthians 1:11, James 5:14).
The Temple is about Worshiping God not pleasing myself.
God didn’t establish a place for His worship to please individual worshippers. Paul teaches that “we are being built together into a dwelling place for God” (Ephesians 2:22); it’s an ongoing work for His glory. Former North Wake Leadership Pastor Jeff Doyle preached in 2011, “The building is still being built! The temple, the building made of the collective church, is the finished work of God’s redemptive work. I individually am not the end goal.”
