G-d’s Conditions

[1 Kgs. 6:11] And the word of the L-RD came to Solomon, saying,
[12] Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father:
[13] And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.
It was very seasonable, being designed: The condition on which that blessing could alone be expected was expressly stated.
1. To encourage him to go on with the building, by confirming anew the promise made to his father David (2 Samuel 7:12-16);
2. To warn him against the pride and presumption of supposing that after the erection of so magnificent a Temple, he and his people would always be sure of the presence and favor of G-d.
3. The dwelling of G-d among the children of Israel refers to those symbols of His presence in the Temple, which were the visible tokens of His spiritual relation to that people.]
G-d expresses the condition upon which His promise and favor is suspended; and by assuring him thereof in case of obedience, he plainly intimates the contrary upon his disobedience. Thus he was taught that all the charge he and the people were at, in erecting this Temple, would neither excuse them from obedience to the Law of G-d, nor shelter them from His judgments in case of disobedience.]
G-d's presence, which is with His people, whether they meet in tent or Temple, and changes not with their condition, the purpose of the inner sanctuary was to house the ark of the covenant of the L-rd, the sacred emblem of G-d’s immanent, sacramental presence. It is this function that defines the meaning and significance of the Temple and accounts for its rather modest dimensions. It was built to house G-d’s presence, not a worshipping congregation.
Seven years to complete, it is not strange that this work took up so much time: for,
1. The Temple properly so called, was for quantity the least part of it, there being very many and great buildings both above ground in the several courts, (for though only the court of the priests be mentioned, yet it is thereby implied, that the same thing was proportionally done in the others) and under ground.
2. The great art which was used here, and the small number of exquisite artists, required the longer time for the doing it. And if the building of Diana's Temple employed all Asia for two hundred years; and the building of one pyramid employed three hundred and sixty thousand men, for twenty years together; both which, Pliny affirms: no reasonable man can wonder that this Temple was seven years in building.
The Temple was completed in the eighth month of Solomon’s eleventh year. Thus seven and one-half years rounded off to seven were devoted to the construction of a building of very modest sixe.
Now let us see what this Temple typifies.
1. Messiah himself is the true Temple. He himself spoke of the Temple of His body: and in Him dwelt all the fullness of the G-d head. In him all the Israel of G-d meet, and thro' Him have access with confidence to G-d.
2. Every believer is a living Temple, in whom the spirit of G-d dwelled. We are wonderfully made by the Divine Providence, but more wonderfully made anew by the Divine grace. And as Solomon's Temple was built on a rock, so are we built on Messiah.
3. The church is a spiritual Temple, enriched and beautified, not with gold and precious stones, but with the gifts and graces of the spirit. Angels are ministering spirits, attending the church and all the members of it on all sides.
4. Heaven is the everlasting Temple. There the church will be fixit, and no longer moveable. The cherubim there always attend upon the Throne of Glory. In the Temple there was no noise of axes or hammers: every thing is quiet and serene in heaven. All that shall be stones in that building, must here be fitted and made ready for it; must be hewn and squared by the Divine grace, and so made meet for a place in that Temple.
In case of obedience, we plainly intimate the contrary upon our disobedience it would neither excuse us from obedience to the Law of G-d, nor shelter us from His judgments in case of disobedience.