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Continuing the 1st Kings 7 exploration of the lessons of the design of the temple Solomon built for God, we see a division of copper and gold items. The lesson of copper in the outer Temple area and gold in the inner temple area is God wants to clean us by moving us from the world of the Snake to God’s world.
This last part of the chapter seems innocuous and easy to glaze over and ignore. But we won’t because if God recorded it, it’s important.
Two main materials used to make the utensils of the Temple were copper and gold. These materials have different properties that have both a physical and spiritual meaning. David had collected a lot of these materials for the Temple while he was alive. Solomon was not the exclusive designer of the Temple. God also used both David and Hiram of Tyre to accomplish the building of His Temple.
The Hebrew word that is commonly translated as copper or bronze is נְחֹשֶׁת nechosheth (Strong’s lexicon No. H5178). A likely root of this word is נחשׁ nachash (H5175), the word for snake, which is commonly a reddish, coppery color.
Copper was not just chosen arbitrarily. Moses built the snake in the wilderness out of cooper (Num. 21:4–9). Copper reminds God of humanity’s uncleanliness — poisoned nature — by the metal’s tendency to tarnish — be corrupted — to an unattractive green color. Copper needs polishing regularly to prevent that.
Gold (זָהָב zahav, H2091) represents what God wants from us, purity and perfection. The people use the copper utensils to cleanse themselves so they are ready to present Him their perfect praise and worship.
The lesson of the copper and gold in the Temple: Clean the garbage out of your temple to prepare your mind and body to meet with God.
Copper
Used outside the Holy Place, represent kings, priests and people.
- Pots
- Shovels
- Bowls
- Pillars―including the capitals, netting, basin, pomegranates
- 10 stands
- 10 lavers, including the “sea” resting on the 12 bulls
Gold
Used in the Holy Place and only by the High Priest. It’s symbolic of perfection. These items are used to focus on God.
- Altar of incense: prayer & praise
- 10 tables with bread: life, God’s chosen people (Chronicles records 10 tables; 1 Kings records only one table.)
- 10 menorah with gold tongs: light, God’s eyes
- Jugs: for wine (gladness) libations or oil or water
- Musical instruments: perfect praise
- Bowls: used for the offerings
- Spoons: used for the offerings
- Pans: used to collect the ashes from the menorah and incense
- Hinges and sockets: only about God, these are for the door to the Holy Place, only High Priest used them only once a year
Speaker: Daniel Agee. Summary:Tammy.
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