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Solomon’s name means “peace,” meaning that the church is built by Christ as “a man of rest” in peace, without any noise—1 Chron. 22:9; Acts 9:31; Eph. 4:29-32:
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Every piece of stone used for the building of the temple was, in principle, already cut and dealt with in the mountains; thus, the sound of hammer, axe, and iron tool was not heard, and the temple was built quietly—1 Kings 5:15-18; 6:7.
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If a brother who is not dealt with by the Lord (who talks incessantly, who is not a good listener, and who thus has an un-renewed mind) becomes an elder, the church will be filled with the noise of the hammer, axe, and iron tool; some “noise” can be certain saints fighting with one another by praying to nullify another one’s prayer—cf. Isa. 50:4-5; Eph. 4:23.
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In the church, if we hear others’ criticism, judgment, arguing, and opposition, we should withdraw into the Holy of Holies, that is, retreat into and turn to our spirit; the temple is built in quietness—Gal. 6:17-18; Isa. 30:15a.
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After the Ark was at rest, those whom David set over the service of song in the house of Jehovah ministered before the Tent of Meeting with singing until Solomon built the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem—1 Chron. 6:31-32.
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We “dwell with the King for His work,” enjoying Him as the crucified and resurrected Christ to build Himself into us for our being perfected into pillars in the church as the house of God—Hymns, #904; 1 Chron. 4:23; 1 Kings 7:17, 21; Rev. 3:12.
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By enjoying the all-inclusive Christ as the resurrection power and the resurrecting and life-giving Spirit of the processed Triune God (the real and greater Solomon), we can participate in the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings with His God-man living as a man of prayer to be conformed to His death (as the real and greater David) for the sake of His Body (the real and greater temple)—Phil. 3:10; Rom. 8:11; Matt. 12:3-4, 42; John 2:19-22; 2 Cor. 6:16.
Morning Nourishment
1 Kings 6:7 And the house, when it was being built, was built of finished stone, cut at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any iron tool was heard in the house when it was being built.Gal. 6:17-18 Henceforth let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the brands of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
For the building of the temple, there was the need for a design and for consecration... Every piece of stone used for the building of the temple was, in principle, already cut and dealt with in the mountains (1 Kings 5:15-18; 6:7). At the time of the building, there was only the need for the precut and shaped stones to be placed one on top of the other. There was no need for additional work with an axe or hammer. Thus, the sound of the hammer and axe was not heard, and the temple was built quietly.
A person must be dealt with by God in order to have his function manifested and to be built up in the church... A brother is not qualified to be an elder merely because he has attained a certain level of seniority, knowledge, capability, morality, and reputation. He may be a good stone, but his sharp edges may not have been dealt with by God. If this kind of person becomes an elder, the church will be filled with the noise of the hammer and axe... If a church is not noisy, it is strong and healthy. (CWWL, 1956, vol. 2, “Three Aspects of the Church, Book 1,” p. 218)
Today’s Reading
In principle, everyone who serves in the church must be a cut stone. If a newly saved believer or a brother from another Christian group comes into the church and begins to criticize recklessly,... the responsible brothers should not create any noise. If everyone remains silent after the contentious brother has spoken, his voice will surely disappear within a short time. However, if a person responds to what this brother has spoken, there will be more speaking and debate.If a person has not been adequately broken by the Lord and has not sufficiently learned some deep lessons, he will be inwardly provoked when he hears the rebukes or criticisms of others, and he will answer back or even quarrel with them. On the contrary, one who has truly learned the lesson would never argue with people. If he can receive help from others, he will seek the help; if he can render help to others and if they are willing to receive the help, he will try his best to teach them what he has learned according to the leading of the Spirit. However, if he notices that the other party only seeks to argue, oppose, and criticize, he will swallow his words and remain silent. This one has truly learned the lesson; that is, he has been cut by an axe and dealt with by a hammer in the mountains.
In all the church service we should hear only praising, thanksgiving, and singing. These are the proper sounds in the church... In the Lord’s table meetings we have sometimes heard people fighting against one another by praying to nullify another one’s prayer. This shows that the church has not been genuinely built up. A necessary condition for the building of the church is the absence of noise.
In the church, if we hear others’ criticism, judgment, and opposition, we should withdraw into the Holy of Holies, that is, turn to our spirit and be silent. When we are silent, others will also be silent, but when we are loud, others will be louder. The temple was not built with the sound of hammering and beating; it was built in quietness. This requires that we learn a serious lesson before the Lord.
In order to build the temple, to build the church, we must live in resurrection, live a consecrated life, and receive God’s dealing... David was such a person. He gave all that he had for the temple and continually submitted himself under God’s hand to receive God’s dealing. (CWWL, 1956, vol. 2, pp. 219-220)
Further Reading: CWWL, 1971, vol. 4, “Enjoying the Riches of Christ for the Building Up of the Church as the Body of Christ,” ch. 17