Worship in the Home of God Tabernacle/Temple/Church

In the book of Exodus we learn that God gave Moses detailed instructions to build a portable Tabernacle which would become a place for God to live with his people as they traveled. Moses was instructed to use the very best of materials.

In the book of 1 Kings we learn that God gave Solomon detailed instructions to build a Temple which would become a place for God to live among his people. Solomon was instructed to use the very best materials.

In Matthew 16:18 Jesus prophecies to the Apostle Peter that he would “build his church…”

Ephesians 2:20-22 describes the building of the church. Each Christian is built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11) then each building is assembled with each other and builds a structure (the church) which is described as a “holy temple in the Lord” built for a dwelling place for God.

John 4 contains a discussion between the Samaritan woman and Jesus Christ. Jesus tells her that her people worshipped (incorrectly) on a mountain and the Jews (correctly) worshipped in the Temple in Jerusalem. He foretells that the time would come when the worship of God would be in neither place nor would worship be in a man-made structure but true worship would be in “spirit and in truth”.

Formerly God lived among his people (Israel) in a particular land and in a particular place. Today God lives among and within his people wherever they are and wherever they assemble. He still requires the very best of materials… people who have disciplined themselves to eliminate sin from their lives and replace it with sacrificial works for the benefit of others.

I wish I could go back in time and view the Tabernacle and the Temple… they must have been incredible structures. However, there is nothing more beautiful than God’s people (the church) working and assembling together in love and peace and harmony and Moses and Solomon longed to see that day.