Israelites from Dan to Beersheba stand in awe at the most beautiful structure they have ever seen: the new Temple of God. What was once Araunah's rough threshing floor has been transformed into a glorious Temple Mount, with the Temple glistening in the early sunshine, surrounded by magnificent courtyards and ornate walls. Solomon's building was the Temple of God because of God's presence, and so it is today. God now lives in us by His Holy Spirit, making us living stones and part of His spiritual Temple. The spiritual Temple of God is a work in progress, with God building us as living stones on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. Just as the Temple had many types of stones forming its foundation, walls, and pillars, so will God's spiritual Temple. The foundation of this spiritual Temple has been laid and cannot be changed, with Jesus Christ as the Rock upon which He builds His church. A fascinating aspect of Solomon's Temple is that it rose in a peaceful, quiet environment, built with stone finished at the quarry so that no hammer or chisel was heard during its construction. God is absolutely confident He will have a holy, spiritual Temple in the end, which will surpass the glory of the former Temple. He is so sure of finishing this task that He speaks of it as already accomplished. After God has planned, selected, hewn out, polished, and finished every piece, the Temple comes together quietly, with all parts conveyed to one place and assembled in peace. When Jesus Christ returns, He will gather the living stones to Him in the air, and upon Him they assemble as God's Temple, each fitting into a preordained position. Realizing the Temple's significance, Solomon dedicated it with dignity, pomp, and a worshipful prayer, followed by a fourteen-day feast and lavish sacrifices. God showed His pleasure by filling His House with a cloud so profound that the priests had to leave the building. When Jesus returns with His Bride, who will also be the living Temple of God, He will host a marriage supper, setting the tone for His new order. Solomon's dedication is but a type of the most glorious dedication ever witnessed, when the true House of God assembles. We are handpicked stones, chosen by God the Father Himself, and though the construction may be painful, the result will be worth it as we take our places in this glorious new Temple.

The command "Go not out of the house," found in Exodus 12:22, carries a profound spiritual lesson that remains relevant today. This instruction, given during the Passover, saved the lives of the Israelites who obeyed by staying within their homes, protected by the blood on the doorposts. For us, the house represents a spiritual enclosure, and the lesson is to remain within this protective boundary, not taking liberty to step outside spiritually. The term "house" in biblical usage often serves as a metonymy, representing not just a physical structure but also what it contains—family, household, or dynasty. In Genesis 7, "house" can be translated as household or family, indicating those contained within the enclosure. In II Samuel 7 and I Chronicles 17, God speaks of making a house for David, referring to a dynasty of kings, showing how "house" evolves into a container of something far greater and more spiritual. God's house is revealed as His Family Kingdom, a dynasty encompassing His Family. In I Peter 4, God's house is identified with Christians, where His judgment begins with those already part of His Family. I Peter 2:5 further describes believers as living stones being built into a spiritual house, not merely residing in it but becoming integral parts of a living structure. This house is dynamic, connected to Christ as the chief cornerstone, and to leave it is to lose connection to the source of life, leading to spiritual death. In I Corinthians 3, we are shown as laborers with God, working on and being worked upon in this living building. The foundation of this spiritual house is Christ, and we must build carefully upon it, ensuring our efforts align with God's purpose. Ephesians 2 portrays this house as a temple, the inner sanctuary where God dwells by His Spirit, emphasizing our close relationship as members of His Family, not strangers or guests. John 10 shifts the metaphor to a sheepfold, an enclosure with Christ as the door, protecting those within from external dangers. I Corinthians 12 likens the church to a human body, an enclosure of many members functioning as one under Christ, the Head. Finally, in Ephesians, the church is depicted as the body of Christ, His fullness, indicating a vital, living connection where the Head and Body are incomplete without each other, united in purpose and power. The overarching message is clear: do not go out of the house. This spiritual enclosure—whether house, temple, sheepfold, or body—represents God's Family, His Kingdom, and our vital connection to Him. To remain within is to stay connected to life and purpose; to leave is to risk spiritual peril.

The command "Go not out of the house," given in Exodus 12:22, carries profound significance for us today as it did when God spoke it through Moses. This instruction, tied to the Passover, symbolizes a vital spiritual lesson. The house represents a place of safety and protection, where the blood on the doorposts and lintel ensures that the destroyer cannot enter. God uses the door to signify the entirety of the house, emphasizing that remaining within is essential for survival during times of peril. In the broader scriptural context, the concept of the house expands to embody various meanings. It can signify a physical structure, a family, a dynasty, or even a kingdom. God's house is identified as His kingdom, His family, and His church. As seen in I Peter 4:17, judgment begins at the house of God, pointing to the church as the starting point of His work among His people. This house is a spiritual building, with Christians as living stones, integrated into a dynamic organism under Christ as the Chief Cornerstone, as described in I Peter 2:5. Further, in I Corinthians 3:9-17, we are portrayed as God's building, co-laboring with Him, working in and on this spiritual house while being worked upon by Him. The foundation of this house is Jesus Christ, and once inside, surrounded by the blood of the door, we must not leave. Ephesians 2 reinforces this, depicting the church as a temple, a dwelling place for God by His Spirit, with Christ as both foundation and cornerstone, growing into a holy sanctuary. The metaphor of the house also appears as a sheepfold in John 10, a place of refuge for God's sheep, with Christ as the door ensuring protection. Remaining in this house, this church, is crucial for abundant life under His care. Across these passages, the instruction remains clear: do not leave the house of God, the church, no matter the external pressures or fears. It is the most exalted place on earth, a living organism vital to God's purpose, where we are called to stay until the morning light of Christ's return or our own end.