1Ki 6:22 And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold.

1 Kings 6 describes in details the building of the temple of God. It was a golden temple; everything was covered with gold. It was a magnificent piece of architecture in those days. But Paul said: “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands” (Acts 17:24). Our Lord said to a Samaritan woman: “The hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.… the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him” (John 4:21, 23). Thank God we do not need a physical temple to worship Him. In the New Covenant, the temple is the body of Christ (John 2:19-21). That body of Christ, which is the temple of God according to John 2:21, is the church: “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:22, 23). How did the Israelites in the Old Covenant worship God? They worshipped with animal sacrifices. What kind of sacrifices should we bring to worship in the New Covenant? 1. Ourselves: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). 2. Our Praises: “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Hebrews 13:15). 3. Our Gifts: “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God” (Philippians 4:18). 4. Our Charitable Works: “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16                                                     The worship of the temple, with its psalms and sacrifices, were designed for the glory and honour and worship of Jehovah. And such should be the aim of our worship – to glory, honour, and worship God. Worship is towards God and not ourselves! We do not come to worship to feel good or to be edified. If we were all perfect, we do not need sermons to admonish and exhort us to be spiritual. Some complained they did not feel edified by the sermons or even the whole worship. Well, we come to worship and not to feel edified; we come to worship God. Is God glorified by our worship? Worship must be our aim in coming to church; it means we are here to glorify and honour God. Can our Sunday services be simply singing praises to God, praying, partaking the Lord’s Supper, and reading the Scriptures? Indeed, they can. Edification is not the primary reason for our assembling; worship is. A true worshipper is edified in the songs, prayers and reading of the Scriptures. True worshippers worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Nothing can edify a worshipper whose spirit is not present at the worship service. Solomon built a golden temple for God. The church is the new temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16). Each of us is a living stone that makes up the spiritual house of God (1 Peter 2:5). Paul said in this great house there are vessels of gold, silver, wood and earth (2 Timothy 2:20). He was referring to Christians in this great house of God. Are we gold silver, wood, or earth? This house will be golden if we are all gold. What are we?