1 Kings 6:7
And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building. And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.
The house was put together in silence because its stones were cut, squared, polished, tested and fitted for their exact places at the quarry before they were brought to the building site, so no hammer or axe or any iron tool was heard while it was in building. It stands as a picture of God's living church through the ages, a spiritual temple of people gathered out of the world from every nation and station whom God as Master-builder shapes and prepares until the completed temple is perfect in all its parts with Christ as its chief cornerstone. Character must be hewed, squared, polished and fitted in His workshop during this present earthly probation, with every stroke given here, for no further blows can be struck to shape character after probation closes. In that work He brings rough traits and defects under the chisel and hammer to remove roughness and sharp corners in a purposeful and loving way, so that those who submit will each take a proper place in His glorious temple without blemish, while those who cling to self and refuse transformation will not be fitted for the holy structure.
Temple Built Without Sound
The stones for the house were cut, squared, polished, tested and fitted each to its exact place at the quarry before being brought to the building site, so that the house was assembled there without the sound of hammer, axe or any tool of iron. Every stone was prepared beforehand to fit its place, and the skill and care of that preparation made the finished work one of exceptional beauty, richness and splendor. The timbers were likewise fitted in the forest and the furniture was brought to the house fully prepared for use. While the work on Mount Moriah went forward noiselessly, the work on the temple furnishings was carried on at the same time.
This belongs to Solomon's construction of a magnificent, costly, beautiful and splendid permanent sanctuary whose design displayed the wisdom God had given him. It was built faithfully according to God's directions. After Israel settled in Canaan it replaced the portable tabernacle as the sanctuary, larger and permanent yet keeping the tabernacle's proportions and furnishings. The silent fitting together was not the result of a special miracle but of accurate, skillful labor by workmen who felt the greatness of the work and fashioned every stone to match the exact place it was to fill. God was the designer and men were the executors, with a head leader and master workmen over different parts directing thousands of workmen. Because the needed qualification and fine skill were not found among workmen of his own nation and religion, Solomon sent elsewhere for workmen who would do justice to the responsible work entrusted to them. Those leaders from outside Israel were obeyed by thousands without discord, strife, strikes, rebellion or dissatisfaction, as every man wrought in peaceful and harmonious action until the stones came together silently.
A stone brought from the quarry was rejected by the builders, though it later proved fit to be the cornerstone of the temple. The quiet way of building, in which stones made ready beforehand came together without axe and hammer, stands in relief from the ordinary noise of axe, saw and hammer in painting and carpentering. That peaceful, harmonious pattern calls every man, woman, parent and child now to arise and build God's house with deep heart interest, to move cautiously in faith, to bring gifts and donations, and to show greater interest in God's house than in personal conveniences and houses built for themselves. Building according to God's directions in this way brings His blessing.
Living Temple Fitted Now
The carefully and quietly put together temple is a picture of God's living church being built through the ages according to the divine pattern, with Christ as its chief cornerstone. It represents God's spiritual temple made of living people, quarried out of the world by truth and gathered from every nation and every level of society and education. God Himself is the Master-builder who hews, shapes, polishes, tests and prepares each one for his own place, until when complete the temple will be perfect in all its parts.
No person or nation is perfect in every habit and thought, so the members stand in need of correction and must learn from one another. Their unity in judgment and purpose makes visible the union they have in Christ.
The verse teaches that character must be hewed, squared, polished, refined and fitted in God's workshop during this present earthly probation. This present life is that workshop, where all the work of preparation must be done and every stroke given here. No further blows can be struck to shape character after probation closes and the heavenly building is complete.
In that refining work rough traits, character defects, roughness and sharp corners are brought under the chisel and hammer, and by grace each person is smoothed and polished to fit a place in His glorious temple. That correcting work is purposeful and loving, done to restore and not to destroy, striking no useless or needless blow.
Those who will not submit to the fitting process can never fill a place in the building. Those who cling to self and refuse transformation by sanctifying truth are not fitted for the holy structure, and those who fail to overcome such traits as an impetuous, unruly temper will be separated from God. Those who submit and are at last found without blemish will each take a proper place in God's temple, see the King in His beauty, and possess everlasting life.
Christ's return will not be a time for purifying character but for changing the bodies of the already-fitted redeemed, both the resurrected and the living saints. Building according to God's directions brings His blessing, and by it the people prepare themselves to worship in the temple not made with hands, the temple in heaven.