Authors, Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola, in their book, "Jesus, A Theography" make the point that the entire Bible is a story or picture of Jesus. Another author, David Chilton, wrote in a similar vein about the symbolism found in the book of Revelation in his books, "Paradise Restored" and "The Days of Vengeance."
With this in mind, I keep finding connections and parallels in my reading of the Old Testament. An example of this is Huram Abi, referred to in 2 Chronicles chapters 2 & 4.
In 2 Chron. "2 [a]Solomon decided to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord, and also a royal palace for himself."
In the New Testament Jesus said in ...Matthew 16:18... "upon this rock I will build my church." The Apostle Paul refers to believers, "the church" as the temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? The Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 2:5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.
It is generally recognized that the Church was initiated by the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, that Jesus carries on the work of building His church through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. In this light, Solomon seems to be type of Jesus building the Temple of God, for his father, David. Solomon was known for his great wisdom and his name sounds like the Hebrew word for peace. * Jesus is our Peace. Jesus builds His Church, both through the Holy Spirit and human instruments, e.g. Paul, Peter, and the other apostles.
So Solomon, as a picture or type of Jesus, "decided to build a Temple to honor the name of the LORD." He sent a message to King Hiram at Tyre: ... vs 2:7 “So send me a master craftsman who can work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron, as well as with purple, scarlet, and blue cloth. He must be a skilled engraver who can work with the craftsmen of Judah and Jerusalem..."
First, an apostle is a sent one**, and the Holy Spirit was also sent from the Father. Then the Apostle Paul in 1 Cor 3:10 - 12 says: vs10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Then verse11 in 2 Chronicles, King Hiram sent this letter of reply to Solomon: ... 13 “I am sending you a master craftsman named Huram-abi, who is extremely talented. 14 His mother is from the tribe of Dan in Israel, and his father is from Tyre. He is skillful at making things from gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and he also works with stone and wood. He can work with purple, blue, and scarlet cloth and fine linen. He is also an engraver and can follow any design given to him. He will work with your craftsmen and those appointed by my lord David, your father.
To me, Huram-abi, is an Old Testament picture of the Holy Spirit. Even his name means, "noble born, free, (my)father."*** The metals represent the following: Gold/righteousness, Silver/redemption, bronze/the cleansing of sin, iron/the relationship between humans. The other materials listed above also have their respective symbolic meanings.
Only the Holy Spirit can work righteousness, redemption, and the cleansing of sin, in a human being. Only He can fit the Living Stones into their proper places in the Body.
The gifts of "Gold", "Silver" given to the Temple, have more value then "just" beauty, their value gives us eternal standing, and are inherent with the whole value of our Christian lives. The gold was an integral part of the adornment of the Temple (of we are part). The gold adornment is symbolic of the Inherent Righteousness of God, He needs no adornment. (2Chron 3&4) Without the initial, and fundamental gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Christ, we would be eternally separated from God, the Father.
*22:9 Solomon sounds like and is probably derived from the Hebrew word for “peace.” New Living Translation (NLT)
https://www.biblegateway.com
** G652 a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G652&t=KJV
***https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H21&t=KJV
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H2361&t=KJV
