1 Kings 6:20

The inner shrine of the temple was the oracle, and here was the prepared place for "the ark of the covenant of the Lord" (1 Kings 6:19). The walls of the oracle were of cedar, carved with "gourds and open flowers," and all was covered with pure gold. It was a shrine of beauty, and a fit resting place for the ark of the LORD.

As in the tabernacle in the wilderness, the most holy place formed a perfect cube within… The New Jerusalem will be the same: "its length the same as its width" (Rev. 21:16). The result of God's work is perfect, with nothing to add and nothing to take away. Everything is ordered according to the mind of the Divine Architect. The New Jerusalem is, so to speak, a great most holy place where God can dwell, just as He dwelt in the oracle of the temple. This is because everything in it answers to His holiness and His righteousness… God's sanctuary is the Church in glory!

The sanctuary in Israel, God's dwelling place among them, was a cube: ten cubits in the tabernacle, twenty in the temple. The new Jerusalem, the final city of God, lit by the glory of God, is a cube as well: "Its length and width and height are equal." This is one of those deep harmonies of Scripture that lie everywhere under the surface and show how true it is. Here all the purposes of God have come true at last. Here the holiness long sought from man is at last reached.

Cedar wood covered the oracle and the holy place ("the temple before it") alike. In Scripture cedar stands for majesty and height, durability and firmness. No part of the walls inside was left bare. Nowhere did the stone show. But gold covered the cedar itself, and even the cypress planks of the floor. In Scripture gold always stands for divine righteousness and glory.

Those who entered the temple to dwell with God saw nothing but divine righteousness all around them. Down to the very floor beneath their feet, everything was covered. Man cannot dwell with God except according to divine righteousness. The furnishings of the temple were also made of gold or overlaid with gold: the altar of incense, the cherubim, and the doors of the most holy place.

In the house gold was the main feature. The word "gold" occurs eleven times in this chapter. Everything was overlaid with gold… The whole sanctuary bore witness to the glory of righteousness, and this house pictures what is still to come. One day the true King will build the house and show His glory. Then the glory and the showing of divine righteousness will be far greater!

The sanctuary was overlaid with pure gold, and the cedar altar also (v.20). This was clearly the same altar mentioned in verse 22, standing in the outer sanctuary next to the inner sanctuary. This altar was for offering incense. It pictures Christ as the Sustainer of the worship of His people. The altar of burnt offering stood outside. There the many animals were offered, and all of them speak of the value of Christ's sacrifice at Calvary for us. Now, raised from the dead, He "will never die again," but He receives worship.

Cedar is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ risen from the dead. It was overlaid with gold, which shows the divine glory of His person. He is the One in whose name we worship, and He said, "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24).