Our summary of the old testament concludes with the books of first and second Chronicles. The tabernacle was a portable temple and the ark of the covenant was considered the “hot spot” of God’s presence. David did not like that ark was under “tent curtains,” while he lived in a Cedar house. He wanted to build a “house” for God. God used the prophet Nathan to tell David…

“Go and tell David My servant, Thus says the Lord: You shall not build Me a house to dwell in, For I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel from Egypt until this day; but I have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another. Wherever I have walked with all Israel, did I say a word to any of the judges of Israel whom I commanded to feed My people, saying, Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?

(1 Chronicles 17:4-6 AMPC)

The tabernacle was simply a picture of a relationship God wanted with His people. The New Testament reflects on this idea when Stephen reflects back on this idea of a house for God.

“Our forefathers had the tent (tabernacle) of witness in the wilderness, even as He Who directed Moses to make it had ordered, according to the pattern and model he had seen. [Exo_25:9-40] Our forefathers in turn brought it [this tent of witness] in [with them into the land] with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations which God drove out before the face of our forefathers. [So it remained here] until the time of David, [Deu_32:49; Jos_3:14-17] Who found grace (favor and spiritual blessing) in the sight of God and prayed that he might be allowed to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. [2Sa_7:8-16; Psa_132:1-5] But it was Solomon who built a house for Him. [1 Kings 6] However, the Most High does not dwell in houses and temples made with hands; as the prophet says, [Isa_66:1-2] Heaven [is] My throne, and earth the footstool for My feet. What [kind of] house can you build for Me, says the Lord, or what is the place in which I can rest? Was it not My hand that made all these things? [Isa_66:1-2]

(Acts 7:44-50 AMPC)

God’s plan was to have his presence dwell inside the hearts of his people. Every believer would one day be called the “temple of the Holy Spirit.” The Christ (messiah) was to pave the way for a relational habitation of God and humanity to become joined in a unique oneness. Christ is called the chief cornerstone and in Him it said that…

“…the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]. In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit.”

(Ephesians 2:21-22 AMPC)