A new beginning is here evident, in the manner of approach to God, growing out of the suspension of judgment, and the providing of an altar of burnt offering and sacrifice, the acceptance of which by God was marked by fire from heaven. Now must the work begin that would not cease until the temple of God, grandest, most imposing and most costly of all structures ever erected, was perfect and complete.
Do we not have here something that suggests the far greater and more glorious "holy temple in the Lord" founded by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2), carried on through the centuries past, by Him (Ephesians 2:20-2220And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:20‑22)), and finally to he displayed eternally (Revelation 21:1-51And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (Revelation 21:1‑5)).
"Wrought stones," hewed, were the first things upon which work was under taken. Peter, in his First Epistle, chapter 2:4-8, speaks of stones. The first is a Living Stone (verse 4), Christ.
The wrought stones of our chapter have no counterpart in Him; they were dead stones. But in verse 5, Peter could say, "Ye also as lively (or living) stones are built up a spiritual house." That could only be after they were "wrought" and hewed, and taken out of the quarry and fitted for the place they were to occupy, by a power entirely outside of themselves. And thinking, these now living stones, true believers of the high honor they have of being part of that eternal dwelling for
God, of which Christ Himself is the Chief Corner Stone, should they not be overjoyed, and a sense of the grace that has been shown them, and the power that has been exercised upon them, should it not change their lives more than it has, as they look for that blessed hope, and the appearing of the glory (as it should read) of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ (Titus 2:1313Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:13)) ? Iron and brass would be needed in the temple, as well as stones; they suggest another thing about the believer: he has to be put into the furnace to be of much value to God; "but the God of all grace, Who bath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you" (1 Peter 5:1010But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1 Peter 5:10)). Cedar trees, too, are in the list; tall and straight and stately, the ax must be laid to their roots, and they must be brought clown to be useful. Lastly, we read of gold and silver, corruptible things, Peter could call them (chapter 1:18) when writing to the believers about their purchase price, the precious blood of Christ. But looking at gold and silver as they appear to be used typically in Scripture, we see that gold speaks of divine righteousness; gold tried in the fire was the need of the Laodiceans (Rev. 3:1818I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (Revelation 3:18)). And silver, from its use in the making of the tabernacle (Exodus 30, 36 and 38) is an illustration of redemption. The plans were all made, and David saw the completed building in his mind, long before it was built. Are you a "living stone"?