The Temple: A Living Metaphor for the “I Am”

Now Solomon purposed to build a temple for the name of the LORD, and a royal palace for himself. - 2 Chronicles 2:1

The temple in the Bible is far more than a magnificent physical structure. Its meticulous construction, precious materials, and intricate artistry symbolise the sacred process of building the “I Am” — the inner divine presence and awakened consciousness within each person. The Temple stands as a sacred metaphor — an exalted assumption hewn from the richness and purity of gold and the fragrant living cedar of wisdom — proclaiming that reality itself is shaped by the architecture of our inner vision.

Gold: The Radiant Divine Essence

One of the temple’s most striking features is its extensive use of gold. The inner sanctuary, or Holy of Holies, was overlaid with pure gold, described in 1 Kings 6:20:

“And the inside of the house was covered with pure gold, and he drew chains of gold across, in front of the inner sanctuary, and covered the altar of gold.”

Neville Goddard interprets gold as the wisdom of revealed truth, the eternal and incorruptible essence of the divine self — the “I Am” that shines beyond time and change. It represents the spiritual goal of refining consciousness to a state of radiant purity and divine presence.

Silver, too, plays its part, symbolising the knowledge gained through experience, the lessons carved by life that shape the soul’s growth. Together, gold and silver in the temple’s construction affirm that the “I Am” is built upon both inspired wisdom and lived reality.

Cedar Wood of Lebanon: Strength and Spiritual Fragrance

The temple was lined and built with cedar wood from Lebanon, prized for its durability and sacred fragrance. 

"So now send me a man skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, trained also in engraving, to be with the skilled workers who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided." - 2 Chronicles 2:7

“The house, when it was being built, was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that no hammer or axe or any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was being built. And the house… was lined with cedar, carved with gourds and open flowers.” -1 Kings 6:9–10 recounts:

Neville describes the cedar of Lebanon as representing an incorruptible mind, a spiritual foundation immune to decay:

“He made himself a chariot of the wood of the cedars of Lebanon that is incorruptible; worms will not attack it.”

The cedar symbolises strength, endurance, and the fragrant cultivation of spiritual character. It stands for the inner stability and sacred aroma that discipline and devotion bring to the temple of consciousness.

Precision and Divine Order: The Sacred Architecture

The Bible’s emphasis on the precise measurements and proportions of the temple (1 Kings 6:2-3) reveals the divine order and harmony necessary to build the “I Am.”

“The house which King Solomon built for the Lord was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. And the vestibule before the sanctuary in front of the temple was twenty cubits long, corresponding to the width of the temple, and ten cubits deep in front of the house.”

This exactness speaks to a sacred work requiring careful alignment of every part of our inner being. No detail is incidental; every thought, belief, and feeling must be shaped and balanced in perfect harmony.

Palm Trees: Linking the Temple to the Garden of Eden and Song of Solomon

The temple’s intricate carvings of palm trees, cherubim, and flowers add a rich layer of meaning. Palm trees, in particular, connect the temple with the Song of Solomon and the Garden of Eden. In the Song of Solomon, the palm is a symbol of flourishing vitality and spiritual victory:

“This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem” (Song of Solomon 7:7).

Psalm 92:12 further adds:

“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.”

The palm represents the blossoming, fruitful life of the soul’s garden — the inner Eden where divine life grows. Its presence in the temple carvings shows that the “I Am” is not a static temple but a living, thriving spiritual garden.

The Ark of the Covenant: The Heart of the Inner Temple

At the temple’s core rests the Ark of the Covenant, the sacred dwelling place of the divine presence — symbolising the innermost “I Am,” the true self where divine consciousness abides fully and powerfully. 1 Kings 8:6-7 describes:

“Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim. For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and covered the ark and its poles.”

The Ark’s presence affirms that the “I Am” is not merely conceptual or a flourishing garden, but a living sanctuary where the divine dwells intimately. It marks the culmination of the temple-building process — the moment when our inner consciousness becomes a true temple for the sacred presence within.

But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him? - 2 Chronicles 2:6

Affirmation for Building a Noble and Worthy “I Am”

As God commanded in Exodus 25:8:

“And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.”

This divine invitation extends to all — to build within ourselves a sanctuary worthy of the divine presence. The temple’s assembly, craftsmanship, and the Ark’s sacred placement form a powerful affirmation to carefully and honourably build a noble “I Amness.” The resilience symbolised by cedar, the purity of gold, the vitality of palms, and the sacred core of the Ark together invite each person to cultivate strength, honour, and radiant divinity within.

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The temple is not just an ancient building; it is a timeless metaphor for the mindful, sacred formation of the inner self — a living sanctuary fit to hold the fullness of the “I Am.”