I was reading through the book of 1 Chronicles during my devotions one day when it struck me! Although I had read through this account many times before, I had not seen this wonderful truth. In this book, starting mainly with chapter 9, King David was mapping out the pattern for worship in the tabernacle and the Temple.

This pattern incorporated much music to give praise to the Lord, using choirs, solos, and instruments of all kinds and led by those gifted in leadership and in the directing of music. Second Chronicles tells about the completion of the Temple and how the actual pattern was fulfilled in the offering of awesome worship and praise to our amazing God.

Throughout the study of worship, my attention was continually drawn to the Temple that Solomon built. I began to see what a remarkable picture this is, first of all, of the Lord Jesus. And it is a pattern for worship and building up the church. There are many other aspects to an in-depth study of the Temple, but these were the parts that I focused on as I developed a workshop study of the Temple, Solomon's Temple, as a pattern for worship. Later, I began to fill in the blanks and to make the outline into a manuscript resulting in this publication.

As I continued to study this concept, another exciting study became clear to me, which I entitled "Building the Believer Temple." This essay takes us step by step in our spiritual growth as revealed through the Temple pattern.

The Temple study has greatly enhanced my times of worship and has changed my life and relationship with my Lord. I pray that you will likewise be wonderfully blessed as you read these pages.