Temple
What would you do with tons of gold? King Solomon, the son of David, used his tons of gold to build the temple, the place where the people of Israel gathered to worship God. the temple was also the place where sacrifices were offered and where the people gathered during the annual festivals to remember the great blessings of God. Before Solomon built the temple, God's presence had dwelt in the tabernacle, a much smaller, portable structure used during the Israelites' wandering in the desert. The tabernacle was maintained for some centuries before the temple replaced it.

The temple Solomon built for God was permanent and incredibly beautiful. Sadly, wicked kings later filled the temple with idols. God's glory left that place, and it was finally destroyed by the Babylonians. The Jews rebuild a less spectacular version of the temple after they returned from the Babylonian captivity. In the New Testament period, Jews worshiped in the temple rebuilt by King Herod. The Romans destroyed it in A.D. 70, just as Jesus predicted.

After Jesus' death and resurrection, god no longer dwelt in a building made by human hands, but in the believing human heart. Because the Holy Spirit lives in each believer our very own bodies are his temples. Today a church building is not the temple, but it is where many "temples" of the Holy Spirit gather to worship God weekly.

Pagans have temples for worshiping Idols.
Judges 9:47
1 Samuel 5:2; 31:10
2 Kings 5:18
David wants to build a temple for God, but God commissions Solomon to do the job.
2 Samuel 7:1-5,12-13
1 Kings 8:18-20
1 Chronicles 28:10
2 Chronicles 2:1-9
Solomon builds the temple according to the intricate instructions given by God. Solomon and all Israel dedicate the temple to God with a great celebration.
1 Kings 6:1-38; 8:1-66
2 Chronicles 5:2-14
God warns the Israelites that he will reject and and destroy the temple if they turn from him.
1 Kings 9:1-9
2 Chronicles 7:1-3
God's glory fills the temple at its dedication. Later, God's glory leaves the temple.
1 Kings 8:11
2 Chronicles 7:1-3
Ezekiel 10:4,18-19
The Jews come to the temple to meet with God.
Psalm 11:4; 27:4; 48:9
Wicked kings defile the temple with idols.
2 Kings 21:4-7
Ezekiel 8:3,6,9-11
The Jews rebuild the temple when they return from the Babylonian exile.
Ezra 1:2-5; 5:11-16; 6:3-7, 14-15
Jesus teaches in the temple, and on more than one occasion, kicks out those who use if for profit instead of prayer.
Matthew 21:12-13
Luke 19:45-47; 21:37-38
Jesus foretells his death and resurrection by claiming that the religious leaders will destroy the temple (his body) but that he will rebuild it in three days.
John 2:19-22
Our bodies are the dwellings of God, the temples of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17;6:16,19