The Temple becomes a major figure in the Old Testament from this point on. It will continue to play a role even into the New Testament both in Jesus’ ministry, in Paul’s letters and even in the book of Revelation. The construction of the Temple, worship at the Temple, the Old Testament destruction of the Temple, and its reconstruction mark the plot lines of the rest of the Old Testament. It was built by David’s son, Solomon.
Solomon’s plan and construction of the Temple reflected something about his understanding of the role the Temple played. He had it constructed in seven years (1Kings 6:38), and he made sure the design of the Temple resembled the Garden of Eden (such garden imagery and the rivers coming from it in 1Kings 1:33 matches Genesis 2:13). For Solomon, the Temple is a miniature version of the cosmos. And the purpose of the cosmos is worship and communion with God. The Garden of Eden was originally a sanctuary where man communed with God. At the center of the Temple was the sanctuary which housed the Ark of the Covenant, where the high priest would pray to God face to face. Interestingly, it was also built on Mt. Moriah, the same place where Abraham took Isaac to be sacrificed (2Chronicles 3:1) representing the understanding of Abraham’s act of perfect worship.
Solomon spared no expense either for its construction or its dedication sacrificing so many animals they were too great to be counted. Yet, even Solomon with his wisdom and the magnificent construction of the Temple would soon fall into false worship irreparable harming the kingdom and ultimately the security of the Temple he had built.
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church
For the People of God, the Temple was to be the place of their education in prayer: pilgrimages, feasts and sacrifices, the evening offering, the incense, and the bread of the Presence (“shewbread”) – all these signs of the holiness and glory of God Most High and Most Near were appeals to and ways of prayer. But ritualism often encouraged an excessively external worship. The people needed education in faith and conversion of heart; this was the mission of the prophets, both before and after the Exile.
CCC, 2594
Catholic Bible Bee 
Just a couple of finer points. First, Morieh isn’t a threshing floor. That rock they say is the spot–isn’t flat which a threshing floor would have to be (David purchased the threshing floor of Aranuah). A temple operation needs lots and lots of water and the only water around was the Gihon, 600 yards away in the City of David.
And anybody thinking in practical terms would agree with Josephus that Titus and Domitian left Jerusalem a flattened waste EXCEPT for the 10th Legion fortress Anatonia. It doesn’t make sense that Rome would obliterate their own huge (housed probably 10,000 people) mini-city estate but leave a wall from the temple mount standing. The “Temple Mount” is the same size as other Roman legion ruins throughout the empire.
And then Solomon’s temple was destroyed and Zerubbabel’s second temple stood, having been refurbished by Herod, in the first century until 70 AD. That one did NOT house the ark as that has been “lost” since Solomon’s temple was ruined–likely spirited away by Jeremiah.
As a non-Catholic, I was unaware of the lovely words contained in the Catechism. It’s the outworking of catholicism, though, that doesn’t for me match the eloquence and inspiration therein.
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I am afraid, in this period in history, you will find many, even within the Catholic Church, very dissatisfied with the contradiction between what the Church teaches and how it is lived out by many? most? Many of the leaders who should be most taken and bound by the beauty of the Catechism, not to mention the Bible, seemed to be living lives the most contrary to them. I do imagine this is an age-old problem. Certainly not all the Corinthians heeded Paul’s teaching. I think reading Scripture as a whole–both Old and New–is a reminder that God is doing this incredible thing, but “only those who have ears to hear” are really aware or convinced by it. Most of the time, it seems that it is not the religious leaders, but a faithful group of seeming-nobodies who see what God is doing and carry it on teaching their children. It’s like a well-kept secret.
For all the ugly and disgusting flaws of Catholics, high and low ranking, I do think there are pockets of Catholics who really do practice and live this biblical model of worship, which I think the eloquence of the Catechism seeks to articulate. It can be easy to overlook them, but when you see them, and you look a little closer, there are much more than you would have guessed. You see it in their eyes. They understand, believe, and fundamentally orient their lives to what God is doing, and has been doing from the beginning.
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Well, I guess that I was thinking more of the ritual/liturgical practices. I was a Protestant Christian literally for decades until I couldn’t be anymore. I saw too much disconnect between what I saw in the splendor of the Word and what doctrine was talking about. It began with things like Christmas and Easter not being coherent with the faith. I realize this is not a popular position; I’ve been called a heretic and cult member on more than one occasion. Thanks for accepting my thoughts without judgment. At one point in my leaving of the my protestant denom, I was drawn to Plain Catholics. As my studies have continued, I’ve found myself on a slightly different path–but bottom line for me is the Scriptures are perfect and my measuring stick, by the grace of Messiah.
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