The types, shadows, and figures of the tabernacle system picture for us how our salvation and walk with God works. The “Lily Work” at the top of the pillars in Solomon’s temple demonstrates to us the importance of our secret life with God.
I Kings 7:18-22 And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter. And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits. And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was by the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter. And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz. And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished.
The pillars in Solomon’s temple were 18 cubits high (27 feet) in the air. On top of the posts were the chapiters, or crowns. The crowns were 7 ½ feet tall. That would put the lily work to the top, 34 ½ feet in the air. The lily work was too high to be closely viewed by men. The craftsman fashioned the “lily work” for God’s pleasure and the artisan’s enjoyment.
Like the pillars in the temple, there is a part of our Christian life that is to be seen, and there is a part of our Christian life that is not to be seen. Sometimes we hear a professed believer say, “My relationship with Christ is personal.” This statement we can translate to, “I don’t publicly profess Christ or identify with His body, the Church.” A personal relationship with Jesus doesn’t mean your Christianity is private and kept a secret. There should be two distinct elements to our faith: A public identity with Christ and a personal relationship with Him, both simultaneously.
- The Lily Work’s Public Pillars.
Beneath the lily work were brass pillars. These shimmering bronze pillars were for all men in the temple to behold. God desires that our Christian testimony would point all men toward Him.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Faith’s pillars are to be seen. Abel had a sacrifice, Noah an ark, Abraham a pilgrimage, Sarah, a baby, and the testimonies go on and on (Heb. 11). Men and women with inward faith and a private walk with God have outward evidence that all men can see. (James 2:18)
In “Spurgeon’s Gems,” Charles Spurgeon told of a blind man sitting on a busy street with a lantern. “What is the lantern for?” Someone asked. “The lantern is not for me. It is for you, so you don’t stumble over me.” Our public bronze pillars are to point men to our God and not cause someone to stumble over a poor testimony.
2. Lily Works Private Relationship.
A remarkable illustration of the way our private relationship with God works is marriage. There is both a public and a private life in marriage. The Apostle Paul gives us thorough instruction on how marriage works in Ephesians 5 and then tells us, “This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” He essentially says that your temporary (“till death do us part”) marriages’ primary purpose is to illustrate Christ’s relationship with His church.
Ephesians 5:30-32 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this, cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
When a couple enters holy matrimony, they take public vows, exchange rings, and are seen living life together. They have a public identity, but also enjoy a private life together: spiritually, relationally, and physically. This illustrates Christ and His church. We publicly identify with Christ, and we have the privilege of a secret private life with Him! A couple in a healthy marriage is thrilled and excited to spend exclusive time together and make time to do so. So, the Child of God should be thrilled to spend alone time with their Savior and enjoy His company.
Jesus told us of three ways we can enjoy a secret life with God:
Secret Giving. (Matt. 6:1-4; Rom 12:8)
Matthew 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”
A secret giver has a heart that says, “God, I am giving this to You, for Your glory, to express my love, and to get Your attention, not men’s.” The Husbandmen Christ gives good things to His bride, the church. She, out of an expression of love, gives back to Him. God sees how people give, whether they give for Him or to be seen by men (Luke 21:1-4). God sees your heart’s “lily work” of giving and gives you more opportunities for more “lily work.” “Give, and it shall be given unto you!” (Proverbs 19:17; Luke 6:38)
Secret Praying. (Mat. 6:5-8)
Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Jesus’ problem with the hypocrites was that they did not do any closet praying. The secret life of prayer comes before the corporate church life of worship and prayer. Hypocrites pray only to be “seen of men,” but we should pray in private to be seen only by God. We should have a personal prayer life. The prayer closet is a sacred secret place for us to do “lily work.”
Secret Fasting. (Matt. 6:16-18)
Matthew 6:17-18 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
When we do the secret lily work of fasting, we deny our greatest physical desire of eating, for our deeper soul’s desire of God. We voluntarily reject the temporal blessing of food so we can lay ahold of eternal blessings. We forgo communion of breaking bread with our fellow men for the opportunity to commune with God. When we fast for God’s attention and not man’s, we are provided an opportunity for fellowship with God accompanied by spiritual blessings, power, and answers to prayer (Matt. 17:21).
Psalms 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.