The building of the Temple was Solomon’s first major task as Israel’s king. Nothing compared with the splendor and beauty of the Temple. Towards the completion of the Temple, Solomon had two pillars for the porch of the Temple made. These two pillars made of brass were 27 feet high, and 18 to 20 feet in circumference. The capitals atop the pillars added another seven feet to their height making them altogether 34 feet high. Those who approached the Temple would be awe-struck at the wonder of the Temple with its brass pillars.
Two symbolic names were given to these pillars. To the right was Jachin, and to the left was Boaz. Jachin means “He will establish” and Boaz means “in Him is strength.” Both of these names were in reference to the Lord. First, He had established Israel as a nation, and confirmed the Davidic covenant through Solomon (2 Sam. 7:8-16). We can conclude that the pillar named Jachin looked back at God’s fulfilled promises. Next, Boaz represented confidence in God that He would continue to work on behalf of Israel.
These pillars are object lessons for the Christian believer. Consider what the apostle Paul said, “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). The Church is the pillar and ground of truth. The truth of the gospel is held up by the Church. If the Church doesn’t stand for truth, then it will inevitably fall, no matter how beautiful its facade might be.
Furthermore, Jachin and Boaz both represent the work and person of Jesus Christ. Just as Jachin signified God’s fulfilled promises to Israel and David, Jesus has fulfilled all the Old Testament Law (Matt. 5:17-20). Jesus’ fulfillment of the Law establishes a New Covenant through grace. If Jachin is the establishment and fulfillment of promises, then Boaz gives us strength that God is in control of the past, present, and future. In other words, Jesus’ fulfillment of Old Testament promises gives us confidence that He will continue to work on our behalf: “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6).