Thought from today’s Bible reading from 1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 5.
After the ark was brought into the temple, Solomon offered a prayer of dedication. As he was praying, he said this:
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27).
The temple that Solomon built was an impressive and beautiful structure. Yet he realized that though it was a temple for the Lord, it was inadequate to house the Lord. God is great, so great that even the heavens cannot contain Him.
Of course, the temple was not meant to be a dwelling place for God on the earth. It was intended to be “the house for the name of the Lord” (1 Kings 8:17-20). The temple was built in order to honor God. It was a place where He would be worshipped. Yet it was not going to be a house in which He would dwell, but where His name would dwell.
Solomon made it clear in his prayer that he understood that God’s dwelling place was in heaven – “…in heaven Your dwelling place…” (1 Kings 8:30, 39, 43, 49). Paul would later tell the Athenians:
“The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands” (Acts 17:24).
Solomon was permitted to build “the house for the name of the Lord” (1 Kings 8:20). But he understood that it was inadequate to house the Creator of heaven and earth Himself.
Tomorrow’s reading: 2 Chronicles 6-7; Psalm 136
[I’m using the Chronological reading plan on the Bible Gateway website if you’d like to follow along, too.]
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