After
building a magnificent temple in Jerusalem (see 2 Chronicles 2-5), King Solomon
wonders, “Will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot
contain you. How much less this temple I
have built” (2 Chronicles 6:18).
That is a
great question! It does seem sort of
ludicrous to think any building, even a spectacular one like Solomon’s temple,
would in any way be home to the God who formed the entire universe. God must have rejected this notion right away,
right? Well, not so fast!
“When Solomon finished praying, fire came down
from heaven… and the glory of the Lord filled the temple” (2 Chron. 7:1).
The
question is, “Why?” Why would God take
up residence in that place? Why did he
need a temple?
The answer,
I think, is found between Solomon’s question and God’s response.
Right after
he asks the question, Solomon adds, “May your eyes be open toward this temple
day and night… May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place…
and when you hear, forgive” (2 Chron. 6:19-21).
He goes on
to say, “When a man wrongs his neighbour and is required to take an oath and he
comes and swears the oath before you altar in this temple, then hear from
heaven and act” (verse 22-23).
“When your
people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned… and when
they turn back and confess… praying and making supplication before you in this
temple, then hear… and forgive” (verses 24-25).
“When the
heavens are shut up and there is no rain… and [your people] pray toward this
place… hear from heaven and forgive” (verse 26-27).
“Whatever
disease or disaster may come… when a prayer or a plea from your people… [is
made] toward this temple – then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive…” (verses 28-30).
“As for the
foreigner… when he comes and prays toward this temple, then hear from heaven”
(verses 32-33).
“When your
people go to war… and when they pray to you toward this city you have chosen
and the temple I have built… then hear… and uphold their cause” (verses 34-35).
Lastly he
says, “Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the
prayers offered in this place” (verse 40).
God did not
need the temple; the people did!
The people
needed the temple to remind them that God was near, listening to them and
helping them.
Fortunately,
God’s temple still exists, albeit in a different form: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s
temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)
God is
still alive, at work and dwelling with us; Even more so than before.
“The
mystery is that Christ lives in you, and he is your hope of sharing in God’s
glory” (Colossians 1:27, CEV)
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