I read the passage below this morning. It was interesting to me that Solomon spent much longer building his palace than he did building the temple. (Interestingly, David spent quite a bit of time building his palace, much more than the domicile for the Ark of the Covenant - perhaps a learned behavior?)
What struck me was what God said in verse 16. I don't take God's words lightly. I certainly don't understand the use of "forever" and "always" concerning a structure that is, as far as I know, no longer physically in place.
It does give me a new appreciation of God's view of me and my life as his temple.
2 Chronicles 7
The LORD Appears to Solomon 11 When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, 12 the LORD appeared to him at night and said: "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.
13 "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.
17 "As for you, if you walk before me as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, 18 I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, 'You shall never fail to have a man to rule over Israel.'
19 "But if you [c] turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 21 And though this temple is now so imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and say, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?' 22 People will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.' "
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2 comments:
I love the comment about a new appreciation of God's view of me and my life as his temple, especially in light of the verse you referred to! WOW! It gives ME a new appreciation as well. Thanks for always challenging me!
So true! I second what Danna said!I don't understand it all either, exactly, but it is fascinating to me to watch the journey of God's dwelling place on earth through history, from Garden to tent/tabernacle, to temple, to His Son, and ultimately into us, His own creation, through His Spirit.
They all seem just a bit to small to house the Creator, yet He keeps making His dwelling among us. He is awesome. Thanks for being devoted to Him and encouraging me!
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