Word of Encouragement (03/27/2024)

And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive. (1 Kings 8:30)

Solomon wisely recognized that the temple he built was too small and insignificant to house the God of heaven and earth: “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built” (v. 27). Then, why bother with building a temple at all? It was a sign of God’s willingness to dwell among His people (Ex. 25:8). It was also a visible reminder from God that He was willing to meet His people where they were. Even though the temple was not God’s proper dwelling place, it was still a representation of God’s heavenly dwelling. Because of this representative relationship, Solomon could have the assurance that, when he and his people prayed toward the temple, God would listen in heaven.

How important it was for Solomon to establish this truth at the dedication of the temple! As majestic as the temple was in the eyes of the people, they had to remember that their God was much greater than what it could contain. They also had to remember that what made it sacred was not its grandeur or expensive materials but God’s presence; without God’s presence, it was merely a man-made edifice. If the Israelites remembered their history, they should know that even the ark of the covenant, which was the centerpiece of the tabernacle, was once captured by the Philistines. The ark of the covenant was nothing if God was not present with it. Solomon’s prayer should serve as a reminder that the presence of the temple did not guarantee God’s presence among them. If they persisted in their rebellion against the LORD, the glory of the LORD would again depart (as it did eventually when the Babylonians invaded Judah and destroyed the temple in 586 B.C.).

This was why Jesus Christ could tell the Israelites, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). This was the second temple, which was originally built by Ezra and was being remodeled and expanded by Herod. This second temple, too, was an architectural marvel, but it, too, was destroyed in 70 A.D. at the hands of the Romans. These incidents showed the limitations of an earthly temple. They were but representations/signs and, as such, they were destined to be replaced by the true temple.

This true temple would not be built by human hands; it would be built by God Himself. Indeed, God is building it upon the foundation of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11) with believers as living stones (1 Pet. 2:5). The glory of the Lord will never depart from it on account of the rebellious sins of God’s people because the blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed all their sins once and for all; therefore, it will never be destroyed! And those, who are the living stones of this temple, have direct access to the Mercy Seat of God in the Most Holy Place. What a wonderful privilege! Let us not waste this glorious privilege by our prayerlessness!

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