He Promises to Dwell With Us and to Forgive

David was not the one to build the Temple, even though it was the desire of his heart. The Lord spoke to David through the prophet Nathan. He heard David’s request and it pleased Him, but it was Solomon who God chose to build the Temple. David set Solomon up for success by gather materials for the construction.

As amazing as the finished Temple was the events of the dedication of the Temple are even more amazing. In the midst of the celebration and fanfare when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the Temple the glory of the Lord filled the Temple and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud.

Solomon prayed the most amazing prayer.

2 Chronicles 6:18-21
"But 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! Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.”
What kind of faith, what kind of courage did it take to pray that prayer?

Big faith, complete trust that God would do as He said He would do.

When Jesus came into the world an even more miraculous event took place, the God who cannot be contained whose glory filled the Temple walked this earth. God became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus was fully God and fully man. This is miraculous beyond words, who can explain it?

When we invite this same God into our lives, when we agree with Him and say that Jesus’ sacrificial death is enough, that Jesus died in our place to pay the penalty for our sins, that the same God who cannot be contained, who filled the Temple with His glory, who walked the earth fully God and fully man comes to live inside us, illuminating us, transforming us, strengthening our inner man, conforming us to His image, how much faith does that take to believe it is true of us, to live this truth out in our daily lives?

Big faith, complete trust that God would do as He said He would do.

Read the account of the dedication of the Temple in 2 Chronicles 5-7, note Solomon’s request and God’s response and be amazed. Think about the truth that we are the temple of the Living God, really think about it. In light of this truth ask the Lord what you need to change in your life to make your life line up with this? If you are like me, you have underestimated God and what He wants and can do through you.

2 Chronicles 7:1-3
When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying,
"He is good;
his love endures forever."