Dwelling Place For God?

July 13

2 Chronicles 1-2

Psalm 80:1-3

Proverbs 17:25-26

Romans 9

Dwelling Place For God?

“Now the house which I am about to build will be great, for greater is our God than all the gods. But who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him?  So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except to burn incense before Him?”  2 Chronicles 2:5-6  LSB

Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived and this passage underscores that.  David had explained to Solomon that he was going to build a temple for God.  Solomon understood the task before he even became king.  He wasn’t questioning whether he should build it, but rather he was clarifying the purpose of the temple.  Solomon understood that God could not be contained in a building.  He didn’t want anyone to think that God Himself was going to dwell in the temple he built.  He planned to make it massive and grand, but he was aware that no matter how big he made it and how ornate or elaborate, it would pale in comparison to the splendor and majesty of God.  The temple was intended to be a place of worship where sacrifices and offerings could be made to God, where people could come to receive spiritual instruction and a place to pray and seek God’s guidance.  Solomon understood the significance of the temple in pointing people to the One true God but he also recognized the danger of people worshipping the temple itself.  He was trying to make it clear that the temple was going to be a sacred building but at the end of the day it was just a building. 

We have seen this throughout the ages. Travelling in Europe I have seen many beautiful, elaborate cathedrals and churches. The architecture, artwork, stained glass windows, and woodwork can only be described as magnificent and breathtaking. When I visited the Vatican, I was struck by the beauty around me, but honestly, in the end they were all just buildings. I cannot say that I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in any of them. As I am reflecting on it, I can recall several buildings where I experienced the unmistakable presence of God that paled in comparison from a structural standpoint. There was a tiny church in Jamaica with wooden pews and dingy carpet where I worshipped my Lord with abandon even though I could not understand the language of the preacher. I sang hymns in English alongside my brothers and sisters in Christ who were singing in their native tongue with tears streaming down my face. For years my home church worshipped in the back of a shopping center where we had to walk past dumpsters in the parking lot to get in and yet I experienced God’s presence there and grew in my faith. God dwells in the hearts of His people not in buildings. I recognize that worship was different in the Old Testament before the resurrection and before God sent the Holy Spirit to indwell believers, but this passage reveals that Solomon understood that buildings cannot contain God and they should be used to point us to God but should not be objects of our worship themselves.