The dedication of the temple may be the high-water mark of the kingdom of Israel. Prosperous and secure in the land that God had promised them, the Lord manifested his glory in the temple as the ark of the covenant took up residence in the Holy of Holies. As Solomon blessed the people and prayed to the Lord, he reflected on the wondrous character of the Lord that had brought them to that point and asked God to answer them as they prayed toward his temple in the future. Then began a week of national celebration. God's presence among his people was an awesome reality, which caused Solomon to reflect in prayer, 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! This is worth pondering. How can God dwell on earth? He is transcendent, unlimited by his creation. Yet, he did in a special way make his home among his people as the temple was a house for his name. Jesus could speak of his body as the temple, and, amazingly, as we are united to Christ in faith, we become part of God's spiritual temple. Is the reality of God's presence in us and among us something that we take for granted? God's actions and Solomon's words that day reflect the fact that the Lord is the faithful, covenant keeping God. He reveals his word and keeps his word to his people. Solomon's prayer is a reflection on the warnings, promises and character of God as revealed. Our prayers should likewise be offered in response to God as he's made himself known in his word. God made himself known to Israel, but to us he's made himself known in his Son. Things that were then in shadows have been revealed. Let's celebrate.
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