Rev. Don Campbell
Kings 5-6; 2 Chronicles 2-3
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, June 11, 2019
“THE DWELLING PLACE OF GOD”
Solomon’s temple was seven years in building, using over 180,000 workers, with at 30,000 of those being forced laborer. These numbers account for only Israelite workmen. King Hiam supplied an unspecified number of woodcutters who worked with the 10,000 Israelites who were rotated in and out of Lebanon each month. In today’s dollars, estimates of the cost building the temple go as high as $150 billion. The population of Israel at the time was about two million.
Stephen, speaking of this grand edifice, said, “Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?’” (Acts 7:47-50; Isaiah 66:1-2).
God does not desire to dwell in the material creation his hand made, but in the hearts of those made in his image. Speaking of God’s bringing Jews and Gentiles together into one body, Paul wrote, “Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit” (Ephesians 2:20-22, NLT). Peter adds, “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5).
Despite these truths, it was not long before man was building grand edifices in which the God of heaven could be worshipped. Billions are still being spent wood and stone structures which bring glory to the designers, builders, and the priestly keepers of these edifices, and if any souls are being saved in them, it is despite these monuments to man’s rebellion, not because of them.
CONNECTIONS
1. Many of the grand edifices in Europe are filled, but with tourist, not worshippers. Is that a warning to American churches?
2. A tourist is defined as “a person who is traveling or visiting a place for pleasure.” Could it be that there are more “tourists” in churches through the nation than there are true worshippers—in other words, are many members lacking the commitment of a true disciple?
