Readings for today: 1 Kings 8-9, Luke 23:44-56
“And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.” (1 Kings 8:10-11)
The Christian faith is more than a philosophical idea. It’s more than a code of ethics. More than a list of moral rules and regulations. At its most fundamental level, it is an encounter with the Living God. The Maker of heaven and earth. The Lord of the universe. Our God is not made with human hands. He is not a cultural artifact. He is no empty idol. He is not make believe. He is no fantasy or fairy tale. He is no myth. He exists. He is real. In fact, He IS existence. He IS reality. More elementary than any quark or boson. More fundamental than any atom or protein. More foundational than any building block of life. Without Him, creation goes dark. The world grows cold. The universe collapses in on itself. Life shrivels up and dies.
Don’t rush by what’s taking place in our reading today. God is literally making His dwelling place on earth. God is literally showing up and showing out at the dedication of His Temple. His Holy place. A cloud descends. The glory of the Lord fills the Temple. The priests drop to their knees in wonder and awe. Solomon stands up to pray. He does so in full confidence that the One he addresses is actually present. He prays with the sure and certain knowledge that God sees and God hears and God responds to the heart cries of His people. “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart…” (1 Kings 8:22-23) There is only One God. All other gods are myths and legends. There is only One True God. All other gods are falsehoods and lies. There is only One True and Faithful God. All other gods are capricious and arbitrary and undependable. There is only One True and Faithful and Loving God. All other gods are selfish and greedy and evil. Solomon is making a statement here. A statement based on reality. A statement based on history. A statement based on the record of interactions between his God and his people.
“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! Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. 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 8:27-30)
The Christian faith is the only faith whose God actually descends to earth. The Christian faith is the only faith whose God condescends to us. Speaks to us in language we can understand. Meets us where we are in the midst of our broken and messed up lives. For the ancient Israelites, God appeared as a glory cloud filling the Temple. For the first century Israelites, God appeared in the Person of Jesus Christ. His glory contained in a human being. His divine nature joined with a human nature, co-mingled in some mysterious way and yet distinct. For 21st century believers, God appears in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Indwelling the heart of each believer. Filling us with His glory so that we might bear it out to the world. As such, we become living testimonies to the reality of God. We are living stones being built into living temples so that those who do not yet know God might meet Him as He reveals Himself through us.
Will God indeed dwell on earth? It’s a crazy idea. Will God indeed dwell in us? Even crazier. Heaven and earth cannot contain Him and yet He lives in you. He lives in me. He will never leave us. He will never forsake us. He will never abandon us. He keeps His promises. He keeps His covenant. His love is steadfast and faithful and true. So walk before Him with all your heart today, friends! And know there is never a single moment when you walk alone!
Readings for tomorrow: None