The believer in Jesus Christ serves a patient and loving God who yearns to dwell amongst His people
A Look at 1 Kings 6
As we look at today’s chapter, we see the seven-year project of temple construction heartily underway.
As we saw yesterday, Solomon spared no expense. They quarried the nicest stones, they procured the best lumber from Lebanon, and in today’s passage, we see that everything was covered in gold. It was lavish. It was supposed to be glorious, because it was to house the very source of glory—God Himself.
A Historical Backdrop
It’s amazing to consider that God was willing to allow the construction of a house for Him, even though all the heavens cannot contain Him (1 Kings 8:27). Certainly, even the largest of manmade buildings wouldn’t begin to compare if that which God has created isn’t able to contain Him.
Nevertheless, we see this awe-inspiring truth throughout God’s Word that He is willing to dwell amongst His people.
He came down to spend time with Adam and Eve, walking in the Garden in the cool of the day. He appeared to Abraham and spoke with him. By the time of Moses, we see God dwelt amongst His people in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Furthermore, we see the construction of the tabernacle and how God dwelt in a tent.
That temporary dwelling, as we discover in today’s passage, was a 480-year establishment.
The Lord of Heaven had no permanent resting place until His people were settled by His own decree. In the days of the judges, Israel, although in the promised land, was subjected to constant pillaging by enemies. In the days of Saul, the Philistines were a perennial problem. In David’s time, there were still enemies on all sides. Enemies that were finally conquered, which gave Solomon a kingdom apart from bloodshed—a kingdom of peace.
Now that God’s people had a lasting resting place, God was willing to rest with them. What is so beautiful to consider is that while the people of Israel were in the wilderness in tents, so God was also in a tent. He was willing to condescend to a lowly estate to be with His people.
Bringing it Home
As we turn the page to the New Testament, we see once again God’s dwelling with His people, now in Christ. He was Immanuel, “God with us” (Matt. 1:23). He, though the eternal Word, took on flesh and made His dwelling (or more literally in the Greek, “tented”) among us (Jn. 1:14).
Christ Jesus, though eternal, partook of our earthly lot. Though in the form of God, He took on the form of a slave (Phil. 2:6-7). He endured human experience as we all do, yet apart from sin.
The story of the Bible is one where the living God will stop at nothing to dwell amongst His people. From the pillars of cloud and fire, to the tabernacle, to the temple, to Christ Himself. At present, our future hope is that there will be a day of consummation where it will be said:
“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God” (Rev. 21:3).
What a God that we serve! A God who yearns to be with His people, but who is patient with us along the way, and who is willing to condescend to our lowly state.
Challenge for Today: How often do I stop and think of the great privilege it is to be in a relationship with the Creator of the universe? Surely He didn’t owe this to us. Yet in love, He gives Himself to us freely.
Such important truths here. Thank you for sharing, Josiah!