God’s Dwelling

When King Solomon had completed construction on the most magnificent, costly and beautiful edifice Israel had ever seen, he admitted during his dedicatory prayer that their new and expansive house of worship was far too small and entirely too insignificant to contain the transcendent and all-powerful God they had gathered to praise. He rhetorically asked, “Will God really dwell on earth with men?” He quickly responded with, “The heavens, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built” (2Chron.6:18).

God echoes this truth through the Prophet Isaiah some three hundred years later when he said, “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me?” (Is.66:1) But what is truly amazing is his follow up comparison. While God refuses to dwell in earthly buildings, no matter how elaborate or ornate, he boldly declares that he will “dwell with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit” (57:15) and within “the one who is humble” and who “trembles at my word” (66:2).

Amazingly, the transcendent all-powerful God of the universe has promised to take up residence in your life and mine as we humbly reflect on ourselves with contrition and repentance, standing at the ready to do whatever his word commands. This is a profound and unlikely biblical reality that should be the cause of our grateful rejoicing today!