Through the Bible: 1 KingsSample

We Are The Temple of God

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 (ESV)

After King Solomon built the temple, he summoned the presence of all the leaders of Israel to Jerusalem. Then the ark was placed in the inner sanctuary of the temple and a dark cloud filled the temple of the Lord. The priests were not able to perform their service because of this cloud as the temple was filled with the glory of the Lord.

Then Solomon stood before the altar and said a prayer of dedication. In his prayer, he recognized that the temple cannot contain God, yet each of our prayers and pleas are not insignificant to our mighty God.

We worship a Holy God who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. We cannot even stand in His presence, yet He dwells in heaven and on earth, and through the Holy Spirit, He dwells in each of us (1 Corinthians 3:16) and listens to our prayers. 

Prayer:

Oh Lord, may Your presence be with us. May You turn our hearts to You, to walk in Your ways, and to keep Your commandments. We ask that You hear our cry and our plea, we ask for Your forgiveness and Your mercy. Amen.