The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 2:5-6,
"The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods. But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?"
As Solomon requested materials and a craftsman from the king of Tyre to build a temple to God in Jerusalem, he considered the project in the light of what might be worthy of God.
Solomon asks the question- since the highest heavens cannot contain God, who was he to build a temple for him? As great a man as Solomon was, he recognized himself to be unworthy to build a temple to God. In considering the nature of it, and his appointment to build that temple, he sought the very best in materials and workmanship to get the job done.
Solomon was unworthy (anyone would be), yet he pressed ahead and invested the very best he could to build the greatest temple he could.
I am reminded that we ourselves have an assignment from the Lord. The writer of Hebrews says, "Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity... We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." Hebrews 6:1, 11-12.
This, we are to do, with the same consideration Solomon gave to his task, to do it in a manner that would best approach what would be worthy of the Lord. "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." Ephesians 4:1. In Colossians 1:9-12 Paul tells us, "We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light."
"The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods. But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?"
As Solomon requested materials and a craftsman from the king of Tyre to build a temple to God in Jerusalem, he considered the project in the light of what might be worthy of God.
Solomon asks the question- since the highest heavens cannot contain God, who was he to build a temple for him? As great a man as Solomon was, he recognized himself to be unworthy to build a temple to God. In considering the nature of it, and his appointment to build that temple, he sought the very best in materials and workmanship to get the job done.
Solomon was unworthy (anyone would be), yet he pressed ahead and invested the very best he could to build the greatest temple he could.
I am reminded that we ourselves have an assignment from the Lord. The writer of Hebrews says, "Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity... We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." Hebrews 6:1, 11-12.
This, we are to do, with the same consideration Solomon gave to his task, to do it in a manner that would best approach what would be worthy of the Lord. "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." Ephesians 4:1. In Colossians 1:9-12 Paul tells us, "We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light."
May we all engage our new life in Jesus Christ in the light of doing so in a manner that is worthy of him, worthy of his love for us, worthy of the sacrifice he made of himself for us.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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