May the mumbling commence!
How do we make preparations to build a temple for the Lord? Let’s look at the preparations that David made for the construction of the Lord's temple for his son, Solomon. Read from 1 Chronicles 22:6-19 –
Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon: "My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the Lord my God. But this word of the Lord came to me: 'You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.'
Now, my son, the Lord be with you, and may you have success and build the house of the Lord your God, as he said you would. May the Lord give you discretion and understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God. Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the Lord gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.
I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the Lord a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them. You have many workmen: stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as men skilled in every kind of work in gold and silver, bronze and iron – craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and the Lord be with you."
Then David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon. He said to them, "Is not the Lord your God with you? And has he not granted you rest on every side? For he has handed the inhabitants of the land over to me, and the land is subject to the Lord and to his people. Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the Lord."
As I see it, we have two options for building materials in this passage. The materials that often get more attention I have put in Burgundy. They are gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Is the house for the Lord – the Lord’s dwelling place, found in these things? In the same way, is the church the brick, mortar, wood, stone, and windows?
There are other building materials in this passage that are easily overlooked. I have highlighted them in Purple. They are seeking discretion and understanding from the Lord, keeping the law of the Lord, observing the decrees of the Lord, and devoting your heart and soul to seek the Lord. These building materials are more precious to God. They build the temple for the Lord in our very bodies – in our hearts and souls. That is where the Lord most desires to dwell – within you and me.
Yes, neither the temple nor the church, as physical structures, was ever meant to be the literal dwelling place of the Lord. Neither the physical structure of the temple nor the physical structure of the church is the true dwelling place of the Lord. God’s people are the temple or the church of the Lord.
So, let’s build a dwelling place for the Lord by seeking Him with all our hearts, souls, and minds. Let’s keep the Lord’s commands, laws, and decrees. If we do, we will have nothing or no one to fear. The Lord lives within us.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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