Read 2 Chronicles 6.
At the dedication of the Temple, King Solomon makes two strong statements in verse 6 quoting the LORD God. "I have chosen Jerusalem that my name may be there and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel."
Three thousand years later, Jerusalem continues to be the spiritual focal point of the world. The Jews may have nationally forsaken the God of their fathers, but God has not forsaken His eternal, unconditional promises to Abraham and to David. Indeed, Jesus, the Messiah, has the legal right to the throne of David and will one day rule and reign on earth from that city. Though presently we live in what the Bible calls the time of the Gentiles, the Apostle Paul looked forward to a day when "all Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:25-27).
What a beautiful sight that must have been! Here was a kneeling king, on a bronze platform, thanking God for keeping His promises and dedicating this sacred place for future answers to prayer.
The Temple was a place for teaching, for offering prayers, for offering sacrifices for various reasons, for coming clean with God. No other nation on earth enjoyed such a relationship with God. "Let your saints rejoice in your goodness" (v.41c)
Even Solomon admitted that the God of heaven cannot be contained in a man-made building. Though we are to worship the LORD together as a fellowship of believers, Paul gave us a thought-filled reminder that should help us discipline ourselves every day of the week. "Or do you not know your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."
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