Today's "Bible Pick 'Ems" comes from the book of 1 Kings.
The verses are taken from the beginning of King Solomon's prayer of dedication for the newly-built Temple in Jerusalem. After hundreds of years, a permanent home for the presence of God was finally completed!
It was a joyous time of celebration.
Solomon's Temple was a glittering spectacle, displaying the riches of a prospering nation. As a dwelling place for God, it was fitting for the Temple to be beautiful.
In the final climactic moment, when all the building was complete, the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the Most Holy Place, and "…the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple." (1 Kings 8:11)
Then Solomon gathered the people of Israel together to dedicate the Temple – but he also wanted them to rededicate themselves to God's service.
I can almost hear his voice resounding across the centuries:
"Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the entire community of Israel. He lifted his hands toward heaven, and he prayed.
'O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion…
(and to the people of Israel)…And may you be completely faithful to the LORD our God. May you always obey his decrees and commands, just as you are doing today.'" (1 Kings 8:22-23, 61)
Solomon declared that even the highest heavens, the far reaches of the universe, could not contain God. His majesty shines brighter than any light in the sky, and His riches far surpass any man-made structure.
Can you imagine what it was like when the glory of God filled the Temple?
But have you ever stopped to think about your own heart?
Isn't it amazing that God is willing to live in the hearts of those who believe in Him and love Him?!
We are blessed indeed.
So where is God's presence?
He's here, in my heart,
Directing my pathways
As He has from the start.
Where is God's presence?
He's here! Don't you see?
The Most High of the Universe
Dwells within me.
© Sharon Kirby, October 4, 2000
Let us walk in wholehearted devotion to Him – obeying Him always, just as we are doing today…
What does it mean to you to have the presence of God within you?
"When in doubt, search God out!"
This blessed my heart.
ReplyDeleteBlessings Sharon,
ReplyDeleteYou're so right!
Sometimes being late to a blog post published earlier is God's perfect timing and Word for you right on that day... and this certainly is for me... TIMELY! Of the 20 or more that I still have left to comment on of yours, Denise's, etc. I've left most others go... is too much as is my days and weeks since Feb. when this "construction" project started on my rental home. But on to the "ONE and ONLY"...
First I love your beautifully written 8 line
prose... of where is God's presence?
Your words make the WORD so alive to me. Your flare to describe Solomon's words...
glorious!!! And a light came on in the midst of my dark place... before you even shared the ending: the Lord's temple... is in us!!!
We are His temple!
Sadly to say, I do not shine (at the moment) with His glory or His Presence in my words or actions. All related to my outrage of this "construction project". It is such an intrusion and upset in my life, you cannot believe. And I am reacting in my flesh like never before. This is so hard on me and nothing like others have been going through
but your reflection of 1 Kings brought shame upon me... for my tears today, my frustration, my display of anger, my explosion ... as I reached my human limits.
I would love to be able to say with a light heart the words of your poem... with JOY that God is in me; but the truth is... not today! God's glory is far from me. This is not just how I feel, that is how it seems even as I listen to Christian music and play
Spanish Christian music for the "workers"...
the weight upon me is heavy; the 'temple' is
dimly lit and darkened by my lack and sin.
Your words make the dedication and celebration from centuries ago echo but in all His beauty and glory, I bow my head and
cry "por mi culpa"... His OT glory is alive in the NT through Jesus and His Spirit living in our temples, when we walk by His Spirit... and when we don't, (well) you see
my truthful words of a temple not reflecting His glory and wanting to hide. Wondering not if I'm being forgotten, but punished or what? I know you've been there because of many of your recent trials and waiting.
It takes so much to build the temple again
after pieces are being chiseled away, or in the case of my rental house hammered away to build... what my eyes can't even imagine at this point. Just far too much "mess" for this woman and 4 dogs. Thanks for letting me vent and see how much I need God's spirit and restoration of my temple. With all this time away from "blogging", I was hoping for a closer more intimate walk with God and instead I have havoc and unsettling of the enemy (or maybe God turning His back on me).
Discouragement and frustration leaves you in this mess until you explode (like I did today in my flesh and with my mouth and anger)! God forgive me and protect me from any retaliation.
Sorry, for personalizing so much of this Bible Pick'ems... but you know that I very much keep it REAL and honest, trying to relate the Word and apply to my life, even when I'm being an awful witness for Christ.
Love you, miss you so much as you can see and sending hugs and prayers (beginning to think maybe I need to stop praying for others and their lives would get better),
Peggy
(so thankful this blog usually is private and allows me to vent openly and unashamedly)Use your discretion if you choose to delete... I'll understand.