temple

1 Chronicles 17 – Home is Where the Heart Is

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There’s a saying, “Home is Where the Heart is.” This speaks to the fact that “home” is less about the structure and the geographic location, and more about being with the people you love.

God has to remind David of this in 1 Chronicles chapter 17. The chapter opens with David settling into his new home…the palace. And David is so grateful, he desires to honor God by building Him a magnificent home or temple in which to dwell.

But God stops David and reminds him that His “home” has always been mobile. God has always made his home, not in a place, but with His people. When it comes to a “home,” it’s not about a structure or a geographic location, but rather it’s about being with His people.

God goes on to tell David that one of David’s sons will build a house for God. Historically, God is speaking of Solomon and the temple he would build after David’s death. But theologically God is speaking of Jesus…the Son of David…who would sacrifice Himself on the cross to pay for our sins and clear the way for God to dwell with us and in us.

The Apostle Paul, speaking to believers in Corinth, said…

“Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” – 1 Corinthians 3:16 (NLT)

And God still desires that His “home” be mobile, so as to go where the people are. Only now, instead of a tent of cloth and poles, God wants to dwell in a tent of flesh and blood…first with Jesus, and now with us.

For God, home is where the heart is. And His heart is with his people.

1 Chronicles 5-9 – Where’s Your Focus?

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There’s a term in photography called “depth of field.” It’s the range in which things are kept in focus. It’s how you keep your subject in focus and everything else out of focus.

1 Chronicles chapter 9 stands out in sharp focus against the blurred information proceeding it.

This chapter begins with this statement; “The people of Judah were exiled to Babylon because they were unfaithful to the Lord.” (NLT) Then, after a short generalized list of those who returned from exile, the chapter focuses on the priests and the Levites, because they were charged with:

  • Dealing with sin.
  • Guarding the entrance of the temple.
  • Worship.
  • Caring for the temple.

Because 1 Chronicles 9:1 plainly says that God’s people were exiled because they were unfaithful, the rest of the chapter focuses sharply on the temple, the priests, and the priests’ faithful representation of God’s presence and ways.

What’s that got to do with you and me?

It’s very easy to allow your depth of field to become so broad that everything seems important. But this leads to unfaithfulness…which leads to our own relational exile from God.

We need to keep our focus sharply on God…to the point that everything else goes out of focus. We need to stay focused on God by:

  • Dealing with our sin (as priests.)
  • Guarding the gates of our hearts and minds (as the gatekeepers.)
  • Being constantly ready to worship (as the musicians.)
  • Taking care of our bodies (as the temple of God.) (1 Cor. 6:19)

Keep your depth of field narrow, by keeping your highest focus and attention on God and His presence in your life.

1 Kings 5-7 – Beyond Imagination

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I grew up in the country, in Southern Illinois. For some reason, I never expected to leave that area.

So years ago, when I traveled to Paris, France, and stood in front of the Palace of Versailles, I was blown away. I had the same feeling a few years prior when I stood in front of Buckingham Palace in London. (Another place I never thought I would see.)

I stood in front of these structures awe-struck and amazed. I had never seen anything like them before. It was “other-worldly.”

Modern-day readers tend to skim or skip over all the measurements and details mentioned in 1 Kings chapters 5-7. But, readers of that day would have read in awe and wonder. Those readers were country people, and the wonders of such structures would have boggled their imaginations.

Perhaps 1 Kings chapters 5-7 is meant to remind us that believers in Christ await a temple and a city of God that is beyond our imagination. (Revelation 21) The Holy of Holies in Solomon’s temple (the place of God’s presence) was measured to be a perfect cube. (1 Kings 6:20) Likewise, the holy city that is to come will be a place of God’s presence. (Revelation 21:3) And it too will be measured as a perfect cube. (Revelation 21:16) But its dimensions will dwarf our imagination.

In the midst of all that is mundane in your life here on earth, never forget that there are places, structures, and sights beyond your imagination. And they await those, who like Solomon, are faithful in Christ. (1 Kings 6:12-13)