“Solomon purposed to build a temple for the name of the Lord… The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him?”
“Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of the Lord was finished…
“Then Solomon assembled the elders and… the leaders… And all the singers… [made] themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving… When the song was raised, with… musical instruments, in praise to the Lord,
‘For he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever,’
the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.”
“Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel… He knelt… and spread out his hands toward heaven, and said, ‘O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart… You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day…
“’But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built!” 2 Chronicles 2:1a,5-6; 5:1-2,13b-14; 6:12-15,18
Mighty was this God, and good, to promise David a forever kingdom. Faithful was this God, and trustworthy, to raise up Solomon David’s son to continue the line. Glorious was this God, and kind, to oversee the temple’s construction and fill it with His glory. And now that it was completed, Solomon recognized that the everlasting God who had called him was still the limitless God who reigned over all. The One who sovereignly designed the temple could not be contained by its walls.
A marvelous mystery of God is that He indeed dwells among us, yet cannot be contained. His grace is not limited by our need, nor His power by our weakness. His light is greater than darkness, His wisdom exceeds our imagining, His peace reaches beyond comprehension. (Psalm 139:7-12; Philippians 4:7)
Our actions betray what we really believe. We sing of God’s power, yet cower before the enemy and fret over what we cannot control. We claim God is love, yet nurse shame and feel unworthy to approach Him. We proclaim His grace and rotely thank Him for blessings, yet complain and blame with constant whine. Why do we contain Him in fabricated boxes of doubt and view Him as smaller than He is? Have we failed to praise Him for who He is?
When will we change our mindset about ourselves and our issues, and practice beholding and exulting in the uncontainable, unchanging, unlimited God? Would we confess flesh priorities, worries, and fears, and relinquish our grip to the mighty hands of God? Daily offer self as a living sacrifice, and watch Him work as only He can do! (2 Chronicles 7:1-4; Isaiah 41:10; Romans 12:1-2)
Lord, may I daily exalt Your attributes and trust them wholly!
As the rain and snow 