Just Go With It !!!1 Kings 8:27

Scripture

1 Kings 8:27  “But will God really live on earth? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!

This text lends itself to interpretation within it’s context, within the construct of the theme text and various cross references

The Context highlights the inauguration of king Solomon as king over Israel

He succeeds his father David on the throne

before Solomon even sits on the throne he already has to overcome a major hurdle because Trump, I mean Adonijah his brother tries to steal the throne from him

But can I suggest that after he successfully overcame this would be threat, King Solomon does one major thing that greatly impacted his success on the throne

He goes to War. not in the natural but in the spiritual - 1 Kings 3:9 says he Prays for wisdom

and can i suggest that if you want to be successful in fulfilling your purpose or fulfilling your destiny then you gonna have to PAUSE long enough to pray

you gonna have to pause long enough to say God anoint me afresh for the task at hand

you gonna have to pause long enough to empty yourself out before God

Solomon has a twofold destiny

#1 it was his destiny to succeed his father on the throne

#2 it was his destiny to build a temple for the name of the LORD

and he doesn’t take it lightly, so he prays and ask GODS help

and can i suggest that as a result of him praying to GOD, he does both of these effortlessly

So by the time we get to our text, leading up to our text...

Solomon has already assumed the throne according to ch. 2

Solomon has already successfully built a temple unto GOD according to ch.6

by now he has consecrated the temple

and celebrated the success that God has granted him

its outlined this way

he celebrates the fact that God has kept his promise and i don’t know what you thank God for but i thank him that he’s a promise keeping God Jeremiah 1:12 says God watches over his word to make sure its fulfilled and so when you and I claim any of the promises of God, we don’t have to worry about being disappointed thats an incentive for you and i to read his word

and he also celebrates the new position God is assuming in the life of Israel

and when you talk about Gods position in the life of Israel

God agrees to dwell in the temple that they build for him

You gonna get it in a minute but it’s really symbolic of his presence

because previously he dwelt in the tabernacle or a tent

but because of the time and the advancement of technology Solomon builds him a temple made of stone

Solomon erects this temple that symbolically represents Gods dwelling and presence amongst his people

And see thats why i thank God for Hebrews 13:8 which says God is the same yesterday today and forever

whether He’s swells in the tabernacle or the temple

whether I’m in the sanctuary or live stream, He’s the same GOD

I wish i had time, but i must needs deal with the construct of our text because everything previously stated in the interim deals with the context

but when i talk about the construct of our text, I’m referring to how Solomon came to his particular conclusion in Chapter 8:27

Look at

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

1 Kings 8:22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire community of Israel. He lifted his hands toward heaven, 23 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. 24 You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth, and with your own hands you have fulfilled it today.

25 “And now, O Lord, God of Israel, carry out the additional promise you made to your servant David, my father. For you said to him, ‘If your descendants guard their behavior and faithfully follow me as you have done, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’ 26 Now, O God of Israel, fulfill this promise to your servant David, my father.

27 “But will God really live on earth? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!

In this prayer of dedication Solomon declares Gods glory and his faithfulness in keeping his promises

He says God what you promised my father, you fulfilled

You placed me on my father Davids throne as successor

and according to 8:10-11 you manifested your presence in the temple

Now in retrospect Solomon concludes in 8:27 wait a minute “this don’t make sense”

because he understands that even though the temple he erected is 13500 sq. feet

that God is to vast to be contained there

you will only appreciate this if i cross reference it

Conundrum

Isiah 66:1 Heaven is my throne,

and the earth is my footstool.

Could you build me a temple as good as that?

Could you build me such a resting place?