Praise God for His Dwelling Place

Spend a few moments watching the HGTV or the DIY channel and you’ll soon grasp that people love creating the perfect place to kick up their feet and settle down. Home is not only where the heart is, it is where we choose to dwell and reside.

For years, the God of the universe chose to dwell with His people in temporary housing. In our passage today, Solomon had completed building the temple, a place where God could reside and where His people would worship Him (v. 1). This was a very important moment for the Israelites. King Solomon wanted the elders and the leaders of all the tribes of Israel to witness this event. In an effort to bring great honor and praise to God, the priests offered sheep and oxen as a sacrifice (v. 6). It was a tremendous gathering, and Solomon wanted to make sure God received all the praise. Voices from all over joined together and sang praises to God.

Can you imagine the atmosphere? The entire place was full of God’s people shouting praises to God with their whole hearts (v. 13). Everyone was there for a singular purpose: to praise God because His holy dwelling place was finally being established. In this moment, God Almighty filled the temple with a cloud of glory, which signified that He had taken up residence in the temple while all the people had gathered to praise Him (v. 13).

If we fast forward to the good news of today, the God of the universe no longer dwells in the Jerusalem temple, but through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit He resides in the lives of those who believe in the saving work of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:16). Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him!

Pray with Us

Will you join us in giving thanks for the house of the Lord where He dwells with His people? We thank God for the physical church buildings where we gather for services, but more importantly, for the living stones, our fellow believers—the body of Christ.

BY Dr. Chris Rappazini

Dr. Chris Rappazini is Associate Professor of Pastoral Studies at Moody Bible Institute. He is the former President of the Evangelical Homiletics Society and previously served as an Associate Minister of Preaching and Teaching in Spokane, Washington. Chris and his wife, Ashley, and their children reside in Northwest Indiana.