King & KingdomsSample

As Solomon comes close to completing what God said his reign would be about (building the temple), God comes to him again to talk about what the next steps are. Isn't it interesting that even after building the temple, God says He will live in the temple as long as Solomon and the people "keep His commands"? How come this temple, that they had wanted to build for 100's of years, didn't guarantee a perfect future for Israel? Maybe it had never been about creating a perfect building for God to live in.

Building a building doesn't guarantee that God will always be around. God can't be tamed or kept in a box, no matter how magnificent that box may be. God's presence lived (and lives now) in the hearts and lives of His people. As God tells Solomon, walking in His way is what matters.

Think it Over: Where do you see God living and acting in your life? Have you kept Him "in a box"?