"Living Next Door to God"


BIBLE READING: 1 Kings 7, 2 Chronicles 4
                After the Temple was completed, Solomon completed the work on his palace.  As was the case with the Temple, the palace was also made of some very costly materials.  It contained the same cedars from Lebanon that the Temple was constructed of, as well as some of the same precious stones that were used in the construction of the Temple.  There was, however, one major difference; one home was built for the King of Israel, while the other was built for the King of Kings.  While Solomon lived within the palace, the Temple contained the very presence of God within the Ark of the Covenant.  As you look at all the artist renderings of the two structures, one interesting thing stands out; the palace seems to be located right next to the Temple.  Some even suggest that it was located on the Temple Mount, with only a staircase separating the two structures.  What does that tell us?  Maybe it tells us that Solomon wanted to get his home as close as he could to the home of God. In John 14, we read of Jesus’ comments to His Disciples before He must go to the cross.  He reminds them, in the Father’s house there are “many mansions”.  We even sing the song at church, “I’ve Got A Mansion, Just Over The Hill Top”.  A more accurate translation of the phrase “in my Fathers’ House are many mansions”, is “in my Father’s House are many rooms”.  Jesus tells us that there is enough room in the Father’s house for us to all live with Him. It must have been nice for Solomon to be able to say that his neighbor was God; but which would you rather have, a home next to God or a room in His house.  Solomon could have very well been envious of the opportunity that we have.  Even though Solomon had a palace close to God, our opportunity trumps Solomon’s, in that we get to live with Him…making God’s House, my house.
Prayer Requests:____________________________________________________________________________

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday - October 4, 2016

Woodlawn Family Bible Study TUESDAY BIBLE READING:    Genesis 32:22-32 Do you want to be blessed? That sounds like a rhetorical question, doesn’t it? Who doesn’t want to be blessed? I guess it really depends on your definition of “blessed.” Many people desire blessings that will make them wealthy or, perhaps, material goods. However, being blessed is not limited to those physical things. In fact, sometimes we can be blessed in the most unusual ways. For instance, in Genesis 32:26, we find Jacob wrestling with what we often call an angel. Within the story, Jacob is overtaking the angel and holding him down; refusing to let go until the angel gives him a blessing. The angel obliges Jacob, but not in the way he might have imagined. The angel changed his name from “Jacob” to “Israel,” but he also did something else. He put Jacob’s hip joint out of socket, causing him much pain and difficulty walking. In part, his blessing had to do with him walking with a limp. How is tha...
Read more

Resolutions: Draw closer to God through study of His word

BIBLE READING: John 14.7 Spend time alone with God’s Word.  Besides the spiritual growth we will gain from study, we will also come to know Him better.  Reading His word brings us in touch with Him.  Jesus tells us in John 14:7 – “If you had known Me, you would have known my Father also.”   Just studying the life of Jesus will help us to know God better.   In seeking God’s help, we can draw closer to Him through prayer, meditation, nature, and study.   “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:2  I Tim.4:13,15 - “Give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine… meditate on these things; give yourself wholly to them.”   Regardless of our circumstances we can rely on God’s unchanging character.  God is good. God loves me. God is with me. God knows my problems. God cares. Romans 8:31(b) tells us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Make a resolution to slo...
Read more

“Examples”

BIBLE READING: Mark 13- Luke 1 DISCUSSION                                                                                   This past week we have read of some great examples in the bible.   We read in Mark 13 about us being ready and being prepared for when Jesus returns.   We need to all stay awake!   In Mark 14 we read of one action having such an impact.   How this woman gave her very best to Jesus because of her love for Him.   In Mark 15 we read of Pontius Pilate and his desire to keep his power.   He loved his power and did not want to give it up even if that meant sending an inno...
Read more