ODJ: fit for a king

February 13, 2016 

READ: 1 Kings 6:14-32 

Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16).

A man known as the “king of cocaine” built an island hideaway known to the locals as the big house. It featured a marble lobby and an enormous pool ringed by palm trees. The now-deceased man’s estate included multiple waterfront dwellings where 300 guests could lodge in luxury. Gardens, boats, and a helicopter landing pad all displayed the “king’s” immense but wrongly amassed wealth.

God’s dwelling place inside Solomon’s temple was rightfully fit for a king, and it wasn’t showy for the sake of impressing people. It was located at the far end of the temple and it had no windows (1 Kings 6:16). Not a tourist attraction, it was a private place with highly restricted access (Numbers 3:10).

When a priest entered the inner sanctuary, the magnificence of the place would have been obvious. Carvings of flowers, palm trees, and cherubim decorated the walls, which were covered in gold. Gold also adorned the altar, the floor, and the 15-foot twin sculptures of cherubim whose wings spanned the width of the room (1 Kings 6:24,28).

The inner sanctuary that Solomon built spoke of God’s supremacy and His holiness. So it’s a bit intimidating to remember that today Christians are God’s dwelling place. Speaking to believers, Paul said, “All of you together are the temple of God and . . . the Spirit of God lives in you” (1 Corinthians 3:16). The apostle also wrote that God’s Spirit dwells in each of us individually (6:19).

Since God isn’t some far-off being, but is present inside us, the choices we make affect Him deeply. This truth gives us extra incentive to obey Him as we consider His holiness and love for us. May our bodies, minds, and souls be places fit for the King!

—Jennifer Benson Schuldt

365-day-plan: Exodus 18:1-27