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King David knew it was not right for him to live in a palace while God’s “dwelling place” was a tent, so he decided to build a great temple. However, since David was a warrior, God gave the building assignment to David’s son, Solomon. Today’s passage takes place on the day that Solomon dedicated this great temple.

Solomon began his prayer of dedication by saying, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on the earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart” (1 Kings 8:23). Then Solomon asked this question:

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day,  that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place.”

-1 Kings 8:27-29

Hashem. In Hebrew, this word means “The Name.” A name represents who a person is and what they do. The heavens and earth cannot contain God, yet for his people, he provided a physical place to come and worship him. Today, Hashem, The Name, by his Spirit, resides in every believer. Remember Solomon’s question: “But will God indeed dwell on the earth?” The answer is, “Yes!” God the Son came to this earth and lived among us. When Jesus left, he sent his Spirit to live in every believer. We are the living, breathing temple of God. By the Spirit’s empowerment, our job is to represent Hashem—The Name—well.

Hashem,

You are my God. You are omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. There is no name beside you. Your Son’s name is above every name. And one day, every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. Until then, please help me to represent you well during my days on this earth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.  

Can we pray for you? E-mail us at prayer@ronmoore.org.

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