Day 103.
Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. But the Lord said to David my father, “Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart. Nevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.” Now the Lord has fulfilled his promise that he made. For I have risen in the place of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and I have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. And there I have provided a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.” (1 Kings 8:17-21 ESV)
This is part of Solomon’s speech at the completion and dedication of the temple in Jerusalem. He shows the fulfillment of God’s earlier promise to David. But there is a greater fulfillment still, which is the house built by the later son of David, Jesus. That house is made with living stones and there is a place inside to host the covenant of The Lord. Just as Ezekiel explains, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. (Ezekiel 36:26, 27 ESV)” This is the church!
Lord, what a glorious and gracious thing you have done in building such a house for your name, that you would make the holy of holies our hearts that we might love you and walk in your ways. May we seek to do so.
