Lord,
Oh, what a beautiful sight the temple must have been! What splendor and majesty it must have conveyed. It was called The Palace of the Forest of Lebanon because of the richness of wood used within. It was a marvel of the ancient world. It was an expression of Solomon’s appreciation, admiration, and worship of you.
Yet, in the midst of it being built you did not comment on the craftsmanship of the spiral stairs. You did not state how pleasing the bronze was to your eye. You did not even comment on the large number of cedars used, no. Instead, you said this:
“Concerning this Temple you are building, if you keep all my decrees and regulations and obey all my commands, I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father, David. I will live among the Israelites and will never abandon my people Israel.”
You cared more for the relationship with Solomon than you did with the temple. More than cedar, bronze, and stone you desired Solomon’s heart. Help us to remember this, Lord. That we can offer nothing to you that is not more than filthy rags. Help us to remember that abiding in you is what is marvelous to you. You do not want bronze, but our hearts. You do not want cedar, but our faith. Not stone, but our love.
In Jesus name,
Amen