“But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built!” (2 Chronicles 6:18 ESV).
In Solomon’s prayer of dedication for the Temple, he wondered whether the God who filled the heavens could “dwell with man on the earth?” Solomon’s question was really rhetorical for he recognized that the Lord of creation was too great and transcendent to dwell within His creation, much less the Jerusalem Temple. Therefore his prayer was that God would keep His eye on the Temple where He had agreed to put His name and that He would keep His ears open to the prayers offered there. The Lord heard Solomon’s prayer and chose the Temple for Himself as a house of sacrifice.
Yet Solomon’s question, although rhetorical, was later answered in the affirmative. For God did choose to dwell with man on the earth by sending His Son Jesus, the Living Word of God to us. As the apostle John wrote, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
The Greek word for “dwelt” in John’s gospel is “skēnoō,” which translated literally is “tabernacled.” In other words, Jesus is our Tabernacle, the Temple which God has indeed chosen to dwell with man. Therefore let us come to Jesus. For salvation is found in no other name.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank You for giving us Jesus to dwell with us and to take upon Himself our sin that we might receive His righteousness. For He is both our Tabernacle and our Great High Priest. We worship and give Him glory for Jesus is our all in all. In His name we pray, amen.