It is interesting to note what the temple is specifically said to have housed. As Solomon acknowledges, God cannot be limited to one space. He says, “The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you.” He then prays: “May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place.” The temple was the place where God put his ‘Name’. What does this mean? God’s ‘Name’ signifies all that God has promised to be for his people. The temple would be a symbol of God’s covenant with Israel. To pray toward the temple was to trust in God’s promises. Everything that the temple symbolised was fulfilled in Jesus. He was the presence of God in the midst of the people and the ultimate sacrifice for sin. When we pray, we pray ‘in Jesus’ name’ because, like the temple, he is our assurance that God will hear and answer our prayers. If we are conscious of praying ‘in Jesus’ name’ it is as though Jesus himself were praying. How willing is God to grant the requests of Jesus? That is how willing he is to answer your requests when you pray ‘in Jesus’ name’. As Paul says, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:20). God so wanted his people to have confidence of his willingness to answer prayer that he gave them the tabernacle-temple. How much more now that he has given us Christ?
Ask God to bring some people to mind and pray for them.
Read 1 Kings 8:22-66
