God Himself is Present

A brief word on Job: Elihu enters the scene. He is a godly young man from a godly family who has entered the conversation at some point but only sat quietly and respectfully. Now he is compelled to speak. What is interesting about him is that when God will finally speak, there is a rebuke for the three friends, even a rebuke for Job, but none for Elihu. So what do we make of Elihu's words? He seems to get it right. His position is sort of "defense attorney for God," and while he says things that sound like the things the three friends said, he stops short of directly applying them to Job. We won't hear him say that Job's suffering is a direct result of specific sin. Elihu will argue, though, that God is just and that Job is a sinner - a confession that will come from Job's own mouth. Keep all that in mind. Perhaps we'll talk more about Elihu in the days ahead. But our main focus today has to be on the 1 Kings reading. It has to - it's too incredible! So...

Read Job 32

Read 1 Kings 8

This is a long and wonderful chapter that describes the incredible dedication of the temple. We hear that "the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord" (v. 11) This occurred when the ark of the covenant was brought in. And we should expect to hear this because the ark has been the location for the presence of God to this point. Now God would reside in his temple.

You hear Christians talk about God being present, and ask God to be present, and exhort others to be mindful of God's presence. But what does all that mean? Well, I can't answer what others think it means (and I'm almost sure that many focus only on God's "power" and miss all of the "redemption"), but I will point out what Solomon proclaims in his blessing, prayer, and dedication in this chapter. Solomon makes it clear that God's presence is to be a gracious, forgiving, merciful presence. A powerful one, to be sure, but definitely redemptive in nature.

This is why Solomon goes on about how we are all sinners, but how when people come to the temple to confess, heaven will hear and God will forgive. This is why Solomon and Israel slaughter thousands of animals (think of all the blood!). Those sacrifices were a means that God provided to deliver his forgiveness. They atoned for the sin of the people. God is gracious and desires to redeem his people! This is why Solomon talks about times of famine, persecution, difficulty, exile, etc. in the the context of sin and God's forgiveness. When the people repent, God will forgive.

This is the purpose of the temple. We see that purpose come to fulfillment in Christ, who is the very presence of God. Dying on the cross, he is the Lamb of God (even God Himself!) who atoned for the sins of the whole world. And, as we heard yesterday in our devotion, God continues to be present among us in grace.

God is not simply a big therapist who tells us to feel good about ourselves. He is not simply a source of power so that we can succeed in life. He is a just God who calls us to obedience and who punishes sin. He is also a loving God, whose gracious presence washes us clean in the blood of Jesus, so that we might come into his gracious favor again.

For our closing meditation and prayer, we concentrate on a great hymn:

1
God Himself is present: Let us now adore Him And with awe appear before Him.God is in His temple; All within keep silence; Humbly kneel in deepest rev’rence.He alone On His throne Is our God and Savior; Praise His name forever!

2
God Himself is present: Hear the harps resounding; See the hosts the throne surrounding.“Holy, holy, holy!” Hear the hymn ascending, Songs of saints and angels blending.Bow Your ear To us here: Hear, O Christ, the praises That Your Church now raises.

3
Fount of ev’ry blessing, Purify my spirit, Trusting only in Your merit.Like the holy angels, Worshiping before You, May I ceaselessly adore You.Let Your will Ever still Rule Your Church terrestrial As the hosts celestial.

(LSB 907, Public Domain)

Study with me tomorrow,

Pastor Jon

Soli Deo Gloria!