Q13. Transcendence

[Pastor Ralph]

Q13. (1 Kings 8:15-16, 27-30) Why is it so important that the Israelites understand that God doesn’t live solely in Solomon’s Temple. Where else is God’s dwelling place? (verses 27, 30). If the temple isn’t God’s sole dwelling place, what then is the importance of the temple? Is it wrong to go to a sacred building such as a church to do your praying? Why or why not?

[Krissi]

A tension exists between the idea that God is omnipresent and the idea that He presents Himself “more” in a particular place. Yes, God is everywhere, but many Christians believe there are places where God is “concentrated” and those where He spreads Himself thinly. This seems rather silly to me, but I think most people – including myself, at times – feel God’s presence more intensely in certain places. So often Christians pray for God to come into themselves, or into a place, as if He was not there before: “Come, Holy Spirit, come!”

Yet, He’s already there. I think we know He’s there, but just can’t intuit His presence. There's some sort of blockage. We then, ask to be more aware of His presence, for Him to “come.” Like the dark cloud surrounding the box, there are places where He seems most available to us, but that’s not because He wasn’t always there – we were unaware or blinded to His presence. The problem was in us.

Of course, Jesus Himself is the epitome of God’s presence, the actual, physical entrance of God in human history and physical place.

It could be the case that as Christians mature spiritually they become more sensitive to the “fact” that the Spirit is in all places at all times, that God never “leaves” or “comes” but just “is.” For these people, a religious building or ritual is unnecessary. Most believers, however, haven’t reached the point in their spiritual walk where they see God manifest in all things. Thus it is helpful to have the beauty of cathedrals to “pique” knowledge of both His transcendence and immanence, sacred ceremonies such as the eucharist to recall His sacrifice and even little shrines in nature to remind us that all things were created by Him. Note that Jesus was baptized, not because He needed it, but to “fulfill the prophecies.” It’s almost as if Jesus rotely went through religious rituals  in religious places even thought his heart was most fixed on God while he prayed in solitude on mountains and deserts in the early hours.

So, it’s not wrong to go into a church to pray any more than it is wrong to pray at a traffic signal when driving. If a church seems peaceful or somehow enables deep and sincere prayer, then it’s a wonderful place to pray, but if being alone, at home, in a comfortable chair looking out a window is the place where deep prayers are more likely to take place, then that is the place to be!  A church building is not magical. There are no holy places on earth. God is everywhere as are His angelic beings and heavenly order. Any problem with accessing God is within us. Thus, we need, at times, the crutch of a holy place, the idea that we can meet God more “here” than “there.”

[Katy]

Q13. God is Omnipresent, this means He is everywhere. He is not confined to a certain place such as a temple. No place can contain or restrict God. It was important that the Israelites understood the concept of omnipresent, and not think that God was now confined to their temple. 
The temple was important for the Israelites to have a place to meet together and to focus on God. It was also the place where they offered sacrifices, the priests did it on behalf of the people. We can pray anywhere but God desires us to meet together for collective worship and praise and fellowship. We use our gifts to build others up, and to encourage each other, especially when times are tough. 

[Janzie]

On 3/18/2024 at 7:25 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q13. (1 Kings 8:15-16, 27-30) Why is it so important that the Israelites understand that God doesn’t live solely in Solomon’s Temple. Where else is God’s dwelling place? (verses 27, 30). If the temple isn’t God’s sole dwelling place, what then is the importance of the temple? Is it wrong to go to a sacred building such as a church to do your praying? Why or why not?

He acknowledges that God's dwelling in the new temple is actual, but in a sense also symbolic.  God is everywhere. The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built. This is a profound understanding of God's omnipresence.  It is amazing how God is all over the world, but yet He chooses to live in our heart.   When thy people Israel repent and shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when you hear, forgive.

The importance of the temple is that His focused presence is in the Temple.  Just as in the Body of Christ, we come together to worship and fellowship.  Jesus promised believers that "where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:20) 

We can pray at home or anywhere it is secluded, we can be in God's presence.   In Church we can pray together as a corporate body.

[Clelie]

King Solomon made reference that God does not dwell in temple only but in heaven.The temple was built to gather people to worship as the name of God was there .
It is not wrong to pray in a church but God presence  is not limited in a church , so anyone praying in a church or anywhere else must pray in spirit and in truth ..

 

It 

[Nicolaas A.P. Mostert]

Q13. (1 Kings 8:15-16, 27-30)

Why is it so important that the Israelites understand that God doesn't live solely in Solomon's Temple.

GOD is omnipresence therefor GOD presence is not restricted to a place but is allover. 

Where else is God's dwelling place? (verses 27, 30).

In heaven.

If the temple isn't God's sole dwelling place, what then is the importance of the temple?

Central place of worship.

Is it wrong to go to a sacred building such as a church to do your praying? Why or why not?

No, sometime you have to collectively come together and pray to GOD our heavenly FATHER, but at the other hand we have to go into your closet and prayer to GOD.

[hanks]

Q13. (1 KINGS 8:15-16, 27-30) 
Why is it so important that the Israelites understand that God doesn't live solely in Solomon's Temple. Where else is God's dwelling place? (verses 27, 30). If the temple isn't God's sole dwelling place, what then is the importance of the temple? Is it wrong to go to a sacred building such as a church to do your praying? Why or why not? 
The Israelites had to understand that God does not solely live in the temple, but that He is omnipresent. They had to learn that He is not like all the false gods the pagan nations worshipped. For instance, believing that god is a god of the hills and not of the valleys (1 Kings 20:28), and that these gods were but gods of particular countries; as the gods of Henah, Ivah, and Sepharvaim (2 Kings 18:34). Being omnipresent it follows that His power and knowledge is unlimited, and our LORD is to be worshipped and revered everywhere, in private as well as in public. At home as well as in the temple, which was merely a place for man to come and bow before Him and offer his sacrifices before Him. It served as an approach to God. I read somewhere in answer to a question “Is God a great God or a little God.” Answer, “He is so great that the heavens cannot contain Him, and so little that He dwells in my heart.” No, I don’t think so. Sometimes a sacred building can act as a blessing in that the structure reminds us of His majesty and glory. Often great prayers are born out of the great awareness of how great our God is. 
 

[Irmela]

Q13. (1 Kings 8:15-16, 27-30)

Why is it so important that the Israelites understand that God doesn't live solely in Solomon's Temple?

Where else is God's dwelling place? (verses 27, 30).

If the temple isn't God's sole dwelling place, what then is the importance of the temple?

Is it wrong to go to a sacred building such as a church to do your praying? Why or why not?

The pagan nations had the notion that their gods lived in temples.  It was very important that the Israelites understood that Yahweh cannot be contained in an earthly dwelling.  He was not an idol.  He was real and even the very heavens cannot contain Him.  God is omnipresent.  He is everywhere.  

The temple was important because that was where the nation was to come together to worship God.  That is where the sacrifices would take place.  A place to unify the nation.  A common purpose was to be fulfilled there.  

I don't think it is wrong to go to a church to pray, but if you only pray there you would have to live there.  You find that you talk to the Lord at any time of day or night.  If by this you mean to also go to the church to pray, yea, that's understandable, because it is with a body of believers and we are told in Scripture where two or three gather together in My Name there I am in the midst of them.  A corporate prayer time can be encouraging.  

[Jonathan Edwards]

Eventually would come the Babylonian captivity. Prophet EZEKIEL sermons and visions underscores this very important fact.   Prophet Jeremiah saw the devastating blitzkrieg of Jerusalem.  Prophet Ezekiel had various visions of the Shekinah glory of God in a pagan land.  Ezekiel and the Hebrew Diaspora would be comforted in the land of Babylon: the presence of the Lord would be with them despite the surrounding pagan religions.  

God would be present amongst His people; He would abode in their hearts when they would gather to hear the Word of God and pray.  In the land of Babylon, they did not have synagogues nor a central temple to offer sacrifices in accordance with the Torah.

The Temple is the People of God.  Prophet Ezekiel stated YAHWEH SHAMMAH.  Chapter 48:35.  That will be the name of the City in the vision of Ezekiel.  The Millennial Temple in the Book of Ezekiel doesn't have the Ark of the Covenant: the various sacrifices and temple procedures differ from the Levitical sacrifices and laws.  Ezekiel underscores the presence of God amongst the people.

Purpose of the Temple is a point of contact, a gathering place for the People of God the ecclesia, the called out ones, to worship the Lord and to be instructed.  Nothing wrong in itself! A church building should be conducive for busy people to recharge.  A nice Church building is a tool to instruct and train people, including being conducive for corporate worship.