July 18 - God in His Temple

July 18 - God in His Temple
Isaiah 6:1-8

I think it is simply amazing to see the development of the house for God’s name as civilization transformed. When the people were nomadic, God showed them how to build a traveling home for Him to reside in.  He patterned it after the heavenly temple.  Hebrews 9:23-24 tells us that this was a copy … a pattern from the true temple in heaven.

When the people of God settled into a permanent location and David established a palace for himself, they desired to create a permanent home for God as well.  If he was going to reside among them, it was necessary for them to provide a place as beautiful as the king’s palace where God could meet with them.

But God’s home is far outside our reach. Where is the one place that God would be able to watch over everything? As high as possible – in the heavens.

The Psalmist says, “The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes behold, his gaze examines humankind.” (Psalm 11:4)

“The Lord looks down from heaven on humankind to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God.” (Psalm 14:2)

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you.” (Psalm 73:25)

We count on God being in a place that we barely comprehend.

Isaiah finally saw the throneroom and when he related the vision, it was glorious!

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.” (Isaiah 6:1)

This is the beginning of beautiful imagery.  The Lord is above all else and there is nothing that He is not in contact with.  His temple isn’t filled with people or things, it is filled with the train of his robe … it is filled with Him!

“Above him were seraphs, each with six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And They were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’  At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.” (Isaiah 6:2-4)

We see these same seraphs in the vision John had in the Revelation, but the most important thing here is that they are constantly lifting up and praising the holiness of the Lord Almighty.  There is never a time when praises aren’t lifting to the God of creation.

Temples and tabernacles, cathedrals and churches.  There is no purpose to any of these other than to worship the Lord Almighty.

Praise the Lord.
Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
  Praise him with the harp and lyre,
Praise him with tambourine and dancing,
  Praise him with the strings and flute,
Praise him with the clash of cymbals,
  Praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
  (Psalm 150)