24-May-2024 – Kingdom without temple cannot stand and prosper

Published by Sunil Binkam on May 24, 2024May 24, 2024

Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father: And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel – 1 Kings 6:12-13

The context of this verse is the time when King Solomon was building a temple for God. Solomon desired for God to dwell among the people of Israel to lead and bless them. He understood that without God’s grace, he could not rule the nation peacefully and prosperously.

In these verses, God outlined three prerequisites before He would dwell among them:

1. Walk in the Statutes of God: Statutes are rules designed to regulate behavior in society. For example, in our current world, political parties should not campaign on the day of polling. For believers, an example might be not bearing false witness against a neighbor.
2. Execute the Judgments of God: A judgment can be seen as a decision made after thorough, impartial analysis and adherence to defined laws. God is saying that our decisions must align with His word and His judgments.
3. Keep All the Commandments of God: Commandments are like statutes but for our relationship with God. For instance, one must examine oneself before partaking in the Lord’s table.

If these areas are taken care of, God promised to dwell among the children of Israel. But now, in the New Testament era, there is no physical temple. How does this apply to us today?

Once we accept the gospel of our salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ, we become the people of God and are added to the body of Christ, which is the church.

Now, the word of God teaches us how to behave in society. These are the statutes. For example, we should obey and respect authority even if they are not friendly. We should take care of the poor and the needy.

Next, we should execute the judgments of God. We should forgive others as God forgave us. We should treat our neighbors the way we want to be treated.

Next, we should obey the commandments of God. We should love our God with all our heart, mind, and soul.

Then we can experience the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He will teach us the complete truth and lead us in the correct path according to the will of God.

If we do not follow these guidelines, the Holy Spirit cannot dwell in us. Instead, He will be with us, utilizing every opportunity to convict us of our trespasses and shortcomings. When we confess and seek forgiveness, we will again experience the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

So, the kingdom and the temple go hand in hand. Recently, God told us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. This is similar to today’s message.

God said we are His chosen generation and royal priests. We are both kings and priests. Today, God reminds us that we need His indwelling presence. As priests, we must live victorious lives through the wisdom and grace of God, being kings.

How great is the wisdom of God? All glory to Him forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer:

Dear loving Heavenly Father, thank you for your love and grace. Thank you for teaching us today about important aspects of spiritual and physical life. Help us to understand this, examine ourselves, and confess any shortcomings. May we be forgiven and renewed. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.