Contemplative Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 2:5-6 (New International Version 2011)

⁵ “The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods. ⁶ But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?

King Solomon is sending a note to the King of Tyre. He is placing an order for building materials for the Temple he is about to build in Jerusalem. As a man of words, Solomon introduces the order with a description of the Temple. Summarizing, and Kings and other politicians rarely summarize, what Solomon writes here:

This doesn’t make sense to build a temple, because God is greater than all the universe. Nevertheless, we should have a place to offer to sacrifices of our agricultural economy as God requires, so this is the best we can do.

Lessons for today? Let’s try these:

No amount of love for others,

No amount of service to others,

No amount of prayer, Bible study, and meditation,

No amount of any of these good things can in any measure compare to the grace God has extended to me.

Nevertheless, they are ways I offer myself as a living sacrifice to God.