Wednesday 21 May 2008

Background

Solomon is dedicating the temple he has built in honour ofYahweh, the god of Israel. The most revered artefact in all theparaphernalia of worship was without question the ark of thecovenant, a box in which was contained the written form of theTorah, the book of the Law. In the first instance this written formwas a tablet of stone. For centuries however, our Jewish cousinshave revered the Torah Scroll, kept in an ornate box and carriedsolemnly around the synagogue before it is read to the people.Whether in stone or on papyrus, this Torah represents the presenceof God among God's own people.

In his prayer of dedication Solomon says all one might expect himto say, in appropriate humility, about this new temple built tohouse the presence of God. But Solomon acknowledges the boundariesof what he can do. He cannot compel God, still less contain God ina box or in a temple.

In some ways this chapter serves as a memorial to Solomon's wealthand grandeur. His speech hits the right buttons for a king whorecognises that he is regent on God's behalf. Here, in particular,he admits that the structures we create to carry the freight ofmeaning and significance for us - all these things are in the endincapable of doing what we intend them to do - keep God in oneplace, with boundaries and dimensions.

Later on in his prayer of dedication, Solomon turns to petition. Hestates that when people pray they will turn towards this place,even if they cannot be there physically. This turning towards theTemple is, of course, an expression of high intention, and it isthis expression of intention that Solomon asks God to honour byresponding - heed and forgive.

To Ponder

It is one of our human failings that we becomedependent upon familiar structures and customs, forgetting thatthey cannot, ultimately, contain the thoughts and ideas we findmost important to us. Examine the way you think about your church,hymns or style of worship. To what degree are they truly capable ofdoing for us what we hope they will?

Solomon was asking God to honour his people'sintention in turning towards the Temple for prayer. How do youexpress your deep intention to worship the Lord with all yourheart, mind, soul and strength?

The response which, for Solomon, expressed mosttruly the nature of Israel's (and our) God is a willingness tolisten and to forgive. Given what we have said about the vastnessof God, take the opportunity to acknowledge God's astonishing'fatherly goodness' towards us.