Take a moment. Even as you begin to read this, stop and
listen. What do you hear? No, don’t
rush. Just be still.
I like my environment to be quiet. Oh, I am a people person.
Invite me to the gathering and I'll be
there! But when I'm alone, I love the quietness of the moment. There is such
peace and opportunity for clarity to be born in my mind. I can go for hours just having nothing in the
background except my heart speaking to the Lord, or more importantly, allowing
God to speak to me.
When the temple was being constructed, scriptures say there
was an absence of hammers, chisels, and other iron tools on the temple grounds. You may ask why? According to the book of
Joshua, instructions were given through Moses to build the altar for burnt
offerings and sacrifice with uncut stones.
This seems like such a minor thing, but there was to be no defilement in the building
of the altar of the Lord. The altar of
the Lord was to be different than the altars built for false worship all around
them.
King Solomon established this act of worship as the temple
of the Lord was being built. No hammering, not chiseling or any other defilement
is how I read it.
In the New Testament, we are reminded by the apostle Paul that
we are the temple of the Lord. God, the Spirit of the Living God, lives
inside of us with all power and authority! How can I hear if I'm constantly
talking? How can I listen if I welcome every morning like the world does?
The world calls it the hustle and bustle of life. The phrase
itself sounds noisy! I grew up in NYC. That phrase reminds me of yellow cabs and
horns! “Get your paper here, get your paper here.”
The God of the heavens and the earth desires time with me. “I rise before dawn
and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:147)
Reverence is a word that should be used when we think of our
God. The imagery given as we read 1st Kings has respect and worship written all
over it.
What can I learn from scripture as I read the history of how
the house of God was being built? Reverence. Respect. Worship God according to
His Word.
Take a peek again. The temple is being built according to the plan of the Lord. No chaos. What we see is the unfolding of God’s instructions. What we hear is awe and respect.
“He says, 'Be still,
and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted
in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)
Feeling frazzled? Does it feel too noisy? Go, hide quietly
in the presence of God. He still speaks
today and desires some quiet time with you!
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of
God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to
God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1)
HUSH. It's time to worship the Lord.
God bless you! ~Liz
