- I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time. (v. 3b)
- God wasn’t lying when He said this to Solomon. It was His every heart intention and desire to remain, for His house and His presence to remain within Israel.
- God warns Solomon that if he or his children turn from following His commandments, then Israel will be cut off from their land and the temple will be cast out.
- Why? Why can’t God just promise to always be there for always and all time?
- Sin separates from God. He is a holy God and needs to be with a holy people, a people set apart for Himself.
- He is a holy God; he must be in a holy temple set apart for Himself.
- If sin separates from God, why was David never separated from Him? Listen to God’s description of David. “Your father, [David], walked with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you.”
- How did David get away with sin and not lose fellowship with God?
- One, he did. There was no way he was fellowshipping with God while he was in the midst of his sin with Bathsheba.
- However, he was quickly restored because he confessed his sin and turned his heart back to God.
- When God forgives, He forgets. He removes our sin from His sight. He remembers it no more. David becomes upright in His eyes.
- God remembers David’s heart that is towards Him, which is one way to define godliness. A godly person’s heart is set towards God.
- The temple will be destroyed. Israel will be removed from the land. Solomon will let his heart be turned away as will many of Israel’s kings after him.
- God is patient, desiring all to repent and turn to Him, but He is just and holy and must remain so.
