I Kings 5:5  I intend, therefore, to build a temple for the Name of the Lord my God, as the Lord told my father David, when he said, ‘Your son whom I will put on the throne in your place will build the temple for my Name.’

Go in any school band room and you will find a lot of music stands. Sometimes you may notice that, though they are made of heavy material, they are wobbly and the flat part is loose. Often that happens because students are using them in ways it was never intended - as a table for books, their case, etc. Or even as a place to lay their heads.

Solomon’s kingdom was established. He inherited a great situation! Now he is ready for the next phase: he wants to build a temple. No doubt he knew what pagan temples were like - buildings in which to put some carved image. But Solomon had a real God and he had a grander idea. But notice what he said:

I intend, therefore, to build a temple for the Name of the Lord my God

He was going to build a temple for God’s name! That’s amazing! It’s almost like God’s name has extra special significance! Of course, it does, in fact. So much so that God’s name is the subject of the third of the Ten Commandments.

“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name."

Far too many people, even people who claim relationship with God are far too careless in this area. God’s name is holy. It’s not a means for me to express anger, happiness, surprise, or anything else. Call me old fashioned, but I think God’s name is so special that I won’t even use substitute words that sound remarkably like His name and are used in exactly the same way other people misuse it.

God’s name is not mine to use in ways it was never intended. We have a God Who has made Himself known to us. We honor Him by the ways we use, and don’t use, His name. His name is a comfort in distress. A refuge in trouble. A hope for the hopeless. His name is the means for me to address the Almighty Creator of the Universe!

Am I building a temple for the name of the Lord my God? Or am I busy constructing reasons why it’s okay for me to be careless with His name?

 

Blessings,

Pastor Russ