Shacks and temples

May 7, 2007

By Greg Ebie

Solomon purposed in his heart to build the temple; it was to be the house or dwelling place of God. Yet Solomon knew his efforts were nothing without God’s help. In his prayer of dedication he said, “Can it be that God will actually move into our neighborhood? Why, the cosmos itself isn’t large enough to give you breathing room, let alone this Temple I’ve built” (1 Kings 8:27, The Message). Nevertheless, Solomon asked God to move in and dwell among His people, to be attentive to the prayers offered from within the temple. And God answered his prayer.

Solomon also wrote a Psalm used as a song of ascent as people traveled up the hilly terrain to Jerusalem and the temple to worship God. While this song was intended to cause people to think about family relationships, I can’t help but wonder if Solomon thought about the construction of the temple he had built. As beautiful as it was to behold, it was nothing but a pile of rocks and lumber if God’s presence was not there to be found by those coming to worship.

“If God doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn’t guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap” (Psalm 127:1, The Message).

Stop and think about that. While we worship in church buildings and even sometimes refer to these places as “God’s house” or a “house of worship,” we know God’s dwelling place is really within our hearts. The Bible tells us we are the temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).

We can have absolute confidence God is doing a good work in and through our lives. On our own we may only be able to build a shack; apart from God we are defenseless. But when we surrender our lives to God, He takes over the construction; He becomes our security guard.

I am confident God will bring to completion the good work He has started within my life and will in no way let the devil destroy what God alone is doing in my life. Yes, I’m confident. I have hope that will not fail me.

Do you have the same confidence it is God at work in your life, that it is God who keeps you safe from evil? Stop trying to build your own shack and let God do the work instead.

D. Greg Ebie is senior pastor of Praise Assembly of God in Garrettsville, Ohio, and an author of Daily Bread devotionals.