1 Kings 6:23-28: a reflection

23In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high. 24Five cubits was the length of one wing of the cherub, and five cubits was the length of the other wing of the cherub. From the tip of one wing to the tip of the other was ten cubits. 25The other cherub was ten cubits. Both the cherubim were of one measure and one form. 26One cherub was ten cubits high, and so was the other cherub. 27He set the cherubim within the inner house. The wings of the cherubim were stretched out, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the middle of the house. 28He overlaid the cherubim with gold.

In the innermost sanctuary of Solomon's temple, the most holy place, two great cherubim of olive wood were set, each ten cubits high, overlaid with gold, their outstretched wings spanning the whole room, touching wall to wall and meeting in the center. The most sacred place, where God's presence dwelt, was the center around which everything in the temple was oriented; the whole structure led inward to this holy place of God's presence, and the cherubim marked and honored it. Everything was ordered around the place of God's presence at the center.

Notice how the temple was oriented: everything ordered around the place of God's presence at the center. The most holy place, where God dwelt, was the innermost heart of the temple, the center to which everything led and around which everything was arranged. The whole structure existed to house and honor this place of God's presence; it was the center, and everything else was oriented toward it. God's presence was the heart of the temple, the center around which all was ordered.

That ordering around God's presence is worth taking to heart, for our lives too are to be ordered around God at the center. As the temple was oriented around the place of God's presence, so our lives are to have God at the center, everything ordered toward and around him, rather than around some lesser thing. We can order our lives around many centers, our work, our comfort, ourselves; but the true center, around which all is to be ordered, is God. Consider what is at the center of your life, around which everything else is ordered; is it God, or has some lesser thing taken the center? Order your life around God at the center, everything oriented toward him, as the temple was ordered around the place of his presence; let God, not some lesser thing, be the center of your life, the heart around which all else is arranged, as the whole temple led inward to the holy place where God dwelt.

Lord, in the innermost sanctuary of Solomon's temple, the most holy place, two great cherubim of olive wood were set, overlaid with gold, their outstretched wings spanning the whole room, touching wall to wall and meeting in the center. The most sacred place, where your presence dwelt, was the center around which everything in the temple was oriented; the whole structure led inward to this holy place, and the cherubim marked and honored it. Everything was ordered around the place of your presence at the center. Show me how the temple was oriented: everything ordered around the place of your presence at the center. The most holy place, where you dwelt, was the innermost heart of the temple, the center to which everything led. The whole structure existed to house and honor this place of your presence. Your presence was the heart of the temple, the center around which all was ordered. Take that to my heart, for my life too is to be ordered around you at the center. As the temple was oriented around the place of your presence, so my life is to have you at the center, everything ordered toward and around you, rather than around some lesser thing. I can order my life around many centers, my work, my comfort, myself; but the true center is you. Help me consider what is at the center of my life; is it you, or has some lesser thing taken the center? Help me order my life around you at the center, Lord, everything oriented toward you, as the temple was ordered around the place of your presence.