2 Chronicles 2:1-6: a reflection

1Now Solomon decided to build a house for the LORD’s name, and a house for his kingdom. 2Solomon counted out seventy thousand men to bear burdens, eighty thousand men who were stone cutters in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred to oversee them. 3Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, “As you dealt with David my father, and sent him cedars to build him a house in which to dwell, so deal with me. 4Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, to burn before him incense of sweet spices, for the continual show bread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance forever to Israel. 5“The house which I am building will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. 6But who is able to build him a house, since heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain him? Who am I then, that I should build him a house, except just to burn incense before him?

As Solomon prepares to build the temple, a great and costly house for God, he says something that keeps his vast undertaking in humble perspective. The house I am building will be great, he says, for our God is greater than all gods. But who is able to build him a house, since heaven and the heaven of heavens can't contain him? Who am I then, that I should build him a house, except just to burn incense before him? Even as he builds the greatest house he can, Solomon knows it cannot contain God, who fills the heavens; his building is not to house or repay God, but simply an offering of worship to the One no house can hold.

Notice Solomon's humility even in his great undertaking. He was building the finest house he could for God; yet he did not imagine that it could contain God, or that God needed it, or that he was doing God some great favor. God fills the heavens; no house can hold him. Solomon's building was not to house the God who cannot be contained, nor to repay him, but simply to offer him worship, to burn incense before him. He held his own great work humbly, knowing it added nothing to God, who cannot be contained, but was only an offering of worship to the One who is greater than all. His greatness of undertaking was matched by humility of heart.

That is worth taking to heart, for whatever we offer or build for God, we do well to hold it humbly, knowing God cannot be contained or repaid by it. We can imagine that what we do for God somehow houses him, or repays him, or does him a favor, taking pride in our offering; but Solomon, building the temple, knew that God cannot be contained even by heaven, and held his work humbly, as simple worship. What we offer God adds nothing to him; it is worship, not repayment. Do not imagine that what you offer or do for God contains or repays him, taking pride in it; God cannot be contained, and your offering is worship, held humbly. Hold whatever you offer or build for God humbly, knowing it cannot contain or repay him but is only worship, as Solomon knew even his great temple could not contain the God who fills the heavens; for God cannot be housed or repaid by anything we offer, and our best works for him are humble worship, not favors done to the One who is greater than all.

Lord, as Solomon prepares to build the temple, a great and costly house for you, he says something that keeps his vast undertaking in humble perspective. The house I am building will be great, he says, for our God is greater than all gods. But who is able to build him a house, since heaven and the heaven of heavens can't contain him? Who am I then, that I should build him a house, except just to burn incense before him? Even as he builds the greatest house he can, Solomon knows it cannot contain you, who fill the heavens; his building is not to house or repay you, but simply an offering of worship. Show me Solomon's humility even in his great undertaking. He was building the finest house he could for you; yet he did not imagine that it could contain you, or that you needed it, or that he was doing you some great favor. You fill the heavens; no house can hold you. Solomon's building was not to house you, nor to repay you, but simply to offer you worship. He held his own great work humbly, knowing it added nothing to you. His greatness of undertaking was matched by humility of heart. Take that to my heart, for whatever I offer or build for you, I do well to hold it humbly, knowing you cannot be contained or repaid by it. I can imagine that what I do for you somehow houses you, or repays you, or does you a favor, taking pride in my offering; but Solomon knew that you cannot be contained even by heaven. What I offer you adds nothing to you; it is worship, not repayment. Keep me from imagining that what I offer or do for you contains or repays you, taking pride in it; you cannot be contained, Lord, and my offering is worship, held humbly.