“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house… .” (1 Kings 8:27–29, ESV)
The scripture above contains words spoken by Solomon at the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. At this momentous occasion, Solomon offered up not only formalities but prayers. 1 Kings 8:27-29 hovers between both formality and prayer. In the first half of the scripture, Solomon explained to the people how surprising it was that God would “indeed dwell on the earth” (1 Kings 8:27). God created the universe, every galaxy seen by every telescope ever created, and yet God chooses to be present with us on this earth! This is an amazing side to God. God can be in so many places at once. God is not confined by space. God’s Spirit may even dwell in the human heart, soul, and mind. That is also why Solomon proclaimed that “the highest heaven cannot contain” God. And yet, God was willing to come and dwell in the Temple in Jerusalem. AND God is willing to dwell with you! And God can hear the prayers of people said in the Temple (1 Kings 8:29). And God can hear your prayer.
The scripture for today is one among many explanations in the Bible of God’s omnipresence. The word “omnipresence” means to be available everywhere all the time. God is always present. God doesn’t take a vacation from HIS creation. God is aware of everything. That is why in Jeremiah 23:24, God says, “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” God is not limited by time nor space. Heaven cannot even contain God (1 Kings 8:27)!
However, let’s explain omnipresence further. There is a difference between God’s omnipresent essence and God’s omnipresent influence. God can keep HIS eyes “open day and night” (1 Kings 8:29) but that doesn’t mean that God is present in the soul of a sinful person! God has omnipresent influence over everything and everyone. God’s influence goes everywhere, even upon the soul of the lost. But, there are times that God’s essence, His being, is pulled away from the presence of sin or evil. For example, Proverbs 15:29 explains that “The Lord is far from the wicked.” Does this mean that God can’t be there? No. What it means is that where evil wickedness endures, God’s purity and essence will not linger. God’s influence will never allow evil to bind with God’s essence and Spirit.
Think of God’s essence and influence this way. A mother takes a young child to the playground. While the child is playing, the mother sits on a park bench a short distance away. The mother’s eyes and ears are on that child, watching over him or her. That shows the mother’s influence. The mother’s essence is further away on a park bench, though her influence is powerfully present.
God's influence is everywhere present. But, God’s essence is reserved for what is holy. God's influence is upon even the soul of the most sinful of human beings. However, God’s Spirit is found in the soul of the holy person or filling a holy space. I would rather have God’s influence AND essence in my life. I want God’s Spirit to be present in my heart and soul. I want God to be close to me. I want God’s eyes to be ever vigilant over me.
Saul was the first King chosen to lead Israel. God graced His coronation. The prophet Samuel blessed His Kingship. But Saul’s insecurities and lust for power became his undoing. After a while, Saul began to ignore God’s commands. Saul did as he pleased. Saul even saw fit to seek direction from a witch at Endor rather than listen to God’s voice. How did God respond to Saul’s blatant sinfulness? The scripture tells us: “Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him.” (1 Samuel 16:14, ESV). Was God’s omnipresence limited in that the Lord left Saul’s presence? No. God’s essence and Spirit departed from Saul’s soul. God’s influence remained. That is made obvious in that the Lord sent a spirit to torment Paul from then on.
God’s omnipresent influence is everywhere. HIS eyes were upon the Temple “day and night”. They are upon you even now. However, God’s omnipresent essence and Spirit are reserved for holy people and holy places and doing holy work. Wouldn’t you like for not only God’s eyes to be watching over you day and night but for God’s Spirit to be inside your heart, soul, and mind; advising your every decision; adding love and grace to each and every thought?
After a young man asked to be saved, I prayed that he would receive God’s Holy Spirit. I held his hand and prayed that God would bless him and be with him. The next day, I spoke to the young man. I asked how he was doing. He said to me something very relevant to our Bible Study today. He responded, “Yesterday morning, I knew God was out there, in the universe, in the world. Today, I feel God baking love into my heart, speaking with my soul, and showering graceful words into my mind.”
God is able to be omnipresent. God’s eyes are watching everything in all of creation. However, God’s Spirit brings God’s omnipresence home, to the heart and mind and soul. God’s eyes and ears monitor everything. God’s influence is everywhere. But God’s essence and Spirit are special. They are reserved for what is faithful and blessed. I want them reserved for you!
The scripture for today is one among many explanations in the Bible of God’s omnipresence. The word “omnipresence” means to be available everywhere all the time. God is always present. God doesn’t take a vacation from HIS creation. God is aware of everything. That is why in Jeremiah 23:24, God says, “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” God is not limited by time nor space. Heaven cannot even contain God (1 Kings 8:27)!
However, let’s explain omnipresence further. There is a difference between God’s omnipresent essence and God’s omnipresent influence. God can keep HIS eyes “open day and night” (1 Kings 8:29) but that doesn’t mean that God is present in the soul of a sinful person! God has omnipresent influence over everything and everyone. God’s influence goes everywhere, even upon the soul of the lost. But, there are times that God’s essence, His being, is pulled away from the presence of sin or evil. For example, Proverbs 15:29 explains that “The Lord is far from the wicked.” Does this mean that God can’t be there? No. What it means is that where evil wickedness endures, God’s purity and essence will not linger. God’s influence will never allow evil to bind with God’s essence and Spirit.
Think of God’s essence and influence this way. A mother takes a young child to the playground. While the child is playing, the mother sits on a park bench a short distance away. The mother’s eyes and ears are on that child, watching over him or her. That shows the mother’s influence. The mother’s essence is further away on a park bench, though her influence is powerfully present.
God's influence is everywhere present. But, God’s essence is reserved for what is holy. God's influence is upon even the soul of the most sinful of human beings. However, God’s Spirit is found in the soul of the holy person or filling a holy space. I would rather have God’s influence AND essence in my life. I want God’s Spirit to be present in my heart and soul. I want God to be close to me. I want God’s eyes to be ever vigilant over me.
Saul was the first King chosen to lead Israel. God graced His coronation. The prophet Samuel blessed His Kingship. But Saul’s insecurities and lust for power became his undoing. After a while, Saul began to ignore God’s commands. Saul did as he pleased. Saul even saw fit to seek direction from a witch at Endor rather than listen to God’s voice. How did God respond to Saul’s blatant sinfulness? The scripture tells us: “Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him.” (1 Samuel 16:14, ESV). Was God’s omnipresence limited in that the Lord left Saul’s presence? No. God’s essence and Spirit departed from Saul’s soul. God’s influence remained. That is made obvious in that the Lord sent a spirit to torment Paul from then on.
God’s omnipresent influence is everywhere. HIS eyes were upon the Temple “day and night”. They are upon you even now. However, God’s omnipresent essence and Spirit are reserved for holy people and holy places and doing holy work. Wouldn’t you like for not only God’s eyes to be watching over you day and night but for God’s Spirit to be inside your heart, soul, and mind; advising your every decision; adding love and grace to each and every thought?
After a young man asked to be saved, I prayed that he would receive God’s Holy Spirit. I held his hand and prayed that God would bless him and be with him. The next day, I spoke to the young man. I asked how he was doing. He said to me something very relevant to our Bible Study today. He responded, “Yesterday morning, I knew God was out there, in the universe, in the world. Today, I feel God baking love into my heart, speaking with my soul, and showering graceful words into my mind.”
God is able to be omnipresent. God’s eyes are watching everything in all of creation. However, God’s Spirit brings God’s omnipresence home, to the heart and mind and soul. God’s eyes and ears monitor everything. God’s influence is everywhere. But God’s essence and Spirit are special. They are reserved for what is faithful and blessed. I want them reserved for you!