a house for his name (2 Chronicles)

"Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God and dedicate it to him for the burning of incense of sweet spices before him, and for the regular arrangement of the showbread, and for burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths and the new moons and the appointed feasts of the LORD our God, as ordained forever for Israel. The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him?" (2 Chronicles 2:4-6 ESV)

Solomon knew that the temple in Jerusalem could not in any way contain God. The Lord who created all things really doesn't need a house. Nor would it really enclose him in any way. Heaven, nor the highest heaven, can not contain him! The house was to be a place for "the name of the Lord", that is, where the Lord (by name) would be called upon in prayer and where people would learn about him and worship him.

Solomon specifically mentions the sweet incense which would ascend before the Lord, representing the prayers of God's people. (See Psalm 141:2 and Revelation 5:8.) The "showbread" was fresh bread which symbolized that God provides daily bread for his people. The offerings represented the costly sacrifices that remove sin, and the feasts were celebrations of God's care and forgiveness for his people. The temple was the place where sin was removed and people would be restored to God.

Solomon's temple would not last forever. It would be destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. But in God's plan the temple pointed to something -- rather, someone -- greater. Jesus Christ is the real temple of God (see John 2:19-21), where sin is removed, where we meet God, where we are reconciled to him, and where we enjoy his presence forever.

So, the author of Hebrews writes, "Through him [that is, Jesus] then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name." (Hebrews 13:15 ESV)

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