Toward This Place

“That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place.” (1Ki 8:29 AV)

 

This is part of Solomon’s prayer to the LORD regarding the newly constructed temple and his discourse with the people over the same.  Before the temple, the ark of the covenant resided in a tent.  This tent was designed to be mobile.  It was required as until the time of Solomon, Israel did not have a permanent home.  They wandered in the wilderness once escaping from Egypt.  Then Joshua took them into Canaan.  From Joshua until the death of David, Israel was constantly battling their enemies both within their territories and their neighbors without.  Now that the diplomat, Solomon had taken the throne, peace reigned.  It was time for a permanent structure to be constructed wherein the ark of the covenant might rest.  Another purpose for the construction of the temple is seen above.  It was a permanent reminder to the people of God of the privilege and duty to worship the God of their fathers.  It was a visual reminder.  It was a focal point.  It was a religious icon designed to stir the heart towards a consistent reminder to walk with God.  In Solomon’s prayer, he mentioned the possibility of the nation losing its liberty to another, being taken from Canaan into captivity.  If the temple stood, the Jews were to face in that direction and pray.  Not that the direction itself or the building itself bestowed any spiritual power.  It was merely an object meant to bring the mind and heart into the state wherein they could truly worship.  Don’t get me wrong.  I am not advocating idol worship.  Merely, a reminder that prepares the mind and heart for a deeper relationship with God.

Many homes have such things.  They might have an open Bible on the fireplace mantle.  There might be a cross or two hung in the home.  There are scripture verses hung in rooms.  Some have pithy sayings of a spiritual nature.  Maybe a line or two of a poem that shares some truth.  There are reminders all around us that tell us to remember that which is, or should be, important to us.  One of the things I like to do is go over to our sanctuary for prayer.  When the building was built several decades ago, a member constructed the pulpit and also carved out an eight-foot cross that hangs behind it.  When I go over to the church to pray, the first thing I do is gaze on that cross.  I meditate on what that cross means.  Specifically, what it means to me.  Not merely that He saved me.  Rather, all that salvation entails.  I am reminded of the love behind the sacrifice.  I am also reminded of the duty laid upon me because of that sacrifice.  When I pray, I periodically gaze at that cross while in prayer of my mind or heart begins to wander.  Most of the time I am either bowed with my eyes closed, or gazing upward.  I gaze at the cross not because I believe this cross has any power or personality.  Rather, to keep my mind and heart focused on the person behind that cross.  Think about a phone call before video calling.  We might call someone close to us.  Like a parent or child.  Sometimes during that phone call, we might look upon a photo of that person.  The photo has no other attributes but a piece of paper with chemicals on it.  The photo is not the person.  Rather, in gazing upon that photo, we are reminded more intimately, to whom we are speaking.  Again, do not misunderstand me.  I am not speaking of idols.  We do not pray to a cross.  We pray to the person whom that cross represents.

Let’s apply this a bit more directly.  One of the unintended consequences of having to adapt to the COVID virus is the convenience that electronic ministry made to congregational worship.  With the flip of a switch, we can broadcast our services live.  We can sit down with a cup of coffee, dressed down in our house clothes, and enjoy the service.  Myself, I was quarantined for a total of 48 days without ever coming down with symptoms and having tested negative.  I know what it is like to be part of a service in a remote location.  As convenient as it may be, it is not the same.  The brick and mortar of a church house possess no power.  The Bible tells us where two or three are gathered together, the LORD is in the midst.  If we are gathering in our home with our family, the Holy Spirit is just as much a part of that gathering as if we were in the house of God.  What the church house does do is it provides an atmosphere unique to itself.  When we are in God’s house, we are not in our house.  When we are in the church building, we are not in a theatre.  The short of it is, gathering in a physical building helps to provide a constant and deeper reminder of our worship that no other place can provide.  As the people of God prayed towards the city of Jerusalem, it reminded them of the covenants God made with them.  It reminded them how much they had failed Him.  And the direction in which they prayed was a physical representation of a spiritual direction which they were feeling.  That is, a return from their error into repentance and faith.  So, as the vaccine becomes more available, our hope and prayer are the people of God will find their way back to the house of God.  It simply is not the same remotely joining a worship service.