There is no such thing as an atheist. Everyone has a primary “god” in their lives. Some may deny the existence of an invisible, all-powerful, supreme being that Christians and others call “God,” but everyone has something in their lives that is more important than anything else—this “something” is their “god.” It may be personal fame or pleasure or money or sports or alcohol or career or even grandchildren. Though we say that our “god” is the living God of the Bible, in reality we may have something more important in our lives.
King Solomon’s great project in life was building a glorious temple to the living God of Israel. During its dedication he prayed (1 Kings 8:22-23,27-30).
“Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below; you keep your covenant of mercy with your servants who are faithful to you with their whole heart.”
If there was a “god contest” in which different gods were presented to see which was the greatest one, I would want Solomon to speak for our God. What other God can compare with him in heaven or earth. What God can you sit down and talk with as a friend? What God is faithful to his promises even when his followers are unfaithful? What God is overflowing with mercy and forgiveness?
Extolling the greatest and personal nature of God, Solomon continued:
“Can it indeed be that God dwells on earth? If the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain you, how much less this temple which I have built! …Look kindly on the prayer and petition of your servant, O Lord my God and listen to the cry of supplication which I, your servant utter before you today.”
Though the heavens themselves cannot contain God, how could a man-made temple do so? Yet God, as great as he is, agreed to make Solomon’s temple his special dwelling place, so he could be visibly available to his people. Not only did he establish a throne in Solomon’s temple, he “listened” to the prayers that were uttered there. Imagine a God who is so attentive to his people, that he bends down and listens carefully to what they say.
“Listen to the petitions of your servant and of your people Israel which they offer in this place. Listen from your heavenly dwelling and grant pardon.”
Do we realize what a great God we have? One who “LISTENS” to every word we say to him and responds to all of our petitions. It is difficult for us humans to find someone in our life who takes time to really listen to us. It is difficult for each of us to really listen to others—to take time to reverence who they are and allow them to share their deepest selves with us. No human has the power to listen as deeply and attentively to us as God does. No one knows us that well, has that much patience, and is that interested in our every thought and feeling. How great is our God!
It is no wonder that Jesus was so angry with the religious hypocrites of his day (see Mark 7:1-13). They were upset with Jesus’ disciples who forgot to do the ritual washing before sitting down to eat. Yet they were not upset with the god of “human tradition” that they had enthroned in their own lives. Moreover, they tried to convince the people that God was pleased with their religious style.
“You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition…How well you set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition!…You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on.”
Jesus introduced his disciples to the living God—the one who was filled with mercy, the one who listened to every movement of the human heart, the one who wanted his people to be free. Now, these hypocrites were trying to sidetrack the disciples, by trying to substitute their own man-made god for the living God of whom Jesus was his Son.
Immersed in a world that proclaims so many gods, it is easy for us to get sidetracked and forget to appreciate the living God who is our own Father. Let us join Solomon in proclaiming the greatness of our God and thanking him for bending down each day to listen to us deeply and breathing his love into our hearts.
He is here today to give us a dose of encouragement and hope. He is here today to affirm his love for us, even if we are feeling neglected, disrespected, and hated by those who champion other gods.
“I had rather one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere” (Ps 84:10).
