II Chronicles 5-6

“But will God indeed dwell with mankind on the earth?” (6:18).  King Solomon knew that the beautiful Temple couldn’t contain God; he asked only that God’s eyes might be “open toward this house” (v20).  Whenever God’s people prayed in or toward the Temple, God would pay attention (v21).  Whenever the people sinned (for everyone sins, v36), “hear from heaven … and forgive” (v39).

Sin separated humans from their holy Creator, and the Temple offered a special, precious place of meeting.  It pointed toward the day when God “became flesh, and dwelt among us,” dealt with sin completely, and invited us into the Holy Place with Him.