Posted on 02/10/2018 12:51:28 PM PST by metmom
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain Thee (1 Kings 8:27).
God is in all places; He is not confined by space.
No matter how big the universe is, God is bigger. His being fills up all of infinity. He is omnipresenteverywhere present. God says, Do I not fill the heavens and the earth? (Jer. 23:24). Solomon said at the dedication of the temple, Will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain Thee, how much less this house which I have built! (1 Kings 8:27). There are no limits of time or space to His presence.
Some may object to the doctrine of omnipresence, saying, Wouldnt the sin in the world defile an omnipresent God? No. God is in the hearts of sinners convicting them of sin. He is also in Hell where He is able to destroy both soul and body (Matt. 10:28). Though Gods essence is everywhere, He never mingles with impurity. In a similar way, Jesus lived among sinners and was tempted in all things as we are, yet [He was] without sin (Heb. 4:15).
Isaiah exhorts people to call upon [God] while He is near (55:6); yet Proverbs 15:29 says, The Lord is far from the wicked. How can He be near some people and far from others when He is everywhere all the time? To answer this, we must distinguish between Gods essence and His relation to people. He is everywhere in His essence, but with specific individuals He is far or near relationally. When we become Christians, Christ dwells in us. God can fill us with His fullness (Eph. 3:19), and the Spirit who lives in us can also fill us (1:13; 5:18). But before Gods Spirit indwelt us relationally, His essence convicted us of sin and saved us.
The Old Testament tells us that God dwelt between the wings of the cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant. That location was a symbol of Gods presence. Today the church represents Gods presence on earth. In the Millennium, Christs rule on the throne of David in Jerusalem will represent Gods presence. In Heaven His presence will be represented by the throne of Revelation 45. Remember, though, that the symbol of Gods presence never restricts His essence.
Suggestions for Prayer
Praise God that He is omnipresent, and thank Him that He lives in you.
For Further Study
What does Psalm 139:7-18 teach about Gods omnipresence? What was Davids response (vv. 17-18)?
Studying God’s Word ping
I was just on this topic today. Space:
Space is the boundless three-dimensional extent in which objects and events have relative position and direction.[1] Physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of a boundless four-dimensional continuum known as spacetime.
If there's an inherent boundary involved, it isn't "space". Space is limitless by definition. God fills space, which is by definition, boundless. Now if this author had said, "God is not confined by a particular place", then his statement would make sense.
The word in Hebrew is merchav (מרחב). It's a great word, this limitless place called space.
Christs rule on the throne of David in Jerusalem will represent Gods presence.
2 Chronicles 6:5-6 Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel: 6 But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.
Love the literalness of it all, because the denigrating name of Jerusalem is the name of Aholibah the harlot (Eze 23:4), in which is found the name of the Lord:
אהליבה
Ehyeh, which is the name "I AM".
(The residual letters spell lev, "heart".)
A limitless heart.. amazing revelations in these simple words.
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