Originally posted: 5/07/2020

“The house which I am about to build will be great, for greater is our God than all the gods. ⁶ But who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him?… for the house which I am about to build will be great and wonderful,” (2:5-6, 9).

The people had houses. Idols had houses. But how on earth does one engage in the monumental task of building a house for Him Who is Great and Wonderful, for Him Who Cannot Be Contained?

Actually, it’s a preposterous undertaking; and Solomon was fully aware of this fact.

“But who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him?…” (2:6).

And yet, Solomon set his heart on building a house for Him Who is Greater than the heavens and the highest heavens, a physical dwelling place for Him Who Cannot Be Contained by the entire universe, let alone within the confines of walls.

But Solomon undertook this building project, not to Contain Him, but to worship Him.

“…So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except to burn incense before Him?” (2:6).

Consider Him Who Cannot Be Contained

Today, may we be moved to worship as we consider Him Who Cannot Be Contained.

• He Cannot Be Contained; He is Greater than all the gods.
  • “The house which I am about to build will be great, for greater is our God than all the gods,” (2:5).
    • “Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed, it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people,” (Exodus 18:11).
    • Your way, O God, is holy;
      What god is great like our God? (Psalm 77:13).
    • For the Lord is a great God
      And a great King above all gods, (Psalm 95:3).
    • For I know that the Lord is great
      And that our Lord is above all gods, (Psalm 135:5).

• He Cannot Be Contained; He is Greater than all of creation.
  • But who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him?…” (2:6).
    • Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all, (1 Chronicles 29:11).
    • By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
      And by the breath of His mouth all their host, (Psalm 33:6).
    • “Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker—
      An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth!
      Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’
      Or the thing you are making say, ‘He has no hands’?
      ¹⁰ “Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you begetting?’
      Or to a woman, ‘To what are you giving birth?’” (Isaiah 45:9).
    • “Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You,” (Jeremiah 32:17).
    • For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God, (Hebrews 3:4).

• He Cannot Be Contained: He is Great and Greatly to be praised.
  • “…So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except to burn incense before Him?” (2:6).
    • For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;
      He is to be feared above all gods.
      ⁵ For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
      But the Lord made the heavens, (Psalm 96:4-5).
    • Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
      Let the sea roar, and all it contains;
      ¹² Let the field exult, and all that is in it.
      Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy, (Psalm 96:11-12).
    • Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
      And His greatness is unsearchable, (Psalm 145:3 ESV).

How do we respond to Him Who Cannot Be Contained?

Today, perhaps we are listening to the voice of fear blaring in our minds; the fear of the unknown and dread of the future threatening to choke out His Word of truth planted in our souls; that is, if we fix our hearts and minds there, refusing to change the station.

The truth is, He Cannot Be Contained. His Greatness is unstoppable and uncontainable, and surpasses everything, including a global pandemic.

Let us tune our minds to the truth of our God Who is Great above all gods, all diseases, and all afflictions, that a melody would rise up in our hearts.

Today, let us be prompted through His Word to change the station and sing our own praises of Him Who is Greater than all gods, of Him Who Cannot Be Contained, that these songs would overflow with unstoppable and uncontainable praise and worship.

He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen,” (Deuteronomy 10:21).

“The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
This is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father’s God, and I will extol Him, (Exodus 15:2).

Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
²⁴ Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
²⁵ For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
He also is to be feared above all gods, (1 Chronicles 16:23-29).

So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name, (Psalm 63:4).

My mouth is filled with Your praise
And with Your glory all day long, (Psalm 71:8).

Come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
⁷ For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand… (Psalm 95:6-7).

Let my lips overflow with praise,
For You teach me Your statutes.
¹⁷² Let my tongue sing of Your word,
For all Your commandments are righteousness, (Psalm 119:171-172).

The truth is, when we are in affliction, we need to remember Who He Is and the hope of His Word of Promise. As we come to Him in faith and seek Him in His Word, He will change the station of our thoughts. By the enabling work of His Holy Spirit, He will remind us of His Promises and empower us to fully trust Him to be faithful to His Word.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you, (John 14:26).

And we need to remember Whose we are, and where He has placed us. Because the astonishing truth is, that when we trust Christ for our salvation, we are born again to be forever Contained in Him Who Cannot Be Contained!

“that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me,” (John 17:21).

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God, (Colossians 3:3).

Today may we take hold of His comfort and hope freely bestowed through His Presence and His Word. For truthfully, how can we not be comforted and encouraged when we know that we are Contained in Him and that nothing is impossible for Him Who Cannot Be Contained?

Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him
For the help of His presence, (Psalm 42:5).

Remember the word to Your servant,
In which You have made me hope.
⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my affliction,
That Your word has revived me, (Psalm 119:150).

Let’s Grow Together!