Whole Earth Whole Heart

God made us to be filled with His glory and bring His glory everywhere we go.

“So Solomon finished all his work on the Temple of the LORD. Then he brought all the gifts his father, David, had dedicated…They were to bring the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant to the Temple…Nothing was in the Ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it…All the priests who were present had purified themselves, whether or not they were on duty that day. The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison…they raised their voices and praised the LORD with these words: “He is good! His faithful love endures forever!” At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the LORD. The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple of God.” 2 Chronicles 5:1-14

Have you ever been to a ribbon-cutting ceremony? A celebration of a new space or completed project. It tends to be a lot of pomp and circumstance. The most important part can be the photo op. For some, it can be a special occasion, but for many, it is more about going through the motions. Is there anywhere in your life right now where you are just going through the motions? Is that what God wants for you?

The time came to bring the ark and dedicate the temple. The priests were thoughtful in how they carried the ark, which contained the tablets from the day they committed to God to be in a covenant relationship. The band played, the people sang, and something happened they might not have expected. The glory of the Lord filled the temple. So much so that they could not just go through the motions but had to experience the power of the presence of God.

Do you want what they had? Do you want to be filled with the glory of the Lord and experience God today? What led to this moment? The text says they prepared, pursued, and praised. They listened to the instructions God had given them, then they did what He said. As they did, their hearts were full of awe and wonder, and they praised the never-ending love of God. Then the glory filled the temple.

All of us are full today. We are full of something. We live in a time with full calendars, full minds, and full hearts. Ironically, we tend to be people who want more. There is likely something you want more of today. The challenge is that you can be full but not filled with God’s glory or finding fulfillment. Consider taking a moment to think about what you are full of.

“Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son. Help him to defend the poor, to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors. Praise the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things. Praise his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen!” Psalms 72:1-19

Rather than focusing on how he can get more, do more, or find more, David prays that he can be more. He wants to be more like God. He wants to be more loving. More reflective of the righteousness and justice of God. One of the strongest defenses against the consumerism culture we live in is learning to mirror the heart of Jesus rather than pursuing more of what the world offers.

This song is a prayer that God would align David’s heart. He prays for a heart that is filled with more love. His desire is for eyes to see other people get justice and a heart to help others find healing. He is not full of himself or his self-interests. He recognizes that God’s righteousness helps set the world in right order, and he knows he has a part to play. We each do. Every day, God is looking for those who have willing hands and a willing heart.

In writing these words, David acknowledges that he is not there yet. He wants to be loving, but he knows he has a ways to go. He would not ask for something he already had. He is asking and seeking because he knows that what fills his heart is not yet what fills God’s heart.

While he might not love like God yet, the beauty of David’s heart is that he desires to do God’s will. His prayer is that the world would be filled with God. Is that yours? Not out of judgment because people are bad, but because the glory of God and His love are so good. When he looks out at broken people and the broken world, he holds on to hope that every life could be transformed by the love of God.

“A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness. Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise. The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue godliness. A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash. Better to have little, with fear for the LORD, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil. A hot-tempered person starts fights; a cool-tempered person stops them. The path of life leads upward for the wise; they leave the grave behind. The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but he protects the property of widows. Fear of the LORD teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.” Proverbs 15:1-33

Solomon spoke practically about how to love like God. He said the way we talk matters. Our words are ways in which we can bring peace, calm stormy situations, and share nourishment through what we know about what God has taught us. When Solomon uses the word knowledge, it always references knowing what aligns with what God has taught us. The question we should ask ourselves when deciding what to say or what to do is not what is legal or acceptable, but what is right in the eyes of the Lord. That is knowledge.

He described two types of people: the wise and the fool. The wise person overflows with knowledge from knowledge stored. The fool overflows with foolishness and anger. Solomon is saying the same thing that Jesus said in Luke 6, that what comes out of our mouths reveals what is inside our hearts. So what do your words say is filling your heart? Are your words more Christlike or a reflection of our culture?

Solomon ends with a reminder. The fear of the Lord and humility are keys to the kingdom of God. Wisdom tells us that, like David prayed, we are to see with God’s eyes and let go of anything in our hearts that is prideful. Humility clears space for God’s glory. Pride prevents His presence from taking its proper place.

“I am the one who has seen the afflictions…The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD. Let them sit alone in silence beneath the LORD’s demands. Let them lie face down in the dust, for there may be hope at last. Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike them and accept the insults of their enemies. For no one is abandoned by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love.”Lamentations 3:1-32

One of the things that people can struggle with most is understanding suffering. Many questions arise. Why do we experience suffering? How could a just, loving God allow all the pain people endure? Why do bad things happen to people who try to do good? Is suffering connected to sin, or is something else going on? The questions are endless.

Chapters like this one help us move in the right direction when we feel stuck. The author does not make light of his suffering or try to minimize his hurt. He is honest and openly wrestles with what he is going through. He has a process for his pain.

He says, I won’t forget my loss, but more importantly, I also won’t forget the love of God. When everything around us is crumbling, we can turn to Christ and stand on solid ground. Just like the people praised on the day the ribbon was cut in celebration of the temple and they sang God is good, His love endures forever, the author sings of the never-ending love of God.

Some days you need to take a stand in the midst of suffering and speak truth over your trials. You need to say His mercies are new every morning and His love never fails. Last night may have been the darkest you have ever gone through, but today is a new day. Some days you need to sit in silence. Be still and know that He is God. Let His voice be the one that fills your ears and His compassion fill your heart.

God loved you before you were born and will be there when you breathe your last breath. His love is not dependent on your performance or perfect weather. It is not circumstantial or capable of changing. If we do not feel God’s love, it is because we have walked off the straight and narrow, not because He stepped away. Do you feel loved? Do you need more of the love of God to fill your heart? Will you let go of anything that is keeping you from being filled with His presence?

“When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul…We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots…he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him. The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said…These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing. But I admit that I follow the Way…I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets. I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people. My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting. A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla…he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” Acts of the Apostles 24:2-20

Imagine how Paul felt. He was on trial and imprisoned. Like the author in Lamentations, it would have been very reasonable to dwell on the difficult circumstances. But he didn’t. When he spoke, he shared his story and spoke about the hope he had of resurrection life. What came out of Paul revealed a heart filled with God’s love. It was the love of God that had redeemed Paul in Damascus and the same love that flowed out of him on a dark day. What fills us flows out of us.

Jesus is our hope. There will be days we will wail and have to wait on Him and days we celebrate like there is no tomorrow. On every one of those days, one thing remains true. His love endures forever. His mercies are new every morning. He is always moving and ever-present. The only thing that changes is the degree to which we let Him fill us.

Many things can fill your life, but only one thing is worthy. Be filled with the glory of God. Let His love fill your heart, His wisdom fill your mind, His provision fill your hands, and His purposes fill your life. Like David, come into alignment. Look up and look out after you let Him in. Let His glory lead you wherever you go. The whole earth was made to be filled with His glory. What will fill you?