Shelomoh stood before Yahweh’s altar in front of the entire congregation of Yisra’el and spread out his palms to the heavens. Will God really live on earth?
He said, ‘Yahweh, God of Yisra’el, there is no god like you in the heavens above or on the earth beneath, keeping pact and commitment for your servants who walk before you with their entire mind…
…Because will God truly live on the earth? There – the heavens, even the highest heavens, could not contain you, certainly not this house that I have built. But turn your face towards your servant’s plea and towards his prayer for grace, Yahweh my God, so as to listen to the resounding cry and to the plea that your servant is making before you today, so that your eyes are opened towards this house night and day, towards the place of which you’ve said, “My name will be there”, so as to listen to the plea that your servant makes towards this place. May you listen to the prayer for grace by your servant and your people Yisra’el, which they make towards this place. May you yourself listen towards the place where you live, towards the heavens, listen and pardon.
Goldingay, JohnThe Bible for Everyone . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art –
Thou my best thought, by day or by night;
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.