Today’s
Scripture Reading (May 20, 2019): Psalm
26 & 27
For generations, the Notre-Dame de Paris has captured our
imagination. The name means “Our Lady of Paris,” and the cathedral that bears
the name has been described as one of the finest examples of French Gothic
architecture. It had an innovative design, using rib vault ceiling with flying
buttresses, it has huge, colorful rose windows, and its structure and
decoration set it apart from other buildings of the era. The cathedral was
majestic, and because of that majesty, the cathedral hosted many significant
events, including the Coronation of Napoleon in 1804 when the Cathedral itself
was in serious decline. The 2019 fire stole all of this from us, as well as a
piece of French history. French politicians have promised to rebuild the Grand
Lady of Paris, but in spite of their efforts, we know that it will never be
quite the same.
It is easy to read the words of David about dwelling with God in
the house of the Lord or inquiring of God at his temple and have images of
cathedrals like Notre-Dame come to mind. But that was probably not what was in
David’s mind as he wrote the words. It was not even the grand temples of other
gods that existed during his time that David envisioned. The temple and the
place of God’s dwelling on earth was just a tent, albeit a rather large one.
David dreamed of something more significant, but that dream would not become a
reality during his lifetime. So when David looked upon the dwelling place of
God and went to seek him in his temple, it was a tent on which his eyes came to
rest.
But that didn’t really matter. David was not impressed by the
building, but rather by the inhabitant of the building. Maybe he recognized
that his God could not be contained by the cloth of a tent or by the brick and
mortar of a beautiful building. The building could do nothing to save him. What
he needed was not the beauty of a magnificent structure, but rather the
substance of the one that the building was meant to honor.
Most modern churches are not great examples of beautiful
architecture. They are not a beauty to behold, and neither are they the places
where we will find fine art. They are buildings, sometimes standalone but
increasingly they are places that are rented to hold worship services one day a
week and serve other purposes at other times. And yet, none of that matters,
because it is not the building that we worship; it is the God who inhabits us
that makes our worship worthwhile.
Tomorrow’s
Scripture Reading: Psalm 28 & 29
Personal
Note: Happy Birthday to my daughter-in-law Michelle. I hope you have a great
day.
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