A house for My Name

Many verses in the Bible speak of God wanting a house or a temple built “for my name.” I find these fascinating. Why would God say to build a house “for my name?” Why didn’t He say to build a temple “for Me?” Is there special meaning to the phrase “my name?” Does it mean something different, something more, something less, than “for Me?” Let’s look at a few of them. First, Nathan the prophet bringing the word of YHWH to David:

12 “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

14 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.

2 Samuel 7:12-14 (New King James Version)

Solomon determines to fulfill the prophecy:

5 And behold, I propose to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spoke to my father David, saying, “Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build the house for My name.”

1 Kings 5:5 (New King James Version)

Solomon gave a speech at the completion of the temple. Here is part of it:

15 And he said: “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David, and with His hand has fulfilled it, saying,

16 ‘Since the day that I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have chosen no city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house, that My name might be there; but I chose David to be over My people Israel.’

17 Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a temple* for the name of the LORD God of Israel.

18 But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.

19 Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.’

1 Kings 8:15-19 (New King James Version)

* Literally house, also in verses 18–20

An interruption peers into my intellectual space. I will complete this post before the weekend is over.