But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built! (I Chronicles 6:18 ESV)
The Presence of God
God had told both David and Solomon that He did not need a place to dwell on earth. It is enough, for God, to dwell in the hearts of His people. Yet God instructed both David and Solomon that a temple should be built.
This is not a contradiction.
Rather, it points out that that God’s people need God’s presence more than God needs our presence.
And God knows that we need His presence.
God’s presence provides joy (Psalm 16:11), protection (Psalm 91:1); peace (Exodus 33:14); removal of obstacles (Isaiah 8:10); necessary rest (Matthew 11:28). His presence transforms us, fixes us, and burns away all unrighteousness and sin (Colossians 3:18)!
We need His presence.
But earth cannot contain Him. In fact, heaven and earth cannot contain Him. But Jesus can and does!
The temple was always only a temporary place, as beautiful as it was. Only divine Jesus can contain our infinite God.
The nation Israel could not contain Him. Only human Jesus, in the expanded kingdom of the Church can contain our saving God.
Jesus is necessary because only Jesus delivers us into the Presence of God, and the Presence of God into us.