God Dwells Among Us
How can we better rest in God’s presence? In God Dwells Among Us, G. K. Beale and Mitchell Kim give a biblical theology of the temple.
Purpose and Place of Worship
In the first chapter, Eden is presented as a temple and the dwelling place of God. We long for life and purpose, and it is here where we find satisfaction and rest in our Creator. The Tree of Life and the River of Life remind us of the abundant life that can only be found in our Heavenly Father. We find our purpose and place of worship in Eden.
Our call to be fruitful and multiply is actually a call to more worship. As we increase the presence of God’s image-bearers, he is further glorified throughout the globe. Abraham’s offspring and the small sanctuaries that would be built are a fulfilling of our original mission.
A “Remixed” Temple
I was fascinated by the idea that the temple is “remixed” in a context of sin. As a model of the cosmos, it represents God’s global sanctuary. God’s work of restoration and expansion would find fruition in Jesus. The old temple system would be destroyed, and His resurrection would inaugurate a new order, bringing salvation to Gentiles and the birthing the Church.
I was most moved by the call for Christians to serve as priests in the new temple of God. As the dwelling place of God, we hear his powerful Word, participate in worship, and witness to the world. We await our final consummation in the new heavens and earth, when we will see our Savior face to face.
The Dwelling Place of God
This book helped me see how the cosmos, the temple system, and the church relate as the dwelling place of God. I see the importance of the church in the world. And I see the power of God in the person of Jesus, who promised he would never leave us.
I received a media copy of God Dwells Among Us and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.