Psalm 136:6

Psalm 136:6

The earth is a temple

Psalm 2 begins with these words, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for He founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.” This verse, of course, echoes Genesis 1 where God is described as separating the waters and making dry ground appear on the earth. One of the interesting aspects of Psalm 2 is that it uses the terminology of the day that referred to the building of a settlement or a city, and the same metaphors applied to the construction of a temple. Thus, the Bible refers to the earth as having pillars and foundations just as a temple might have! 

In ancient times, a temple was perceived to be like the earth in miniature, that is why pagan gods had temples built for them and why Zion’s Temple was described as the dwelling place of God Most High. The ancient Israelites realised that even the whole earth could not contain their God for He had designed it, formed it and constructed it, and every aspect was part of His sacred dwelling. So, God could say to His people, “When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm.” Psalm 75:3. Therefore the division of land and water on the surface of the earth is not by accident or because of some random friction between the continental plates millions of years ago, it is by design and is all part of the temple building programme instituted by God when He created the earth. That is why tides and sea levels and the vastness of the ocean depths, and a million other factors serve to give us stability on the earth, and why life flourishes and continues to make this planet a beautiful dwelling place. Not just for us, it was designed to be the dwelling place of God too. That is why Adam and Eve met Him in the Garden of Eden, heaven and earth came together or they overlapped! In His benevolence and kindness, God handed over the keys of ownership of this beautiful, lavish and breath-taking paradise to the human race. We would share it with Him and what a pig’s ear we’ve made of it! The very first settlers took the keys and gave them to the Satan and were immediately barred from the Holy Place in the temple God had created. Men have tried to take possession and failed ever since simply because the title deeds have been given away. Instead of God being King of this world, men follow the devil who is the prince of this world. (John 14:30)

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