1 Kings 8:12

The Message

Then Solomon spoke: God has told us that he lives in the dark where no one can see him; I’ve built this splendid Temple, O God, to mark your invisible presence forever.

Cross References

Nehemiah 8:5

Ezra opened the book. Every eye was on him (he was standing on the raised platform) and as he opened the book everyone stood. Then Ezra praised God, the great God, and all the people responded, “Oh Yes! Yes!” with hands raised high. And then they fell to their knees in worship of God, their faces to the ground.

Psalm 97:2

Bright clouds and storm clouds circle ’round him; Right and justice anchor his rule.

Exodus 20:21

The people kept their distance while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was.

Isaiah 45:15

Clearly, you are a God who works behind the scenes, God of Israel, Savior God. Humiliated, all those others will be ashamed to show their faces in public. Out of work and at loose ends, the makers of no-god idols won’t know what to do with themselves. The people of Israel, though, are saved by you, God, saved with an eternal salvation. They won’t be ashamed, they won’t be at loose ends, ever.

Deuteronomy 4:11

You gathered. You stood in the shadow of the mountain. The mountain was ablaze with fire, blazing high into the very heart of Heaven. You stood in deep darkness and thick clouds. God spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but you saw nothing—no form, only a voice. He announced his covenant, the Ten Words, by which he commanded you to live. Then he wrote them down on two slabs of stone.

Deuteronomy 5:22

These are the words that God spoke to the whole congregation at the mountain. He spoke in a tremendous voice from the fire and cloud and dark mist. And that was it. No more words. Then he wrote them on two slabs of stone and gave them to me.

Hebrews 12:18

Unlike your ancestors, you didn’t come to Mount Sinai—all that volcanic blaze and earthshaking rumble—to hear God speak. The earsplitting words and soul-shaking message terrified them and they begged him to stop. When they heard the words—“If an animal touches the Mountain, it’s as good as dead”—they were afraid to move. Even Moses was terrified.