In Praise of Excess

There’s something deeply human about the biblical story of King David offering to build a palace for God. Like David, we all desire to grasp the infinite, to build something so grand that it reflects some of what heaven must look like. But David’s suggestion is met with a half-rebuke from the Lord: “Would you build a house for me to dwell in?” Eventually, God agrees that David’s son Solomon can build the Temple. But the Lord’s point to David still stands: outside of heaven, all things are too small to hold the infinite power, love, and knowledge of the Lord.