Sunday, July 13, 2014

A House of Fellowship (1 Kings 8:62-66)


1/13/2011 5:34:50 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus: A house of fellowship

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                             Reference:  1Ki. 8:62-66; 2Chron. 7:4-10

 

            Message of the verses:  “62 ¶  Now the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifice before the LORD. 63  Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the LORD, 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the sons of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD. 64  On the same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD, because there he offered the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings; for the bronze altar that was before the LORD was too small to hold the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings. 65  So Solomon observed the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt, before the LORD our God, for seven days and seven more days, even fourteen days. 66  On the eighth day he sent the people away and they blessed the king. Then they went to their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had shown to David His servant and to Israel His people.”

            “4  Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the LORD. 5  King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. Thus the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 6  The priests stood at their posts, and the Levites also, with the instruments of music to the LORD, which King David had made for giving praise to the LORD-"for His lovingkindness is everlasting"-whenever he gave praise by their means, while the priests on the other side blew trumpets; and all Israel was standing. 7  Then Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD, for there he offered the burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings because the bronze altar which Solomon had made was not able to contain the burnt offering, the grain offering and the fat. 8  So Solomon observed the feast at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly who came from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt. 9  On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for the dedication of the altar they observed seven days and the feast seven days. 10  Then on the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their tents, rejoicing and happy of heart because of the goodness that the LORD had shown to David and to Solomon and to His people Israel.”

 

            This dedication happened around the feast of Tabernacles, a feast that was to remind the Jewish people how the Lord took care of them for those forty years in the wilderness after leaving Egypt.  Now not only were they celebrating this feast, but they were celebrating the dedication of the new temple and also the glory of the Lord entering this temple.

            They celebrated with food, as part of the peace offering was given to the priest and part was kept by the worshiper, so there was plenty to eat.  The Jewish people did not make meat a major part of their diet, so on this occasion it became a treat to them.

            Jesus Christ is our peace offering for He made peace through the blood of the cross and this is something to celebrate every day. 

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It is good to remember that Jesus Christ is my peace, for I was an enemy of God, but the sacrifice of Jesus Christ made peace with God for me and I can also have the peace that passes all understanding that will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus, something that I truly need as I get use to life on Kauai and the new job that I am doing for the glory of the Lord.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

1.      Give myself to the Lord today for worship and for service.

2.      Remember the gift of salvation that was given to me.

3.      Trust that the Lord will continue to teach me contentment.       1/13/2011 5:58:09 AM

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