Saturday, July 12, 2014

A House of Praise (1 Kings 8:54)


1/12/2011 5:31:32 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                                                Focus:  A house of praise

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                  Reference:  1Ki. 8: 54; 2Chron. 7:1-3

 

Message of the verses:    “When Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and supplication to the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread toward heaven. 55  And he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying: 56  "Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant. 57  "May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us or forsake us, 58  that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers. 59  "And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires, 60  so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no one else. 61  "Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.’”

“1 ¶  Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the house. 2  The priests could not enter into the house of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD’S house. 3  All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the LORD upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to the LORD, saying, "Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting.’”

As Solomon finished his prayer to the Lord on behalf of his people Israel he got up from the kneeling position and then looked over the crowd and blessed the people, something that was usually set aside for the priest, but sometimes done by the king.  Again it should be noted that Solomon knew the book of Deuteronomy very well, and for that matter the entire OT at that time, for Solomon told the people that the things that Moses had said would happen have happened, for there was a temple built and the people of Israel had found rest.  He reminded the people of a promise that is still true from believers today, and that is that the Lord will never leave us or forsake us.  He reminded them of the portion of the Covenant that was conditional and that they should obey the Lord fully.  Finally Solomon asked the Lord to remember his prayer for the people that he had just spoken.

After this fire came down from heaven and the glory of the Lord filled the temple something that had happened to Moses and Aaron when the tabernacle was dedicated, and something that would happen to Elijah on Mt. Carmel latter on.

 

Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Dr. Wiersbe pointed out that no believing prayer of one of the Lord’s children is ever forgotten by the Lord, and this encourages me as I have prayed for the salvation of my daughter Michele for a long period of time as well as others.  I realize that God can answer a prayer with yes, no, or wait, but God never forgets my prayers and this comforts me greatly.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

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

2.      Remember I am in a battle and in need of the Spiritual Armor.

3.      Continue to learn contentment.

 

1/12/2011 6:00:35 AM

 

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