Monday, July 14, 2014

God's Promise to Solomon (1 Kings 9:1-3)


1/14/2011 5:32:27 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  Promise

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                               Reference:  1Ki. 9:1-3; 2Chron. 7:11-16

 

            Message of the verses:  “1 ¶  Now it came about when Solomon had finished building the house of the LORD, and the king’s house, and all that Solomon desired to do, 2  that the LORD appeared to Solomon a second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon. 3  The LORD said to him, "I have heard your prayer and your supplication, which you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built by putting My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.”

            “11  Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king’s palace, and successfully completed all that he had planned on doing in the house of the LORD and in his palace.

    “12 ¶  Then the LORD appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 13  "If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, 14  and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15  "Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. 16  "For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.”

 

            I would suppose that the section contains one of the most famous verses in all of the OT, and that is 2Chron. 7:14, a verse that is quoted in many places in the Christian faith even today.  This verse came to Solomon in a dream as the Lord came to him in that dream assuring him that He had heard the prayer that he had just prayed and would answer that prayer.  Verse 14 is God saying that if His people humble themselves after sinning and turn away from their wicked ways that God would forgive their sins and would heal their land.  Dr. Wiersbe points out that believers can claim this promises today as well as the OT believers did.  Perhaps Daniel had this verse in mind whenever he was praying in chapter nine of his writings. 

            I am sure that Solomon realized that God had heard his prayer, but now in God’s graciousness He comes to Solomon in this dream to assure him that the temple that he built would be God’s temple and God would keep His eye on His temple.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  As I was reading this section of Scripture it came to my mind that the Lord still has His eye on the place where His temple was built, and He still cares about that sight, and that one day soon He will cause another temple to be built there just as the first two were built on that same sight, the site where Abraham was to offer up his son Isaac.  I am reminded of the song “Soon and Very Soon.”  Soon and very soon we are going to see the King,

 

My Steps of Faith for today:

 

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

2.      Trust the Lord to guide my path today.

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

4.      Trust the Lord to teach me contentment even in this job that is not what I thought it would be.

1/14/2011 5:55:28 AM

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