December 1, 2021
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Reading along with us in 1 Kings? Here’s today’s reading:
1 Kings 8 (NIV)
The Ark Brought to the Temple
1 Then King Solomon summoned into his presence at Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Zion, the City of David. 2 All the Israelites came together to King Solomon at the time of the festival in the month of Ethanim, the seventh month.
Continued reading in Luke chapter 8 this morning, revisiting some of Jesus Parables to include one of my favorites, the parable of the sower.
“and he answered, “The knowledge of the secrets of the Kingdom of God has been given to you, but to the rest it comes by means of parables, so that they may look but not see, and listen but not understand.”
Luke 8:10 GNTD
https://bible.com/bible/69/luk.8.10.GNTD
The temple is such a significant and powerful place for the Israelites. Solomon’s prayer is so reflective of that and to think that we are a temple ourselves is humbling. To be able to feel the presence of God in our lives like that cloud of smoke and that awe inspiring presence!
Old testament accounts of things like sacrifices, sacraments, and temple respect always remind me that we sometimes get too comfortable with the things of God and forget just how powerful and awesome He really is and the fact that we get to speak with Him anytime should never be taken for granted!
What a special time of celebration for Israel as the Ark of the covenant is brought from its temporary holding place to the holy of holies in the temple. It is incredible to imagine the number of sacrifices made when we are told they are too numerous to count when 10s of thousands are mentioned at the end of the chapter. Solomon certainly recognizes the importance of his father David as wells the place that he holds in building the temple. The fact that it has all come together is a reflection of God’s faithfulness to His people and David. Solomon and the people’s faithfulness to God. Solomon’s prayer shows his understanding of the forgiving nature of God and the nature of man that will require that forgiveness and he asks God to be faithful to answer all kinds of different prayers directed to the temple. He shows awareness of the kind of things the book of Deuteronomy warns will happen in response to disobedience and he asks God to answer when the people turn to Him and to the temple. It all shows the central place the temple was to have in the people’s worship of God. It is right in the context of all this that Solomon recognizes God for Who He is and praises Him for all the goodness He has demonstrated to the people. How could the people not help to leave joy filled after such an awesome time recognizing God’s presence with them and God reigning His presence down.
1 Kings 7-8
The ark is brought from Zion to Jerusalem. It is interesting to consider the travels of the ark up to this point. It says that only the testimony was in it, but I believe Aaron’s rod and a jar of manna was at some point placed in it. I wonder what happened to those.
What an incredible ceremony and prayer of Solomon.
And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the Lord, be near 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 may require, 60 that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other. 61 Let your heart therefore be loyal to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, as at this day.”