Today's passage consists of Solomon's prayer for the people, the dedication of the temple and God's second appearance to Solomon.
I'd like to focus on both Solomon's prayer and God's word to Solomon.
Solomon's prayer is a great pattern for our own prayers....
1) Plea for God's presence. May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us. 1 Kings 8:57
2) Pray for the desire to do God's will in everything. May he turn our hearts to him 1 Kings 8:58a
3) Pray for the desire and ability to obey God. to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers. 1 Kings 8:58b
4) Pray for help with each day's need. that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day's need 1 Kings 8:59
5) Pray for the spread of God's kingdom to the entire world so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. 1 Kings 8:60
It actually bears some strong similarities to the Lord's prayer....
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses As we forgive those who trespass against us And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever Amen
Solomon's prayer is followed by a very strong reminder - But your hearts must be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time. 1 Kings 8:61
Solomon's warning to the people is virtually the same as God's message is to Solomon when He appears before him again. God reminds Solomon of the blessings that will come with obedience as well as the consequences of disobedience.
And, of course, both God's words and Solomon's prayer for the people, are totally applicable to us today. Following God brings blessings and rewards (not necessarily material) and turning away from Him brings suffering, punishment and eventually destruction. We need to choose daily to follow God.
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23
Unfortunately, as we know, Solomon did not heed God's words, or take his own advice. Sin is deceptively attractice. If the wisest man in the world can fall prey to Satan's trickery, no one is unsusceptible. We must always be prepared to fight this spiritual battle, and to support each other and pray for each other, as the body of Christ.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world
and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore put on the full armor of God,
so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground,
and after you have done everything, to stand.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,
with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Ephesians 6:10-18
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world
and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore put on the full armor of God,
so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground,
and after you have done everything, to stand.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,
with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Ephesians 6:10-18
Tomorrow's passage: 2 Chronicles 8:1-18, 1 Kings 9:15-10:13, 2 Chronicles 9:1-12, 1 Kings 10:14-29, 2 Chronicles 9:13-28, 2 Chronicles 1:14-17 or, with less flipping, 1 Kings 9:15-10:29, 2 Chronicles 8:1-9:28, 2 Chronicles 1:14-17
1 comment:
Thanks, Tammy. Great post.
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