ChosenRebel's Blog

Solomon’s Temple in 3D     Artist Rendition 

Reading 1 Kings 8 today

Observations:

1. Long chapter, 66 verses, and over 4 full pages in my Bible.

2. Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple and a serious physical challenge. He knelt for the whole prayer with his hands raised to heaven (vs. 54). He spoke to the whole nation while standing at the beginning of his prayer (vs. 22) and must have knelt down shortly after standing and getting the nation’s attention. That’s hard. You have to project so as to be heard. That strains your breath causing a person to slow down because they need to take extra breaths between phrases. That breathing issue puts more strain on keeping your hands raised and the knees, even if cushioned, would begin to hurt along with a back and body that are designed to stand on feet not knees.

3. And then there is the repeated pattern between verses 31 and 40. Four times Solomon describes situations that he anticipates will happen in the future.

   • If a man sins against his neighbor . . . (vs. 31)

   • When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy, because they have sinned against You, . . . (vs. 33)

   • When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain, because they have sinned against You . . . (vs. 35)

   • If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight or mildew, locust or grasshopper, if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness, . . . 

4. Each of these four “future situations” is followed an action, if taken, will provide a solution to the problem situation. Verses 35-36 are typical, “35 . . . and they pray toward this place and confess Your name and turn from their sin when you afflict them, 36 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and of your people Israel, indeed, teach them the good way in which they should walk. And send rain on Your land, which you have given Your people for an inheritance.”

I will pick this up on another day. I have a long day of travel tomorrow.

---

Update:  Drove 14 hours today, tired is not the best descriptor. Nevertheless, here are a few more thoughts.

• What an encouraging pattern!  No matter the future failure of the nation, there is a remedy offering hope. There is a gracious God ready to receive the penitent sinner, ready to restore, teach and forgive.
• The process is simple. Turn around.
        Stop running away.
        Turn around.
        Repent.
        Call out to God and He will restore what was lost.

“Oh God, give me a heart to see my sin, to hate it, to turn from it, and call out to You. Give me, give us, a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me/us. Train me to not wander but to honor You in every thing I do and say. For Your glory and the joy of all who know me, in the power of Your Spirit and for the fame of Christ, make it so. Amen.”