The temple is complete. The ark of the covenant resides there. The people celebrate. Who gets the glory? We would do well to remember this... God gets the glory. Solomon directed the construction of the temple. The hands of many multitudes of people built it. Yet, Solomn gives God all the glory! Now, that is a wise man, indeed!
God has fulfilled His promises! It has taken a couple of generations, but the promise is a promise and it is fulfilled.
Solomon's prayer of dedication is just awesome. He lifts God up in prayer, praise and thanksgiving. He highly exalts Him. God is bigger than any temple can contain, he says. It enough and more than enough that the name of the LORD shall dwell in the temple and that the LORD's eyes shall always be upon it. Solomon thanks God, that from His dwelling place in heaven, the LORD will hear the prayers of the people who direct them to His Name that resides in the temple.
It's a good prayer. It's a great prayer, as Solomon reveals his faith in the LORD. His trust is in the LORD to deliver on His promises, to hear the prayers of the people, and answer. He thanks God. He rejoices in God, for God is good and has been good to David and to the people, Israel. (vs.66)
That being said, now remember what the Israelites lives were like under David. Remember all those wars to gain and retain their land? But, still, Solomon confesses that the LORD has been good to David and all of Israel. They trusted in God's promises. God was with them. God is good. He is with us always. Even in times when things don't seem like they're so good to his children, we can know peace. We can know the peace that surpasses all understanding as we trust in His promises for us.
Ok... that's enough :) I could rattle on and on about the goodness of God, about how He is faithful. Yet, I'm not sure how faithful we are to trust in things of this world before we trust the LORD, God. But, it is spring time and I have a burial this morning - a chance once again to remember that our lives are eternally in God's hands.
God's Peace be with you.
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