The time has come for the temple to be dedicated and who better than Solomon to do it? He stood on a bronze altar/platform so as to be seen and heard. On his knees, he proceeds to ask the Lord to bless the temple and remind the people that it is only be His grace that they are where they are and will remain favored if they draw and keep close to the Lord. He acknowledges who the Lord is and how he works - the temple cannot contain him and then Solomon proceeds to remind the people and himself that the Lord is in charge. The temple is for the people to find God not contain him. From 12-42 Solomon addresses 7 situations that might happen - the address of the problem, prayer in the temple, God hears the problem and God answers the problem. We do sin - both publicly and privately and thus we need to confess to God since He sees and hears and knows it all. The situations are 1. a legal difficult problem where there are no witnesses 2. Defeat because of Israel's sin 3. No rain due to sin 4. Disasters and diseases 5. A foreigner's prayer because that person is God's creation and child as well 6. God ordering Israel to go to war and 7. Exile because of Israel's sin. Quite a broad spectrum but still a great and mindful prayer for all. I love v 36a since it is so Romans oriented!
It is nice having a mid-week break today but still lonely... Still, much I can and will try to do around here. Glad I did the gym thing late yesterday so no guilt in skipping it today. Cleaning and some lenghty cooking on the agenda today with maybe some food shopping, pooltime (weather permitting) and watching my Mets whip up on the Sillies (hopefully). Debating whether or not to see a movie...
Prayers for Matt as he is traveling home today and for the family in FL. Also prayers persist for those who are on my mind - PAL & family, Roy and Caroline Smith, family, the Rodgers family and for Andy and Marty who are traveling home after their recent gig.
Praise for today: Now arise, O Lord God, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. 2 Chr 6: 41
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