Readings
6/12 - 1 Kings 7, 2 Chronicles 4
6/13 - 1 Kings 8, 2 Chronicles 5
6/14 - 2 Chronicles 6-7, Psalm 136
6/16 - 1 Kings 9, 2 Chronicles 8
6/17 - Proverbs 25-26
6/18 - Proverbs 27-29
Solomon’s Prayer
A while ago, you may remember, I talked about how Bible scholars figure out when everything happened in the Old Testament. You can check that out here. Using the method found in that post and in Andrew Steinman’s Book, From Abraham to Paul, one can place the dedication of the Temple at 966 BC. We shouldn’t be amazed that we can know when the events in the Old Testament happened, although I admit, I am awestruck by it.
Solomon’s prayer is a beautiful confession of the nature of God. It is a model of devotion to God and reliance upon. It also addresses the question of how God can both be omnipresent and specifically dwell with and bless His chosen people.
We often think of this and fail to understand how this is also possible of Jesus in the Lord’s Supper. How can Jesus be ascended and also really present at the altar? Not just the altar at your local congregation but at ever local congregation! The simple answer is to say, “I don’t really know.” Jesus did hold up a piece of bread and say, “This is my body.” He held up a cup of wine and said, “This is my blood.” Jesus wasn’t speaking in metaphors. He was holding up a real piece of bread and said, “This is.”
The answer to the question is Jesus meant to say what he said. Though we do not always understand exactly what Jesus is saying, we cling to the word that is said.
This is true even when it seems like God’s actions toward us do not follow God’s Word. When we think this is the case, we cling to the Word of God and we are reminded, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Romans 11:33, ESV)
~Pastor Schultz