Today’s reading: 1 Kings 8:22-61
Solomon offers a powerful prayer of dedication to God before the people after the ark is placed inside the temple. He begins by acknowledging God’s greatness, and then fervently seeks God’s continued guidance, provision and protection for Israel. A key element that I appreciate about this prayer is how Solomon openly recognizes and quite thoroughly addresses the problem of sin and the separation it causes between us and God. He then humbly asks God to hear the people’s prayers for forgiveness and act upon them when future offenses occur. At the conclusion of his prayer, Solomon turns his attention to the people and issues the charge to let their hearts “be wholly true to the LORD our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day” (vs. 61). What a beautiful depiction of seeking after God.
What did you observe or learn about sin and forgiveness from Solomon’s prayer? What does being “wholly true to the Lord” mean and/or look like for you personally? Tami
Source: Tami’s Blog
