1 Kings 8, 2 Chron. 5:2-14, 2 Chron. 6, 2 Chron. 7:1-10
Ryan: Today, I was struck by 2 Chronicles 6:32-33 where Solomon prays for the foreigners. In my own words, Solomon prays that as the foreigners pray to a god they do not believe in (the God of Israel), to grant them their prayers so that their eyes would be opened to the power and glory of the one true God–”so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name” (2 Chron. 6:33). I believe that this should also be our prayer today. As God’s chosen people are no longer contained to a single geographic area, the “foreigners” are simply those who are not a part of the church. And as we know from 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and 2 Corinthians 6:16, we (Christians) are also now the “house” that “bears [His] Name.” So our prayer should be that all those who are lost in the world today will pray to the God they do not know and that their prayers be answered in such a way that they know that this temple–the body of believers–bears the name of the one true God.
Samantha: Reading about the celebration that surrounded the temple dedication filled me with a sense of wonder over the magnitude of music, praise, sacrifices, and prayer. Not only was it a once-in-a-lifetime experience to move the ark of the covenant into the brand new temple, but they did it during the festival of trumpets (2 Chronicles 5:3, a.k.a., Rosh Hashanah) which added even more excitement and special meaning to the occasion (more on that festival later). After Solomon’s heartfelt prayer, I can imagine being completely overwhelmed as fire came down from heaven to consume the sacrifices and the glory of the King of the Universe so completely filling the temple that the priests couldn’t even complete their duties! While we don’t get to see God’s glory in a physical manifestation today, we can still take that same sense of wonder and awe at seeing how he works through us and the people around us each day. When you recognize His work, no matter the situation, take time to put your face on the ground and praise Him, for “He is good; his love endures forever” (2 Chronicles 7:3).
Tags: God, Witnessing
