March 13, 2022 - 1 Kings 7-9

Solomon built the temple in seven years but he “was building his own house thirteen years” (7:1). It’s not necessarily a bad thing but it has always struck me as odd that he spent almost twice as much time on his own place as on God’s house. Hmmm . . .

Solomon and all Israel brought the ark to Jerusalem, they sacrificed, and they rejoiced. And what a prayer at the dedication of the temple! (ch. 8)

So the Lord appeared to Solomon and said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built . . . And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you . . .” (9:3,4). If only! Such a great story here! Such great wisdom and dedication to the Lord! Riches and power given to Solomon! “Solomon, just walk with the Lord,” we want to say. But then, we look at our own lives and struggles. And we begin to understand that, for all of us, rich and poor, wise and not so wise, powerful and not so powerful, we are so dependent upon God's grace toward us.

I was starving in the desert

For a crumb of living bread,

When the Lord my wand’ring footsteps

To his own pavilion led.

Tho’ the waves may roll around me,

Shadows to the hillside cling,

Yet I’m feasting, daily feasting,

At the table of the King.

At the table of the King,

I am feasting at the table of the King;

Of his goodness I am telling,

Of his wondrous love I’ll sing. --Eliza E. Hewitt (19th century)