Hi friends! I hope your day has been off to a great start. Today's reading was a growth point for me. I wanted to judge Solomon at first but by the end it helped reveal something new about God to me, or should I say, it added more points into an aspect of my relationship with God that I believe in, but am too hesitant to act on. I'd love to hear your thoughts or response to my own.
Scripture to Read
Audio Bible
Questions to Consider
What does this teach me about God?
What does this teach me about mankind?
What does this teach me about the relationship between the two?
- My Thoughts -
As mentioned above I wanted to judge Solomon for all of chapter 8. Solomon in his lengthy exposition to God basically makes declarations about what God should (will?) do for God's people. The idea of giving God a mandate when God is the authority figure seems like a really bold move, especially from someone who has strayed away from God and worshipped other gods with his 1000 partners. I was anticipating the moment when Solomon would just a royal slap across the face from God, which he did, but to my surprise God also responded with "I have heard your dedications and I am pleased. I will do as you ask. Not for your sake, but for Israel's sake." Wait....whahaaa???
When I pray I usually lift up passive prayers. Prayers such as "God, by your will, on your time, help us." Only when I am at my most angry or most hurt do I lift up a prayer of "God DO this or that." Usually immediately right after I send a PS letter to God and say "but only if you want to." Solomon's bold prayers to God seem to give me a royal slap to my understanding of God. What if God is most responsive to bold prayers because bold prayers mean bold faith? What if God is equally annoyed by indecisiveness as we are? What's going on in your life that you could make a declaration to God about. Try it, and ignore the PS letter afterwards. How does a prayer like that feel? Let's practice one together below...
Prayer
God, bring prosperity upon my family this year, bring happiness to the sad, bring hope to the hopeless, bring justice to injustice. God of the highest armies, prepare our Christmas Eve services for abundance and blessing. To those that come to the service, rend their hearts open to your grace. Make us to be people of abundance as we bless others in Geauga county and beyond. In these things we pray. Amen.