Honor with Obedience – Emily's Snippets

How big is our Lord God? Solomon built the temple as his father David asked him to do. Then came the dedication. “But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built! Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O Lord my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You.” 2 Chronicles 6:18.

Going out on a summer night, and gazing at the sky from East to West, and from North to South, and we feel so tiny and insignificant. How can there be any greater vista than this? Then we can understand Solomon’s words: Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You.

We spend hours sorting and storing so many items in sacks, boxes, totes, and the corners of dwelling places in a brief lifetime. God won’t fit into any container we can manage. He lives in our hearts and gives us life and breath. He is ready to lead us and guide us.

“And now, O Lord, God of Israel, carry out the additional promise you made to your servant David, my father. For you said to him, ‘If your descendants guard their behavior and faithfully follow my Law as you have done, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’ Now, O Lord, God of Israel, fulfill this promise to your servant David.” I Chronicles 6:16-17.

Solomon completed building the temple, as he promised God and David, after twenty years. In this, Solomon honored both his father David and he also obeyed his Father God. David wanted to build the temple to honor the name of the Lord. God told David, one of your sons will build the temple.

As I read this scripture, I find Honor and Obedience enlarge our capabilities and talents with which we serve our Lord. In Solomon I see humility. Solomon did not build the temple for self-acclaim, but rather to honor God.

After Solomon became king and God had a question for him. I wonder what our answer would be if God asked us the same question?

When God asked Solomon, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” Solomon replied to God, “You showed great and faithful love to David, my father, and now you have made me king in his place. O Lord God, please continue to keep your promise to David my father, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth! Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?” I Chronicles 1:8-10.

It is when we can wonder and delight in our Lord in all we say and do, can we truly serve Him. It is in the music of stillness we can hear His songs in the night. How true are the words, “Be still and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” Psalm 46:10. The first four words give us the assurance, Be still and know. Be still and know. Be still and know! That I am God. It is when we absorb these words into our being, we are ready to hear our Lord God speak to us. It is then we understand Solomon’s heart of Honor and Obedience and finding Joy and Peace.

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. Psalm 1:1-3.

Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols. O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them. Psalm 40:4-5

Solomon trusted God and obeyed God in humility. Even as we are called to trust and obey Jesus, in all humility.

All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. I John 4:15-17

Brooke Ligertwood and Ben Fielding wrote the What a Beautiful Name. A portion of the lyrics is here.

You have no rival, You have no equal
Now and forever, Our God reigns
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name, above all names

What a powerful Name it is
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King

Comments? eacombs@att.net