Word of Encouragement (05/07/2024)

And he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying, ⁵⁶ “Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has failed of all his good promise, which he spoke by Moses his servant. ⁵⁷ The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us, ⁵⁸ that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers. ⁵⁹ Let these words of mine, with which I have pleaded before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, and may he maintain the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as each day requires, ⁶⁰ that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other. ⁶¹ Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the Lord our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.” (1 Kings 8:55-61)

In vv. 57, Solomon prays for God’s presence with Israel. This is a fitting prayer at the dedication of the temple. For the temple was a visible sign of God’s presence among His people. Indeed, the glory cloud descended upon the temple to show God’s presence in it. This petition shows Solomon’s understanding of the essence and purpose of God’s covenant with Israel: “I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God” (Ex. 29:45). God’s presence among the Israelites was a visible confirmation of the covenant union between the two parties.

Solomon’s petition reflected Moses’ prayer to God earlier at the beginning of Israel’s wilderness journey. On account of the golden calf incident at Mount Sinai, God threatened not to go up to the promised land with the Israelites; He would just send an angel ahead of them (Ex. 33:2-3). Moses responded, “And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth” (Ex. 33:15-16)? He understood that the promised land, though flowing with milk and honey, was no promised land if the LORD was not there with His people. Echoing this theological truth, Solomon prayed for God’s presence with Israel: “The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us” (v. 51).

Maybe Solomon was wise enough to remember Israel’s checkered history. Even though Israel found itself at the peak of prosperity and power, it was not always so. There were many times other nations invaded Israel, and it had to taste the agony of defeat (e.g., during the time of the judges). Israel even experienced the humiliation of having the Ark of the Covenant captured by the Philistines. But there were times when no nation was able to stand before Israel under Joshua’s leadership (e.g., during Israel’s conquest of Canaan). Was it because Israel had superior army and weaponry? Was it because Joshua was such a capable leader? No, even under his leadership, Israel experienced a humiliating defeat at Ai and that, right after its glorious victory at Jericho. Israel’s military success and failure depended on God’s presence and blessing. Why was the Ark captured by the Philistines? Because the glory of the LORD departed due to Israel’s sin (“Ichabod,” 1 Sam. 4:21).

What are you praying for these days—some stuff here and there or the presence of God in your life? How valuable is God’s presence to you?