Word of Encouragement (05/08/2024)
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)
Yesterday, we reflected on Solomon’s prayer for God’s presence with His people (v. 57). In v. 58, we see the reason for that petition: “...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.”
Do you want God’s presence in your life? When we say this, we are not talking about God’s objective presence with us. As an omnipresent God, He is already present with us. This is true not only of believers but also of everyone. And with all those who are in Christ, God is already objectively present with them with His covenantal presence also: “I will not leave you or forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). What we are speaking of is our subjective experience of His presence. Isn’t it sad if we don’t experience and enjoy God’s presence when He is objectively present with us?
But why do you want God’s (covenantal) presence in your life? There are many benefits, of course. We experience a deep sense of peace when we know that He is with us—the peace that surpasses all understanding and all our troubles. We can also receive unshakable courage when we sense God’s presence with us. David was not afraid of Goliath. Daniel was not afraid to pray to the LORD against the threat of execution. Daniel’s three friends were not afraid to be thrown into the fiery furnace for now bowing down to an idol. “If God is for us, who can be against us” (Rom. 8:31)? And there is no sorrow that God’s presence cannot comfort and no worry that His presence cannot dispel.
Why did Solomon so desperately pray for God’s presence with His people? It was not just for some material or emotional benefits they could receive from God. Rather, it was to facilitate what they ought to do as God’s people—to be wholly true to the LORD in obedience to His statutes and commandments (v. 58). Solomon shows great insight into our spiritual life! We often think that obeying God and doing good is the way to ensure God’s presence with us. This is not wrong. We should not expect to enjoy God’s presence if we continue to sin in rebellion against Him. But here, Solomon shows how God’s presence (or His enabling grace) is necessary for our spiritual walk. We can do nothing apart from God (John 15:5), especially any spiritual good. God must command and give what He commands (Augustine). We by ourselves are totally depraved and helpless to do any good.
Due to Israel’s repeated and persistent rebellion, God had to remove His glory from the temple (Ezek. 10). But Jesus came as our Immanuel (“God with Us”) and sent us the Holy Spirit that He might dwell in us forever. He works in us to will and work for His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13). May the Spirit of God, who made His eternal dwelling in us, produce in us much work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 1:3)!