2 Chronicles 6:12-13 "And he stood
before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel,
and spread forth his hands: (13) For Solomon had made a brasen
scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high,
and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled
down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his
hands toward heaven"
The temple is now finished. Everything is in place to conduct proper worship unto the Lord. The priests have made themselves ready. Solomon has gathered the people together. He is prepared to offer the prayer of dedication unto the Lord. I think back to the prayer Solomon made when he was first inaugurated as king. The Lord had told him to ask for anything he wanted and it would be granted to him. Solomon asked for wisdom that he might conduct himself as a proper king before the people. We see that wisdom being manifested in the manner in which he would offer this prayer.
He had a scaffold built 7 1/2 feet wide by 7 1/2 feet long and 4 1/2 feet high. He placed the scaffold in the middle of the place where the people would be gathered. This scaffold was not for him to be seen; rather, it was that the people could hear the beautiful prayer that Solomon was about to offer. I say it was not that the people would be able to see their king in a sense of pride; rather, he was going to humble himself before the Lord and before the people. Solomon stood upon the scaffold and then kneeled upon his knees, spreading his hands toward heaven. This was the king who was accustomed to the people kneeling to him. People would stretch their hands toward him. Now their king was kneeling and stretching his hands to the very One Who is King of kings and Lord of lords. This sixth chapter of 2 Chronicles gives us the beautiful prayer which was prayed by Solomon.
This morning, I want to look at this king humbling himself. I want to see him stretching his hands out before the Lord God Almighty. I want to strain my ears to hear the prayer that he prayed which concerned the people over which he had been given the responsibility to keep them in his care. My thoughts when I began today was in this manner: I would love to see the leaders of the nation fall on their knees before the Lord and lift their hands toward heaven. I would love to see them acknowledging their need for God's mercy, grace, wisdom, and love. That was my full intention when I began today's devotion. But somewhere along the way as I was typing, the Lord said before we can expect the leaders of our nation to fall on their knees, the people must fall on their knees before the Lord. We must acknowledge OUR need for God's mercy, grace, wisdom, and love. May God be merciful to us. It seems that He has given us space to repent and turn back to Him. May we humble ourselves and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways.
The temple is now finished. Everything is in place to conduct proper worship unto the Lord. The priests have made themselves ready. Solomon has gathered the people together. He is prepared to offer the prayer of dedication unto the Lord. I think back to the prayer Solomon made when he was first inaugurated as king. The Lord had told him to ask for anything he wanted and it would be granted to him. Solomon asked for wisdom that he might conduct himself as a proper king before the people. We see that wisdom being manifested in the manner in which he would offer this prayer.
He had a scaffold built 7 1/2 feet wide by 7 1/2 feet long and 4 1/2 feet high. He placed the scaffold in the middle of the place where the people would be gathered. This scaffold was not for him to be seen; rather, it was that the people could hear the beautiful prayer that Solomon was about to offer. I say it was not that the people would be able to see their king in a sense of pride; rather, he was going to humble himself before the Lord and before the people. Solomon stood upon the scaffold and then kneeled upon his knees, spreading his hands toward heaven. This was the king who was accustomed to the people kneeling to him. People would stretch their hands toward him. Now their king was kneeling and stretching his hands to the very One Who is King of kings and Lord of lords. This sixth chapter of 2 Chronicles gives us the beautiful prayer which was prayed by Solomon.
This morning, I want to look at this king humbling himself. I want to see him stretching his hands out before the Lord God Almighty. I want to strain my ears to hear the prayer that he prayed which concerned the people over which he had been given the responsibility to keep them in his care. My thoughts when I began today was in this manner: I would love to see the leaders of the nation fall on their knees before the Lord and lift their hands toward heaven. I would love to see them acknowledging their need for God's mercy, grace, wisdom, and love. That was my full intention when I began today's devotion. But somewhere along the way as I was typing, the Lord said before we can expect the leaders of our nation to fall on their knees, the people must fall on their knees before the Lord. We must acknowledge OUR need for God's mercy, grace, wisdom, and love. May God be merciful to us. It seems that He has given us space to repent and turn back to Him. May we humble ourselves and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways.