2 Chronicles 6:17-18 "Now then, O LORD
God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy
servant David. (18) But will God in very deed dwell with men on the
earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much
less this house which I have built!"
Solomon began his prayer of dedication with lofty words concerning the Lord God. He acknowledges before God and before all his people that the very universe cannot contain God, much less the house that has been built. Yet, Solomon seeks the verification that God will continue to dwell with the people in worship and in daily actions. Again, we see the wisdom which the Lord gave to Solomon being manifested in this prayer. This prayer is one that seems to be complete in all ways. Let's look at some of the things for which Solomon prayed.
We read in the following verses the thoughts of Solomon concerning conditions in which the Lord would become angry at His people: "If a man sin against his neighbour"... "And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee"... "When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee" ... "If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers" ... "If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them" ... "If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them" ... "Yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive" ... "If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives" ... in each of these conditions, Solomon petitions the forgiveness of the Lord if His people turn again to Him and pray toward this place that is consecrated unto the Lord God Almighty.
Lord, if any of these conditions occur and then your people turn back to you and pray and seek your face, Lord, will you hear their prayer and answer their prayer? I hope as you read this, your mind is jumping ahead to a verse that will follow soon. I hope you are thinking ahead to the verse that we hear quoted so many times. Solomon, in his God given wisdom, looks ahead to think on these things as he is praying unto God. Also, this is placing into the hearts and minds of the people the importance of seeking the Lord in all situations and circumstances. We will look more in depth at God's answer when we come to that particular verse where God answers.
Let us be reminded this morning that no matter the circumstance, God had promised to hear the prayers of the heart as they are directed toward Him.
Solomon began his prayer of dedication with lofty words concerning the Lord God. He acknowledges before God and before all his people that the very universe cannot contain God, much less the house that has been built. Yet, Solomon seeks the verification that God will continue to dwell with the people in worship and in daily actions. Again, we see the wisdom which the Lord gave to Solomon being manifested in this prayer. This prayer is one that seems to be complete in all ways. Let's look at some of the things for which Solomon prayed.
We read in the following verses the thoughts of Solomon concerning conditions in which the Lord would become angry at His people: "If a man sin against his neighbour"... "And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee"... "When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee" ... "If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers" ... "If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them" ... "If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them" ... "Yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive" ... "If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives" ... in each of these conditions, Solomon petitions the forgiveness of the Lord if His people turn again to Him and pray toward this place that is consecrated unto the Lord God Almighty.
Lord, if any of these conditions occur and then your people turn back to you and pray and seek your face, Lord, will you hear their prayer and answer their prayer? I hope as you read this, your mind is jumping ahead to a verse that will follow soon. I hope you are thinking ahead to the verse that we hear quoted so many times. Solomon, in his God given wisdom, looks ahead to think on these things as he is praying unto God. Also, this is placing into the hearts and minds of the people the importance of seeking the Lord in all situations and circumstances. We will look more in depth at God's answer when we come to that particular verse where God answers.
Let us be reminded this morning that no matter the circumstance, God had promised to hear the prayers of the heart as they are directed toward Him.