February 9 - 1 Kings 8:23

February 9 - 1 Kings 8:23

“He said, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart,”

Solomon began his prayer to dedicate the great Temple in Jerusalem with these words.

David had begun preparing things for the building of the Temple and in 2 Samuel 7, God promised that his son (Solomon) would be the one to build it.  But, in 2 Samuel 7:11b we read, “The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you.”

The Covenant that God established with David in 2 Samuel 7 was a covenant that would place David’s lineage on God’s throne forever.

“I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.  He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his Kingdom forever. (2 Samuel 7:12-13)

“Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; and your throne will be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:16)

The Israelites had never had a king until Saul.  The devastation that he brought to the kingdom was enough to nearly destroy their relationship with their God.  David’s reign – establishing a right relationship with Go and honoring God as the true ruler, brought them back.  In all of the next hundreds of years as kings came and went and the Israelites moved back and forth in their relationship with the Creator, God was preparing them for the coming Messiah, the one who would be seated upon the throne mentioned in the Covenant of 2 Sam. 7:16. 

He loved His people.  His love was steadfast.  He gave them whatever it was that they needed and many times gave them whatever it was that they wanted.  When they broke the covenant with God, He refused to set it aside.  He maintained His love for them and brought the Messiah to transform their hearts.

In the end, He will reign.  There will be no king or ruler that is an intermediary.  There will be only God and His people. 

God allowed Solomon to build the house for His Name, but read what John reveals in Revelation 21:3, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people and God himself will be with them and be their God.”

Solomon dedicated a Temple so that God could live among His people.  Solomon reminded God of the covenant that He had established.  That love … that steadfast love will take us through to the end, when God will again dwell among His people.  But, there will be no need for a human king or ruler.  He will be our God – we will be His people.