Devotional - July 22, 2004

Solomon understood nature and had discernment beyond that of any man alive, yet he questioned God coming to dwell among men. After all, how can someone who can't be contained by heaven be bound to a structure man has made? It's a good question, is it not?

Even though the king had questions, he nevertheless dedicated the temple by praying and asking God to bless His people. It was quite some celebration. After the priests sacrificed so many sheep and cattle they couldn't be counted, the smoke must have been dense in that place as Solomon steped up to pray. But right in the middle of his stately prayer, he ask his question.

Such it is when we pray. When we call on the Lord, we open our heart and not only admit our secret fears, but also our unsettling concerns. We question how God could come down and fill the place we call the prayer room, but we're so glad He does. We might even question why God would listen to us when we are so slow to listen and learn. Still, He does and in the midst of our worship, the Lord speaks peace to our heart.

Solomon was doing what can be called "public" prayer. He was praying while others around him listened to what he was saying. In the stillness of where they kneeled, they'd probably groan when he said something that applied to them and give audible praise when he said something that elevated their spirit. Public prayer is what is done in most churches nearly all the time. Someone is elected to lead everyone else in prayer.

Where part of your life is occupied by private and personal prayer with the Lord? How long has it been since you when to a isolated place alone and were prepared to stay there for however long it took to get peace? I'm afraid, most of us have come to believe prayer is something God never said it was.

Solomon may have understood what it meant to lead people in prayer, but his dad knew what it was to latch onto Gods' heart. For hours he'd spend time alone with God emptying himself and seeking solace and peace to survive his enemies. He laced his prayer with playing a musical instrument to the Lord and singing songs or worship.

If you didn't know, most of the Psalms were actually selections from David's prayer journal written out of his private time with the Lord. Seldom do you hear David leading others in prayer, but you can read his prayer journal for hours and get a real sense for the love relationship between him and God.

Will God dwell with men? If you want to find out, find a place to get alone with God and tell him what David told him in Psalm 18:1: "I love you, O Lord, my strength." Then just be very still and think about him; jump from one praise to another and thank him for what He's done in your life and the life of those you love. What you will likely experience sometime during your time with the Lord is the filling of the Holy Spirit who is the One who lets God's children know just how much He loves them.

By the way, the answer to Solomon's question is "Yes, if we'll just let Him."

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( 2 Ch. 6:13b-8:10 Rm. 7:15-8:8 Ps. 18:1-15 Pr. 19:24-25 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society