King Solomon built the first Temple
for God in Jerusalem within 7 years. He was obedient to God and
built the Temple exactly as He specified. God blessed his obedience
and helped him in all ways possible. The construction of the Temple
happened without any glitches and God was mightily with them.
Then Solomon did something
wonderful, they dedicated the Temple to God in grand fashion.
Solomon sacrificed peace offerings to God, twenty two thousand
bulls and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. Can you imagine
that? It was a celebration that has never been seen before. He held
a feast for all Israel, a great assembly from the entrance of
Hamath to the Brook of Egypt (1 Kings 8:65). The feast lasted for
14 days. The people rejoiced and were glad of heart for all the
good that the Lord had done for His people. These people didn't
merely say thank you, they had a proper, grand feast! Can you just
picture millions of people coming together and rejoicing in the
goodness of God and just thanking Him? They weren't there to beg
things from Him, but just to thank Him. How wonderful.
And Solomon prayed a wonderful
prayer to God. Let me quote one small part:
"Lord God of Israel, there is
no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your
covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all
their hearts. You have kept what You promised Your servant David my
father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with
Your hand, as it is this day." 1 Kings 8:23, 24
Isn't it just a beautiful prayer,
one building faith in me that God will also fulfill everything that
He has promised me!
With this dedication the Shekinah
glory of the Lord also transcended on the Temple, filling the
building with His might. The priests couldn't even continue
ministering due to the awesome presence of the Lord filling the
Temple. What an amazing day that must have been!
The lesson for me today is a
beautiful one. Solomon and the whole of Israel didn't neglect to
thank God when their task was completed. They thanked Him in
abundance for all that He had done for them and I think it is
wonderful. How often do we thank God? We are so quick to ask and so
slow to thank. I see it also in normal human interaction. I see a
whole lot of people asking for things and sort of expecting things
from others, and yet when it comes to thanking those who helped you
or blessed you, it is few and far between. That is indeed very
sad.
In your day to day walk remember to
thank people and especially God for all His help and for everything
He is blessing you with. And celebrate with Him. God loves to
celebrate, He really does. After all He is the One who gave the
Israelites so many feasts to celebrate. And today He wants us to
celebrate with Him as well. He wants us to enjoy life and to
rejoice in it.
Remember that. Remember to thank
Him, remember to thank those He sent on your path and celebrate
life with Him. Be the joyful child He wants you to be. Be like
Solomon and the Israelites and recognize His Deity and power and
thank Him for all His goodness. Then you will see His Shekinah
glory like never before and experience Him on a whole different
level.
Oh Father, thank you for all that
You've done for me. Thank you that I can breathe, that I have
friends and family, thank you that I can walk, talk and pray. Thank
you that I can be an instrument in Your hands. You are our Lord and
King and we praise You and want to celebrate life with You.
Amen