4. Celebrate life and thank God

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

1 comment for “4. Celebrate life and thank God”

  1. Gravatar of HenriHenri
    Posted Wednesday, 20 June 2018 at 11:26:48 AM

    Amen, Amen!! We need to celebrate God more. We need to celebrate and enjoy God for who He is and God wants to celebrate and enjoy us as the pinnacle of His creation.

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