By Mike Durrill
[54] Now as Solomon finished offering all this prayer and plea to the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had knelt with hands outstretched toward heaven. - 1 Kings 8:54 ESV
King Solomon.
Besides the Lord Jesus, the wisest king who ever lived. Look at him carefully. Kneeling down with hands outstretched toward heaven. Flowing from his heart and out of his lips is a prayer intercession, expectation, and hope for not only the nation of Israel, but for all nations of the world! Who knew? The blessings of the gospel we enjoy in the USA can be traced back to the prayer of Solomon. This is the time when the Ark of the Covenant was installed in its rightful place in the visible temple of God and God chose to indwell the temple.
When one agrees with God regarding his rebellion against Him and puts his faith in the Sacrifice given on his behalf, he becomes a child of God or a "believer". As New Covenant Christians we understand from Scripture that God's Spirit now dwells within "believers", whose trust is in the Lamb of God Who was slain for the sins of the world. [19] Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, [20] for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV
Our response to God's Spirit dwelling within us ought to be similar to the prayer of Solomon.
1. Intercession for the people of the world.
2. Expectation of forgiveness when confession is present.
3. Confident hope that all the "peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God."
Oh God! My awe of you is so small! My confidence in you is so weak! May I come to know the meaning of the phrase"the dwelling place of God is with men."
[3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. - Revelation 21:3 ESV
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