6:1-2 Solomon opened his speech with a statement made my God, "Then Solomon spoke: The Lord said He would dwell in the dark cloud." Solomon referred to Exodus 19:9 in which God reassured Moses that He would travel with the tribes of Israel in order that the people would hear and trust.
Hearing and trust are two elements on which our faith is dependent. As individuals and nations, we have to be receptive to the philosophy of God, that is, the wisdom, instruction and promises of God. Blessing can only engage with us when we engage with it. And without the trust to hold on, that which God has expertly projected toward us will have nothing to hold onto.
In the wilderness, the presence of God was represented by a dense cloud of protection. Once established as a kingdom, Solomon proclaims the completion of the exalted house, the temple of God dedicated to God. More than a structure, it was an invitation. The temple was Israel's way of serving as host to the Spirit of God and all His principles. Eternally.
6:3-7 Solomon's speech continued with an emphasis on fulfillment. God had been faithful to the tribes of Israel, the descendants of Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham. With precision, persistence and generosity, He fulfilled each promise He had made. God had promised to claim them and declare them separate from the rest of the world.
The New Testament opened God's promise to all who would receive Him, John 1:12. As His children, we are separate. Our souls have divested themselves of the systems of the world and have been adopted into the kingdom of God. Different rules and laws apply to us: the law of God, the rule of righteousness. We are made holy by Him because of our adoption into a life of compassionate servitude. The children of Israel elected to become obedient to justice and mercy, compassion and righteousness.
God will fulfill that promise, as He had for Solomon and the fledgling, (not yet so named) Christian nation.
6:8-11 But we also have our part in fulfillment. As fellow-workers with God, 1 Corinthians 3:9, there is much for us to accomplish as well. As His children, we accept the blessed responsibility of constructing His kingdom on earth. David wanted so to be the one to build the temple but was redirected by God; David's purpose and potential were directed elsewhere by God. Our portion of fulfillment is to live obedient to the direction of God: trusting consistently that He leads and plants us in the specific place we need to be, to do specifically what needs to be done, by us specifically.
David was a soldier for Israel. His God-divined defense allowed Israel to establish the kingdom. Solomon was born in peaceful times and that allowed him time to contemplate the wisdom of God and simultaneously build a temple. Each individual's purpose is different, though rests on the same foundation. Building the temple now, in our time, is done by building relationships and opportunities, by promoting justice and defending the meek. There are many positions in our societies from which to do such work: as teachers and doctors, siblings and parents, friends and coworkers, artists and writers, preachers and animal-lovers... there are so many mediums through which to serve obediently. To make direct impact with your individual life.
God appointed Solomon for the construction of the temple and Solomon fulfilled that purpose (often we have more than one). It is a blessing to be planted by God, to be provided for and protected by God. With that establishment, provision and protection, we take the torch and fulfill our half.
6:12-13 On his knees in reverence and love for God, with his hands spread wide, Solomon humbled himself before God and the kingdom of Israel: a servant king; a servant son. The greatest in the Bible prostrated themselves before God; Jesus Himself came as a servant rather than a king, even though He had every ability and authority to reign, Matthew 20:28.
Solomon's declaration of himself as a servant of God and the kingdom was a strong message to the people. We are not always conscious of the ways in which we influence others, but if each day, in heart and spirit we are humbled before God, we send a strong message. Our ascription to God's principles influences what we do. What we do is seen by others, and so naturally, subsequently, our behavior becomes beneficially influential.
Before the assembly of people, Solomon declared and reminded of God's faithfulness and fulfillment of promises. It makes such a difference in our day and home and life and nation to simply have the word and fulfillment of God declared and reminded.
6:14-17 Solomon's reminder that God had been good, was great for morale that God would continue to be good. If Solomon and the kingdom would remain faithful to Him, they could count on continued freedom and prosperity.
Remember that the books of Chronicles were intended to boost the morale of Israel and Judah as they came out of captivity once again. They were not faithful to God; He was faithful, they were not. They walked out of His protection and directly back into slavery. They became slaves to their greed and impulses and anger and forfeited the freedom their mercy and humility had afforded them.
Such is a cycle individuals and nations both face. From the example of the Old Testament, might we learn to declare, remember and remain in our covenant with God?
6:18 Like his father (and perhaps many of us), Solomon was overwhelmed by the generosity of our immense God. It was an honor to be a nation that hosted God... an honor that felt undeserved. Our imperfect juxtaposed His perfection is astounding. In Psalm 8, David speaks:
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
Our relationship with God is a blessing, an opportunity, a responsibility but most of all, it is an honor. That God would find significance in us speaks of the magnitude of His tender heart.
Solomon was aware of his deficiency. The best he could do for God, as a king or as a man, was not very much at all. The temple, no matter how grand and massive, could not contain the creator of the universe. The only thing we can built that will house God is a compassionate heart. A just life. A faithful soul. When we utilize our life experiences to build the temple of God within us, 1 Corinthians 6:19, we have... incredibly, contained a piece of God. A piece designated expressly for us.
6:19-20 In effect, Solomon asked God: even though I am inadequate, will You regard me anyway? Solomon asks to matter to God, to be heard and seen and loved by Him. This is an innocent, humble and sincere prayer we can each make to God. We all have our list of reasons why others do not like us or why we do not like ourselves or an aspect of our lives... it's all a big heap we thump onto the doorstep of God. We indicate at our heap and with weariness, doubtfulness and we ask Him: will You regard me anyway? Despite all of this, do I matter to You?
And every time. Every. Time. God says: Yes.
6:21 Solomon requests the forgiveness of God (and he ended up really needing it); but we all do, which is why it is prudent not only to ask for magnanimity from God but also to be grateful for it in all seasons of our lives.
6:22-23 Solomon welcomed the discipline of God. Solomon felt that, if we approach God with dishonesty or insincerity, we should be prepared to be approached by Him with reproach and retribution. Favoritism should not ever be what we seek from God. We should love that God will call us out for foolish behavior. We should celebrate that He is adhered to righteous principles. His rules of justice are rigid and it is a blessing that, with a firm hand, He will insist that we remain in alignment or we will not remain at all.
God offers a pure and potent love. Not one watered down by leniency that would allow us to flounder. His compassionate heart sees great potential in each of us and because of that, He holds us to high, personal standards. Celebrate the fact He will not settle for a lesser version of yourself. His discipline is love and direction and encouragement.
6:24-25 Perhaps unknowingly, in this prayer Solomon foresaw that the tribes would require the forgiveness of God and would need to be led back into their land:
“Or if Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and return and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this temple, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to them and their fathers.
And yet, it is not so surprising that Solomon would ask for God's forgiveness in advance: the tribes of Israel did fall away (this very book is a testament to that). As humans, we can expect imperfection from ourselves. It is not an excuse but it is a reality. Effectively, Solomon asked: if, when we realize our mistake, we call out to return to You, will You answer? Will you lead us back home to You?
Fortunately, the answer is another definite yes from God.
6:26-27 When we create a drought for ourselves, will You send rain? Will You still hear us when we are surrounded by the noise of chaos we have created? Will you forgive us? Will you teach us? Thousands of years later, we are still asking God the same questions. We are so blessed that in all that time, God has not changed. He still rescues us out of slavery and out of desert wildernesses.
6:28-31 Sincerity is a key ingredient of activating God's strength on our behalf. Solomon's request was that God would exact His power over pain, plague and pestilence (literal and figurative) for any child who prostrated himself before God with sincerity.
6:32-33 Solomon prayed that even the people outside of Israel would have the ear and love of God if they came to Him. From the beginning, it has always been God's intention to reach out to all of humanity. Anyone who will undertake the journey of faith will reach the destination of God. Anyone who will reach out to God will be plucked up and embraced by Him. Solomon was ahead of his time in this aspect; in the New Testament, "outsiders" were regarded as less until the apostles opened up the gospels to the whole of humanity.
6:34-35 The next request of Solomon, the king made sage by God: will You go into battle with us? If we are following the leadership of God in life and scripture, we can be reassured that God will indeed go into battle with us. Will provide us with the best armor Ephesians 6:10-20. Will win the battle for us. God is our defense and our offense; shield and blade; border and army.
God is all of that for us when we pray for Him to be!
6:36-39 When we pray, repent and return with all of our heart and soul to God, we will be received by Him. Only God provides such assurance, such forgiveness. A restored relationship with Him is never irretrievable.
6:40-41 In the conclusion of his prayer, Solomon invites the Spirit of God to dwell in the space that has been created in the kingdom of Israel and in the hearts of the Israelites. Let us be clothed in You, surrounded by You, submerged in You. Let us rejoice in your mercy.
6:42 The final plea: for our God to never turn Himself or His mercy away.
