Today's readings are 1 Kings 8.22-30, 46-63 and 2 Corinthians 4.1-18.
We continue today with the dedication of the temple of Solomon. Yesterday's devotional was probably overly long. Today's may be overly short.
Look how Solomon has dedicated the temple and then sees that it is too humble a place for the almighty God. He is humbled that God would come and reveal his presence in this humble temple. Likewise, we are humbled that God would come to visit us in the person of Jesus, taking on humble humanity, and that of a person who was not wealthy and powerful.
Look how Solomon sees the temple as the place of forgiveness. This is what all those sacrifices are about. People sin and they bring something to God. They bring death, the death of animals who are dying in the place of the people that deserved to die. This is God's rule, not mine. It is his idea. For sin we reap death. But it is permitted that one should die for another. This brings forgiveness. Yet the death of the animal on our behalf was only temporary. Jesus, true God and true man, without sin, was able to die on our behalf once for all. God's presence is the place of terror of sin and forgiveness from sin.
See how Solomon was able to pronounce forgiveness and blessing on the people. God speaks through his servants, proclaiming that forgiveness. It is not something the people earn. It is something that is proclaimed of them in the name of God. Let us always remember that forgiveness comes from outside ourselves.
We continue today with the dedication of the temple of Solomon. Yesterday's devotional was probably overly long. Today's may be overly short.
Look how Solomon has dedicated the temple and then sees that it is too humble a place for the almighty God. He is humbled that God would come and reveal his presence in this humble temple. Likewise, we are humbled that God would come to visit us in the person of Jesus, taking on humble humanity, and that of a person who was not wealthy and powerful.
Look how Solomon sees the temple as the place of forgiveness. This is what all those sacrifices are about. People sin and they bring something to God. They bring death, the death of animals who are dying in the place of the people that deserved to die. This is God's rule, not mine. It is his idea. For sin we reap death. But it is permitted that one should die for another. This brings forgiveness. Yet the death of the animal on our behalf was only temporary. Jesus, true God and true man, without sin, was able to die on our behalf once for all. God's presence is the place of terror of sin and forgiveness from sin.
See how Solomon was able to pronounce forgiveness and blessing on the people. God speaks through his servants, proclaiming that forgiveness. It is not something the people earn. It is something that is proclaimed of them in the name of God. Let us always remember that forgiveness comes from outside ourselves.
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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com
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