Return to Bible Devotional -> Scripture Prayer ->Mid-week Mini-Worship -> Weekly Bible Books
Devotional
Weekly Bible Devotion By Books
March 13-18, 2023
Enter the Presence of the Lord (psalms 84-1-2. 4)
(All)How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!
(M)My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord
(W)My heart and fresh sing for joy to the living God.
(All)Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise.
Confession
Adoration
Scripture Reading
1Kings 6:1-2, 37-38; 8: 29-30; 57-58; 9: 4-7
6:1-2 In the four hundred and eightieth[a] year after the Israelites came out of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, the second month, he began to build the temple of the Lord. …37 The foundation of the temple of the Lord was laid in the fourth year, in the month of Ziv. 38 In the eleventh year in the month of Bul, the eighth month, the temple was finished in all its details according to its specifications. He had spent seven years building it.
8: 29-30 29 May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 30 Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive….57 May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us. 58 May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors.
9:4-7 4 “As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, 5 I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’6 “But if you[a] or your descendants turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you[b] and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples.
Thoughts to share
1Kings: The Temple that God desired
Like his father David, Solomon was another king with all desired and admired well-round talents and characters. He had great achievements in military, diplomacy, administration, economy, and ruling leadership that a national leader was required. In addition, because of his great artistic gift, various types of artistic activities were most vibrant in his reign. One thing which he was famous for was that he understood wisdom as asset in his leading. He knew that God was the source of wisdom. When we read Proverbs and Song of Songs, we see he was incredibly wise and expressive. He had abundant emotional intelligence and energy. Above all, he had a zeal to build a new temple for the God who had fulfilled the Israelites’ dream- a nation and a kingdom.
It took seven years to get temple building completed. The Temple continued the role of the movable Tabernacles that originated at the Mt. Sinai. It represented the presence of God and the walking along of God. It also reminded the people of God’s promises, salvation, and covenant. The ark of covenant in the Temple contained the book of the Laws. The book of the Laws reminded people of their unique identity, mission, the way leading to the life and peace, and the way of establishing nation. The Temple was the place where people met God. People received teachings, understood the will of God, looked to the love of God. It was also at there where they unloaded the sins, poured out the toubles and difficulties, prayed desires and plans, made peace with God, self, and others.
However, even during the glorious reign of Solomon, the local and foreign gods and goddesses were slowly brought to the land and even to the Temple. People far relaxed God’s instructions to them as a particular people. The Temple lost its holiness, meaning, and purposes. This subtle change in the Temple altered the course of the Judah kingdom. We are prompted to ask: what is a real temple? A building? A book? What, after all, matters in the eyes of God?
In the New Testament, Jesus foretold a new Temple that was to be built in three days and not by human hands. He used his own body on the cross, burial, and then resurrection to build a new kind of temple. Every believer who received Jesus Christ as the Savior and Lord became the temple of God individually. And collectively believers make up the church, which is the Temple of the Lord. The church continues the mission and identity dated back to the beginning of Tent and the first Temple.
Prayer suggestions
Have you ever questioned what church is? How similar and different the Church is from the ancient Tent and the First Temple long ago? How do you see today’s church? What do you expect the church do? How can you enjoy church better? How can you be a better member of the church?
Everlasting God, you reveal your will through the time stream. Thank you for giving us the church. How precious it is that the church is
built upon your son Jesus Christ. Help us to follow your heart and thoughts to build church to enjoy the church life and mission. In name of Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen!
Prayer Request
Devotional
News
2024-01-3
Free Training Mental Health Initiative for church by Light University
2024-01-3
-info on 2024 Christian Ministry Learning and special grant Opportunities
2024-01-3
-EFC educational workshop
2024-01-3
-Rev.Dr. Samuel Tang Bookroom
2024-01-3
-Church Leadership Podcast
2024-01-3
-free courses at Our Daily Bread Christian University for edifying and serving