Through the Bible - Proverbs 23-28, 2 Corinthians 7:2 - 8:24
Good morning,
I'll start today's devotional with a test, who do you think made the following statement?
" May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us or abandon us. May he give us the desire to do his will in everything and to obey all the commands, decrees, and regulations that he gave our ancestors. "
Some of you may have thought Abraham Lincoln, it wasn't, but it was the leader of the greatest, richest nation of it's time. It was Solomon in a speach given to the nation.
Some of you may have thought Abraham Lincoln, it wasn't, but it was the leader of the greatest, richest nation of it's time. It was Solomon in a speach given to the nation.
The "Today in the Word" devotional (www.todayintheword.com) from Moody Bible Institute this month is going through the book of 1 Kings. Yesterday's reading was from 1 Kings 8 where this statement came from. We'll expand it for today's verse.
1 Kings 8:57 May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us or abandon us. 58 May he give us the desire to do his will in everything and to obey all the commands, decrees, and regulations that he gave our ancestors. 59 And may these words that I have prayed in the presence of the Lord be before him constantly, day and night, so that the Lord our God may give justice to me and to his people Israel, according to each day's needs. NLT
In this day of political correctness I don't think that we'd hear these kind of words from any modern day president of our country. However, that doesn't mean that it can't be the prayer of our hearts, that we might stand tall, proclaim what and Who we believe in, and live accordingly. In doing so we can have an impact and hope to turn this nation's heart back to God.
Yesterday I'm sure that we all remembered the events of 9/11. Looking back, we can remember how it turned the hearts of many, at least temporarily, towards God.
Here is a paragraph from yesterday's today in the word, making reference to 1 Kings 8:22-66:
"Today's reading brings us to another assembly of people pleading to God for their country, but it was a celebratory rather than mournful occasion. And although no one should equate America with "God's nation," we can learn lessons about praying for a nation. Notice the kinds of things Solomon raised in his prayer for the people."
1 Kings 8:31-37
When someone hurts a neighbor and promises to make things right, and then comes and repeats the promise before your Altar in this Temple, listen from heaven and act accordingly: Judge your servants, making the offender pay for his offense and setting the offended free of any charges.
When your people Israel are beaten by an enemy because they've sinned against you, but then turn to you and acknowledge your rule in prayers desperate and devout in this Temple,
Listen from your home in heaven,
forgive the sin of your people Israel,
return them to the land you gave their ancestors.
forgive the sin of your people Israel,
return them to the land you gave their ancestors.
When the skies shrivel up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, but then they pray at this place, acknowledging your rule and quitting their sins because you have scourged them,
Listen from your home in heaven,
forgive the sins of your servants, your people Israel.
forgive the sins of your servants, your people Israel.
Then start over with them: Train them to live right and well; send rain on the land you gave your people as an inheritance. THE MESSAGE
While people are "assembling" in Washington D.C. today, why don't we take some time to pray for our nation's heart. If you have time this weekend, why not read through this prayer of Solomon for his nation. May we pray, likewise, for our nation today.
In Christ,.
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
1 Kings 8:54-62
Solomon Blesses the Assembly
(2 Chron 6:40-42)
(2 Chron 6:40-42)
54 And so it was, when Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and supplication to the Lord, that he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. 55 Then he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying: 56 "Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses. 57 May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He not leave us nor forsake us, 58 that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers. 59 And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the Lord, be near the Lord our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day may require, 60 that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other. 61 Let your heart therefore be loyal to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, as at this day." NKJV
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