Today, I am reading and commenting on  1 Kings 8.

In the Book of Exodus we were told that Moses placed the tablets containing God’s law, a jar of manna, and Aaron’s staff in the ark of the covenant.  This passage tells us that when Solomon had the ark moved into the temple, it contained only the two tablets.  I am unsure if there is any significance to the fact that the jar of manna and Aaron’s staff were lost between the time of Moses and the time of Solomon, but I believe that the writer intended for us to be aware that they were indeed lost at that time.  I want to note that I am writing about this even though I do not see any spiritual significance to it, because it is a detail which I have never given much thought that strikes me today as something which may have spiritual significance.  I am hoping that by writing this in my blog today will make it something I remember if I come across another passage which gives it significance.

However, I want to focus on Solomon’s prayer dedicating the temple, as I do most years when I read this passage.  I want to comment on three aspects of his prayer.  First, Solomon acknowledges that God will not, and cannot, be contained within the temple, or any other structure or even geographical region.  God’s power to hear us and act extends to wherever we may find ourselves.  The second aspect is actually three part.  Solomon acknowledges that all of us will sin.  Solomon then asks God to forgive anyone who confesses their sin, turns away from it, and prays to God for forgiveness.  Solomon does not ask God to forgive those who refuse to admit that they have sinned, or even those who admit their sin but refuse to give it up.  No, in order to be forgiven, and healed, by God we must do three things:

• We must admit that we have sinned
• We must turn from that sin
• We must ask God for forgiveness

The same is true for when we have sinned against our fellows.  Finally, I want to note that Solomon asks God to extend His love and welcome into His family anyone who seeks Him.  I may be overstating what Solomon was asking, but he did indeed ask that God act so that all the people of the earth would know and fear Him as the people of Israel already did.  So, let us turn to God from our sin and call out to Him for forgiveness and let us recognize that God wishes to extend His love to those who have not yet met Him (and act so that they choose to turn to Him along with us).

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.