That the world will know . . .

1 Kings 8; Psalm 89; Ezekiel 38; Ephesians 5

When David died, his son Solomon reigned. He was known for his wisdom and for building a magnificent temple dedicated for worship to the only true God. When this structure was finished, Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel. He spread out his hands toward heaven and prayed a long prayer of dedication. In this prayer, he asked God to make this building a special place of communion where His people could bring their problems and deepest needs to Him. One of those needs corresponds to the situation in our world today . . .

“If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemy besieges them in the land at their gates, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart and stretching out his hands toward this house, then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind), that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers.” (1 Kings 8:37–40)

If God’s people are hit with a plague or sickness, Solomon wisely says any person or all the people should pray concerning the affliction that has hit them. God knows all about it yet wants everyone to ask and He will hear, forgive and act on behalf of those whose hearts He knows — that these who pray may reverence Him all the days of our lives in the place God has put them.

I’m blessed by this affirmation of the rightness of prayer and of the power of God to answer according to what I need. I’m also glad to know that the purpose of prayer is not necessarily to do what I want but that through it God will act according to all His ways — and this will change my life and the lives of those who pray for their concerns.

In another way, the psalmist echoes the thoughts of many who are wondering where God is during this time of fear that has covered the earth. He speaks 37 verses of praise for God and reminders of His promises. Then he finishes with questions about God hiding Himself when the people need Him the most. Is it wrath? Has He forgotten how short life is? Has He stopped loving us? Yet the psalm ends with, “Blessed be the Lord forever! Amen and Amen.” He knows that God is still good even when He is silent.

I’m certain that this also describes the prayers of many these days. We may not praise God as much, but there are certainly those who wonder if God has turned His back. From this psalm, I’m instructed to keep praying and to continue recalling the power and love of God along with His promises. He is still here.

Ezekiel reminds me that God will do whatever it takes for the world to know that He is God. In this case, it will be through a powerful attack from northern enemies, named but not biblically identified. He will later rescue His people but the purpose is the same — that the world will know that He is God.

This describes a strong reason Christ came to this world; “He is the image of God” (Colossians 3:4) and shows us what God is like. Not only that, Christians are His people who are being transformed into that image. It is sometimes a slow process yet we are given the glorious task of proclaiming Him as well as being like Him that the world may know that God is God.

APPLY: I don’t know about the rest of God’s people, but I feel as if I’ve not done all I can to be the image-bearer that He wants me to be. This sense of falling short can pull me into pity-parties and other me, me, me, distractions to keep me from focusing on my primary role. Reading God’s history in this world helps me to remember who He is, what He can do, and who I am without Him and who I am with Him. He motivates me to pray like Solomon and the psalmists, to share with others what He tells me like the prophets did, but also that Jesus Christ is the Savior. In Him, I am and have all that I need to walk with Him. Read, believe, obey, read, believe, obey!