2 Chronicles 2:2 - Solomon assigned seventy thousand common laborers, eighty thousand to work the quarries in the mountains, and thirty-six hundred foremen to manage the workforce, plus he fed them all. 153,000 workers to lead. Unbelievable. A stunning spectacular structure, a showcase for Sheer Wonder! And even in Solomon's splendor like never seen before, there still is a satisfaction only God can provide. "God was awakening their appetite for the glory yet to come." 66 LL.
I love Solomon's humility in 2 Chronicles 2:6 - "And me, who am I to think I can build a house adequate for God... . Yet, Solomon embraced the command. I'm still wrestling through the what is God's part, what is our part thing. I think I don't think deeply enough, though. I'm seeing that my selfishness is where I need to look more deeply, my motives for doing 'my part.' Why am I so driven to do the work of the ministry? Why am I so frenetic in my goals to live right?
The opening paragraph of the 2 Chronicles chapter in 66 LL speaks to me:
"No matter what happens in our lives---- tornadoes, divorce, cancer, whatever----You want me to think more about how I'm relating to You and others than about how to get my life together. And you want me to look deep inside, into my motives, to see if I'm really looking out for myself when I think I'm living for You." I wonder if when I'm stuck on considering what is my part, if I'm really saying--- I'm concerned about getting my life together. I've had a few too many people step on my toes in my lifetime. Am I more concerned about what's happened to me than my own selfishness? May we all deal with the deep issues God graciously brings to our minds this day, this week. Romans 2:4 says it's the Kindness of our God that brings us to repentance. Repentant Worship in the Temple.
LOVE the quote from 66LL....asking God this very question today.
ReplyDeletecoram deo,
donna
"God loves those who love Him, and those that seek Him early and diligently shall find Him." Proverbs 8:17 - This verse came to mind this morning as I began preparing my heart for this lesson. I am so encouraged for each of us today, and as we spend time in God's Word, that His promise is that He LOVES US and we will FIND HIM. Praise the Lord!! (I don't know about you, but I needed to hear that this morning. My Jesus loves me, and I will Find Him!)
ReplyDeleteIn today's reading, Solomon was asking why He was the person building God's temple, because He did not think He was adequate. Yet, I was encouraged by the wisdom God blessed Solomon with to hire others who were experts in building. I am encouraged in this part of scripture today, because sometimes to be a GREAT leaders, it is surrounding yourself with experts in the areas we are weak in, and then we are more successful in our plans and tasks.
Pulling together everyone's stregnths is a great way to utlize a team, and also a way to each the "world" through our actions. It is not a sin to obtain sucular expertise. He distributes natural talents as he chooses, and he often decides to give skill to non-Christians. We are often times given those opprotunities to tell non-Believers about the God.
That 66 LL quote has been on my mind for the past 24 hours, especially the part about seeing if I'm really looking out for myself when I think I'm living for Him.
ReplyDeleteGod and I are the only ones who know that - and sometimes I think God is the only one who REALLY knows it. So often, good motives and bad motives look the same on the outside, to myself and everyone else. I can be doing all the "right" things but be completely disconnected from God and others on the inside, or be doing good things out of fear or to get my needs met.
I think it goes back to having a focused and uncluttered heart. When I truly seek the Lord, He reveals Himself to me and shows me where my motives are wrong. I get off-track when I'm so busy doing the good things that I have no time to spend with God.
Is that what happened to Solomon? Was he so busy with God stuff that he didn't have time for God? He showed such determination and humility in these chapters, yet I keep thinking about how his life ended - worshipping other gods and the kingdom being torn apart for good.
Thanks for your prayer, Bev. I do pray that I will deal with the deep issues that God brings to mind today.
...and the glory filled the temple. Hard to imagine such a magnificent temple. And to think how much more so heaven will be. It sure awakens my appetite for the glory to come.
ReplyDeleteBev, I wrestle with knowing what's my part and what is God's, too. I'm pretty sure He needs more from me, and I'm not sure what stops me. Just as much, I struggle with letting go and waiting on God. The fine balance can only be found in lots of communication with Him to know His Plan. Brennan Manning says it's time to "listen to the new song of salvation written for those who know they are poor." He loves us, despite our fallen selves. Keep looking to Him. He's waiting for our helpless glance toward Him.
It has been a question asked by those around me ever since I can remember becoming a Christian..."what's God's part/what's my part." However, I think I see a little more clearly that I am not asking the right question when I ask this. It's not thinking deeply enough about the motives underlying why I do my part. May God continue to expose the intents and thoughts of our hearts.
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