August 13, 2010
I love what Huram named the two pillars at the temple: HE ESTABLISHES and IN HIM IS STRENGTH. I love that.
HE ESTABLISHES—it is God who sets the standard. It is God who decides all things. It is God who is in control. It is God.
IN HIM IS STRENGTH—not in ourselves, IN HIM, no matter what we face our strength comes from HIM and HIM alone. If we can get those two things right, we "get it," and we will have peace even in the midst of a storm.
The temple is done and Solomon and all the people gather. Solomon blesses the people. The first words he said were, "Praise the LORD." He recounted how God had been faithful to them and how He had done everything He promised from the time they were in Egypt to the promises He made to David. Then Solomon faced the LORD's altar, spread his arms out to the sky and said:
Addendum #1: 5/10/18 ~ In I Kings 7:21 - it says the pillars of the Temple in the first Jerusalem were called He Establishes and In Him Is Strength. In Isaiah 60:18 - it says the walls of the New Jerusalem will be called Salvation and the gates Praise.
I love how the names of the pillars of the Temple lay the foundation for how to live your earthly life, in full surrender because He Establishes and In Him Is Strength. When you surrender and go to HIM (walk through the pillars) you receive the salvation HE established through the Cross, and HE gives you the strength to follow HIM in this life. You enter the New Jerusalem through gates of Praise and the walls show the result of your surrendered life and the fulfillment of HIS promises—Salvation. When this life is over and eternity comes your PRAISE is the entrance and you are literally surrounded (the walls around you) by HIS Salvation in the New Jerusalem. How cool is that?
Imagine. What we now have as a promise will be reality.
Next Entry: I Kings 9:1–28
I love what Huram named the two pillars at the temple: HE ESTABLISHES and IN HIM IS STRENGTH. I love that.
HE ESTABLISHES—it is God who sets the standard. It is God who decides all things. It is God who is in control. It is God.
IN HIM IS STRENGTH—not in ourselves, IN HIM, no matter what we face our strength comes from HIM and HIM alone. If we can get those two things right, we "get it," and we will have peace even in the midst of a storm.
The temple is done and Solomon and all the people gather. Solomon blesses the people. The first words he said were, "Praise the LORD." He recounted how God had been faithful to them and how He had done everything He promised from the time they were in Egypt to the promises He made to David. Then Solomon faced the LORD's altar, spread his arms out to the sky and said:
"LORD, God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or earth below...you keep your promises...you spoke it with your own mouth and finished it with your hands...please listen to my prayer and my request because I am your servant...hear this prayer your servant prays to you today...hear my prayers...hear from your home in heaven...hear in heaven, judge the case, punish the guilty, but declare that the innocent person is not guilty...hear them in heaven...please hear their prayers in heaven...teach them to do what is right...you know what is in a persons heart...Praise the LORD...the LORD has kept all the good promises he gave...then all the people will know—the LORD is GOD."Solomon starts out his prayer standing with his arms outstretched before the LORD. By the end, Solomon is kneeling with his arms outstretched. Solomon began and ended his prayer with, "Praise the LORD." He repeatedly throughout the prayer refers to himself as "your servant." He is amazed the God, who even the heavens can't hold, would choose to live in the temple. Over and over he asks the LORD to "hear" in heaven and to answer their prayers. He acknowledges they will sin and several different times he refers to II Chronicles 7:14 - "IF my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, THEN I will hear from heaven and heal their land." He acknowledges that the LORD has kept all of His promises, the rest is up to us. "Let us obey all the laws and commands He gave our ancestors... THEN all the people of the world will know the LORD is the only true God. You must fully obey the LORD our God and follow all His commands. Continue to obey in the future as you do now."
Addendum #1: 5/10/18 ~ In I Kings 7:21 - it says the pillars of the Temple in the first Jerusalem were called He Establishes and In Him Is Strength. In Isaiah 60:18 - it says the walls of the New Jerusalem will be called Salvation and the gates Praise.
I love how the names of the pillars of the Temple lay the foundation for how to live your earthly life, in full surrender because He Establishes and In Him Is Strength. When you surrender and go to HIM (walk through the pillars) you receive the salvation HE established through the Cross, and HE gives you the strength to follow HIM in this life. You enter the New Jerusalem through gates of Praise and the walls show the result of your surrendered life and the fulfillment of HIS promises—Salvation. When this life is over and eternity comes your PRAISE is the entrance and you are literally surrounded (the walls around you) by HIS Salvation in the New Jerusalem. How cool is that?
Imagine. What we now have as a promise will be reality.
Next Entry: I Kings 9:1–28
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