The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 1:11-12,
"God said to Solomon, 'Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have."
The Lord came to Solomon one night and asked him what he wanted the Lord to give him. Instead of asking for those things many would, things that might bring pleasure and comfort in this life, he asked for something that was in line with the Lord's agenda, his purposes for Israel. He asked for the wisdom he would need to lead the Lord's people.
The Lord's response was wonderful. He would grant Solomon the wisdom he asked for and beyond that, those things others might have asked for, those things that would bring pleasure and comfort in this life, "possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have."
Solomon took the broader, the longer view. He had his sights on things beyond himself, beyond the simple pleasures of this life. He had his eyes on those things he would need to be successful with what the Lord wanted.
We may not be kings and queens over God's people. However, when we pray today, we approach him with the thought that he wants to hear from us. He wants us to come to him with our thoughts and concerns. Just as if he were asking us the same thing he asked Solomon, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."
How will we answer him? Will we do as Solomon did, with the Lord's concerns in mind? Or, like so many others who have their own pleasures and comfort in mind?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
"God said to Solomon, 'Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have."
The Lord came to Solomon one night and asked him what he wanted the Lord to give him. Instead of asking for those things many would, things that might bring pleasure and comfort in this life, he asked for something that was in line with the Lord's agenda, his purposes for Israel. He asked for the wisdom he would need to lead the Lord's people.
The Lord's response was wonderful. He would grant Solomon the wisdom he asked for and beyond that, those things others might have asked for, those things that would bring pleasure and comfort in this life, "possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have."
Solomon took the broader, the longer view. He had his sights on things beyond himself, beyond the simple pleasures of this life. He had his eyes on those things he would need to be successful with what the Lord wanted.
We may not be kings and queens over God's people. However, when we pray today, we approach him with the thought that he wants to hear from us. He wants us to come to him with our thoughts and concerns. Just as if he were asking us the same thing he asked Solomon, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."
How will we answer him? Will we do as Solomon did, with the Lord's concerns in mind? Or, like so many others who have their own pleasures and comfort in mind?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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