1 Kings 8 KJV (selected)
53 For Thou didst separate them from among all the people of the earth, to be Thine inheritance, as Thou spakest by the hand of Moses Thy servant, when Thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O LORD God.
54 And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.
55 And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying,
56 Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto His people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by the hand of Moses His servant.
57 The LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers: let Him not leave us, nor forsake us:
58 That He may incline our hearts unto Him, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments, and His statutes, and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers.
59 And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of His servant, and the cause of His people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require:
60 That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.
54 And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.
55 And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying,
56 Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto His people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by the hand of Moses His servant.
57 The LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers: let Him not leave us, nor forsake us:
58 That He may incline our hearts unto Him, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments, and His statutes, and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers.
59 And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of His servant, and the cause of His people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require:
60 That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.
Today, what caught my heart so profoundly was how Solomon - after he had finished praying all those things - AROSE, and stood up with his hands spread up toward heaven. He blessed the people by blessing and praising the LORD, and reminded them that God would be faithful to fulfill all that He had promised to them. Then he asked [boldly] 'be with us' - 'let Him not leave us nor forsake us.'
Jesus Christ fulfilled that prayer when He came to earth wrapped in human flesh.
Matthew 1:23
"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel" —which means, "God with us."
Jesus Himself also fulfilled the plea of Solomon when He said in:
Matthew 28:17-20
The Great Commission
17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." [all Scripture emphasis added]
May we all stand boldly with our hands toward heaven and ask God to fulfill even more of the great and precious promises that He holds out to us today - waiting with anticipation as we say, "Come, Lord Jesus!"
Looking Upward and Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
[Joy to the World]
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