Gtcotr/010120
We know it was during the autumn, after the harvest, at the time of the Jewish New Year, during the Feast of Tabernacles in about the year 953BC. It had taken King Solomon and the workers 7 years to finish building the Temple of God in Jerusalem. Now there was so much for which to be thankful.
The annual celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles was the perfect time to invite the Lord God Almighty to come and rest in this Temple that was built just for Him. King Solomon prayed an earnest prayer of dedication. Solomon, along with the whole congregation of the Children of God wanted nothing more than for God to be pleased with them, hear their prayers and live with them forever.
This is the prayer that Solomon prayed:
2 Chronicles 6 NKJV
40 “Now, my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and let Your ears be attentive to the prayer made in this place.
41 “Now therefore, Arise, O LORD God, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, And let Your saints rejoice in goodness.
42 “O LORD God, do not turn away the face of Your Anointed; Remember the mercies of Your servant David.”
2 Chronicles 7 NKJV
1 ¶ When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.
2 And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house.
3 When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.”
For the past 2,973 years, from 953BC to AD 2019, this prayer has been used to dedicate things to God. From Church buildings to new homes, we all want God’s blessings on our adventures and in our lives. The fact that King Solomon decided to hold the dedication of the Temple at the first of the year is significant. There is something special and powerful about getting God involved as a partner on the ground floor and honoring Him at the very beginning.
Today is the 1st day of the new year, 2020. I want to honor the Lord and publicly thank Him for all He has done for us over the past years, decades and seasons of our lives. Without Him and His unfailing love and hard work, none of us would be where we are today. This building, our families, the blessings and benefits we enjoy, are all here today because of God. It was God who chose us, we did not choose Him. Every good thing has come from God and He has been so very good to us all.
Now we want God to continue to bless us in this next year. He is willing and He is able if we will but dedicate this next year to Him. God blesses what belongs to Him. Let’s pray together this evening and publicly dedicate 2020 to Him for His glory. Here is what God said to Solomon after Solomon dedicated the Temple to Him.
12 ¶ Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
13 “When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people,
14 “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2020 will be a year of more than enough. Remember when we are blessed to thank the Lord God Who gives to us with such liberality and generosity. Every time you tell someone about a blessing, remember to thank God.
Happy New Year !!!
Let’s pray …
