2 Chronicles 6:13-14 - He had made a bronze platform 7 1/2 feet long,
7 1/2 feet wide, and 4 1/2 feet high and had placed it at the
center of the Temple's outer courtyard. He stood on the platform before the
entire assembly, and then he knelt down and lifted his hands toward heaven. He prayed, "O LORD, God of Israel, there
is no God like you in all of heaven and earth. You keep your promises and show
unfailing love to all who obey you and are eager to do your will.
Solomon took time to focus the worship of God once again on
the reason the Temple had been built. As all the people in the outer courtyard
stood before God…he knelt on a special platform he had built so they could all
see his humble act of kneeling before God…so he could offer his prayer…in
complete submission to God’s authority.
He lifted his hands toward heaven ….and allowed his heart to speak to
God.
As the people stood in honor of God…he knelt in submission
to him. Both publically declaring their
allegiance and surrender to the rules and commands God had set before them. Solomon went one step further ..and lifted
his hands high above is head as he prayed…and asked God to protect …and guide…and
correct his people through any sin they might commit. He poured out his praise…and
all his future worry…to the one God that could correct them if they went
astray.
It must have been one of those bittersweet moments in his
heart…wishing that his father was here to see the grand temple he had built for
God …using all the materials and plans that had been passed down to him. But the pure praise and worship he had
offered with his people gave him a sense of peace and love that helped him
focus on the present and future of his people….asking God to bless and keep the
nation strong…and bring them back to the true worship they were experiencing…even
if they messed up again.
I admit that I don’t use my knees often enough. My prayers are usually uttered form whatever
position I happen to be in at the moment I think of the need. The altar…and the
reverent act of placing my knees there in prayer…has been reserved for church…and
the more serious petitions of life. Perhaps I need to find an altar in my home…so
I can show my love and submission to God every time I pray….with every need I ask
him for his help.
It is still another reminder to me that God is pleased when
we come to him in humbleness…recognizing his great power…knowing that he has
given us everything we own. I need to
practice the wisdom of Solomon in my prayer life…so I can grasp the concept that
God is in control of everything I do. I need to take to heart Solomon’s wise
words in Proverbs 15:33 that say…. “The fear of the LORD is the
instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility.”
Father…thank you
for the reminder to be more submissive to your great power and control over my
life. Teach me how to use my knees as an
act of humility…and honor and respect for who you are. Show me that altar that you have already picked
out in my home…so I can begin to use my prayer time to focus a little deeper on
the things that will bring me closer to you….not just say a few words of love
and praise and need and fall asleep like the disciples the night before you
gave your life to save me from my sins. Amen.
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