The word of the Lord came to Solomon: “As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, carry out my regulations and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father. And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people, Israel.” (1 Kings 6:11-13, NIV 1984).
My Musings – Solomon’s father David wanted to build the temple. “[David] said to Nathan the prophet, ‘Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.'” (2 Samuel 7:2, NIV 1984). His heart was in the right place, but it was not to be. “This is what the Lord says: Are you [David] the one to build me a house to dwell in? When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring [Solomon] to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” (2 Samuel 7:5, 12-13, NIV).
“So, Solomon built the temple and completed it. The Lord…kept the promise he made: Solomon succeeded David [his] father and [sat] on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised.” (1 Kings 6:14, 8:20, NIV 1984). But what about the other promise? “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” The Davidic covenant. Was the promise broken? The kingdom of Israel ceased to exist in 70 A.D. and the Israelites were dispersed among many nations. Even prior to that, no real king (no Davidic king) had sat on the throne for centuries. In 1948, Israel was reestablished as a nation, but even today, no king sits on a throne.
“Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ Jesus [replied], ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.’ ‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’ ‘What is truth?’ Pilate asked.” (John 18:32, 36-38, NIV 1984). Yes, indeed. What is the truth? The truth about this “forever” kingdom and the empty throne?
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.” (Isaiah 9:6-7, NIV 1984). The question to ask is, when is “from that time on?” The promise was suspended for a time, due to Israel’s rebelliousness. They did not “follow [His] decrees, carry out [His] regulations and keep all [His] commands and obey them.” So, He “abandon[ed] [His] people, Israel,” for a season. But when “that time” comes, it will be “forever.”
“The throne of God and of the Lamb [Jesus] will be in the city {New Jerusalem], and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 22:3-5, NIV 1984). Remember Jesus saying to Pilate, “My Kingdom is not of this world?” It was for the new world coming. “I [John] saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” (Revelation 21: 1-2, NIV 1984).
My Advice – God said to David, will you “build me a house to dwell in?” But “the Lord declares to [David] that the Lord himself will establish a house for [him]. (2 Samuel 7:11, NIV 1984). And He is building one for you too. The foundation has already been laid. “But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved.” (1 Corinthians 3:8-15, NIV 1984).
First of all, make sure you are building on the right foundation. Then, be careful how you build.
The Brew Is A Musing 