REST FOR GOD'S PEOPLE

Today's promise: God protects his people

Rest for God's people

Praise the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses. May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never forsake us. May he give us the desire to do his will in everything and to obey all the commands, laws, and regulations that he gave our ancestors.

1 Kings 8:56-58 NLT

In spite of all appearances to the contrary, God has a plan for this bankrupt world…this earth of ours, he still wants it as a theater for his grace and glorious direction.

Helmut Thielicke (1908-1986)

God fulfills his plan

As we read of God's faithfulness fulfilled in the events described in 1 Kings 8, these words of Solomon spring forth from our hearts as well: "Praise the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, as he promised!" When the Ark of the Covenant came to rest in its place between the wings of the cherubim, signifying the completion of the temple in which God would dwell, "a cloud filled the Temple of the Lord" (v. 10). God's presence was so glorious that the priests couldn't continue their work but could only bow before him in worship. It was as if God was saying, "It is done. The temple I planned has been built. And I am here to dwell with you!" Thus Solomon was able to make the requests that followed: "May he never forsake us. May he give us the desire to do his will." He could make these requests with such heartfelt fervor because of his trust in the covenant-keeping God who fulfills his purposes. If we truly grasp the majesty of what God did during Solomon's reign, we can thank him in faith that he will fulfill his purposes in our lives as well.

BLESSED BE THE LORD, who keeps his covenant and fulfils his purposes!

Adapted from The One Year® Book of Praying through the Bible by Cheri Fuller, Tyndale House Publishers (2003), entry for June 11.

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House