{"id":930,"date":"2023-05-24T22:01:08","date_gmt":"2023-05-24T22:01:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deadmannotwalking.org\/?p=930"},"modified":"2023-05-24T22:01:13","modified_gmt":"2023-05-24T22:01:13","slug":"god-answers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deadmannotwalking.org\/?p=930","title":{"rendered":"God Answers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The LORD\u00a0said to him, \u201cI have heard your prayer and your supplication, which you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built by putting My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.\u00a0As for you, if you will walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you\u00a0and\u00a0will keep My\u00a0statutes and My ordinances, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, just as I promised to your father David, saying, \u2018You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.\u2019”\u00a0 (1 Kings 9:3-5, NASB)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a second time, God appeared to King Solomon in a dream.  Solomon had just finished dedicating the Temple in Jerusalem.  It was a big deal!  All Israel was there.  Thousands of animals were sacrificed to the Lord God.  The celebration lasted for a couple of weeks.  When the dedication was complete, King Solomon mounted a platform built for the occasion, got down on his knees, lifted his hands to heaven, and delivered a great prayer.  He asked God to guide the people, and asked forgiveness beforehand for the sins Israel would commit.  The verses above contain God’s answer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, God promises that “My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually” at the site of His Temple.  Forever is a long time!  And of course the first and second temples were destroyed.  God keeps His promises.  He is the Promise Keeper.  If the Temple is no more, what of it?  We know there’s going to be a New Jerusalem, to take the place of heaven and earth.  God will dwell there forever. If you’re a Jesus-follower, you’ll be there perpetually with Him! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"undefined\"\/
“Solomon was said to have sinned by acquiring many foreign wives. Solomon’s descent into idolatry.”\u00a0 Painting by Willem de Poorter, 1608-1668.\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

God’s second promise:\u00a0 “As for you, if you will walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, just as I promised to your father David, saying, \u2018You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.'”\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, Solomon blew it. The wisest man who ever lived had 1,000 wives, many of whom were foreign.\u00a0 Solomon worshiped their gods, which the Lord didn’t appreciate.\u00a0 Thus began a steady decline of the ancestors of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ.\u00a0 King Solomon’s son would see Israel split into two kingdoms, the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.\u00a0 There would follow a few godly kings, many evil kings, and finally, the defeat of both kingdoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God doesn’t like it when we’re disobedient to Him, when we refuse to obey His ordinances.\u00a0 He wants us to believe in His Son Jesus Christ.\u00a0 When we do, we can look forward to spending eternity with Him in Paradise!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n