2 Chron. 4-6
A couple of interesting things regarding the Temple that Solomon built. Firstly, this was no small engineering, manufacturing, and construction feat! They may not have had all the fancy technology that we have today, but they certainly had incredible skills and abilities and methodologies that have no doubt long since been forgotten. Incredible, what they did, really. It must have been a very magnificent place. And rightly so, for God, for whom they built it, is more magnificent still.
Secondly, I find it interesting that the glory of the LORD filled the house of God when the music started. Truly God inhabits the praise of His people.
And then there is Solomon’s dedication prayer. I’m sure one could say much about that, but I just want to note how this great king – likely the greatest king that ever was (barring Jesus Himself) – knelt before God in front of everybody assembled there. He was not afraid to show himself in humble submission and to acknowledge that even he had an authority over him – God, who is the ultimate authority over everything that is. Would that today’s leaders would serve with such a spirit! And would that I would not shy away from submitting myself to God’s authority no matter my audience.
2 Cor. 1
In attempting to return to Corinth, it seems that Paul and his companions ran into some serious difficulty along the way, enduring much suffering. However, Paul excelled at seeing the negative of this life as a positive for God. Thus he noted here that they endured this suffering so that they could be comforted by God and so be a comfort to others. He also noted that the suffering “was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God” (2 Cor 1:9b).
Each of us endures much hardship and suffering in this life. Our perspective and our focus when facing these situations will have a huge impact on how we emerge on the other side. If we choose to focus on the situation – on the suffering it causes and the things it keeps us from – we will be shaped by that situation,. And not in a good way. But if we focus on God – on our hope and dependence on One who loves us beyond measure and reigns supreme over anything that might stand against us – then we will be shaped by God. And we can know with assurance that will be a good thing.