Weekly Devotionals
Week of Monday September 16 – September 22
Answer for America - Man as Chaplain
At that time Solomon held the feast for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt. And on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for they had kept the dedication of the altar seven days and the feast seven days. On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the prosperity that the Lord had granted to David and to Solomon and to Israel his people. Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king's house. All that Solomon had planned to do in the house of the Lord and in his own house he successfully accomplished.
Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him… -- 2 Chronicles 7:8-12a ESV
Solomon, the son of King David, had just completed the temple that his father had dreamed of building. After years of hard work, God’s permanent house was ready for habitation. Then Yahweh responded to Solomon’s prayer of dedication by filling that temple with His glorious presence! What a magnificent moment!
After dedicating the temple, with all the sacrifices and worship concluded, Solomon sent the people home. In the quietness of his palace, Solomon received a message from the Lord concerning His house and the nation of Israel, as well as a challenge directed at the young king himself.
Into Solomon’s bedchamber comes Yahweh with a word for Solomon, who does not speak, only listens. Today, we recall some of the weighty words spoken to Solomon, including, “[I]f my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (v. 14).
The Heavenly Visitor then gave King Solomon a personal, detailed direction that included a promise: “And as for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked, doing according to all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my rules, then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to rule Israel’” (v. 17-18).
Men, you and I have been entrusted with an incredibly important moment in the history of our nation—as well as this timeless message from God’s Word containing the answer to America’s problems!
I am reminded of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s words in his Open Letter to America's Students: “Never let yourself be persuaded that any one Great Man, any one leader is necessary to the salvation of America.” These words ring truer today than ever before. No elected official or leader, however skilled, can fix the mess we are in. The future of this nation is hanging in the balance, and the hope for our children’s and grandchildren’s future is not to be found in a mere man, even a “great man,” but in the same Sovereign God who appeared to Solomon thousands of years ago!
The question is, what will we do with Almighty God’s words that echo down through the ages? Will we submit to His solution for our troubled nation? Will we humble ourselves and pray? Will we seek His face and turn from our wicked ways? Will we do all that He has commanded us, keeping His statutes and His rules? Will we lead our families to join in? Will we urge our pastors to call our churches to cry out to God and walk in alignment with His Word? If enough of God’s people would do that, sincerely and humbly, perhaps by the grace of God we could experience healing as a nation.
Answer for America - Man as Chaplain
At that time Solomon held the feast for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt. And on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for they had kept the dedication of the altar seven days and the feast seven days. On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the prosperity that the Lord had granted to David and to Solomon and to Israel his people. Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king's house. All that Solomon had planned to do in the house of the Lord and in his own house he successfully accomplished.
Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him… -- 2 Chronicles 7:8-12a ESV
Solomon, the son of King David, had just completed the temple that his father had dreamed of building. After years of hard work, God’s permanent house was ready for habitation. Then Yahweh responded to Solomon’s prayer of dedication by filling that temple with His glorious presence! What a magnificent moment!
After dedicating the temple, with all the sacrifices and worship concluded, Solomon sent the people home. In the quietness of his palace, Solomon received a message from the Lord concerning His house and the nation of Israel, as well as a challenge directed at the young king himself.
Into Solomon’s bedchamber comes Yahweh with a word for Solomon, who does not speak, only listens. Today, we recall some of the weighty words spoken to Solomon, including, “[I]f my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (v. 14).
The Heavenly Visitor then gave King Solomon a personal, detailed direction that included a promise: “And as for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked, doing according to all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my rules, then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to rule Israel’” (v. 17-18).
Men, you and I have been entrusted with an incredibly important moment in the history of our nation—as well as this timeless message from God’s Word containing the answer to America’s problems!
I am reminded of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s words in his Open Letter to America's Students: “Never let yourself be persuaded that any one Great Man, any one leader is necessary to the salvation of America.” These words ring truer today than ever before. No elected official or leader, however skilled, can fix the mess we are in. The future of this nation is hanging in the balance, and the hope for our children’s and grandchildren’s future is not to be found in a mere man, even a “great man,” but in the same Sovereign God who appeared to Solomon thousands of years ago!
The question is, what will we do with Almighty God’s words that echo down through the ages? Will we submit to His solution for our troubled nation? Will we humble ourselves and pray? Will we seek His face and turn from our wicked ways? Will we do all that He has commanded us, keeping His statutes and His rules? Will we lead our families to join in? Will we urge our pastors to call our churches to cry out to God and walk in alignment with His Word? If enough of God’s people would do that, sincerely and humbly, perhaps by the grace of God we could experience healing as a nation.
- How are you doing with the call of God in 2 Chronicles 7:14 to intercede for the nation? What can you do today to take steps toward obeying His voice?
- Are you encouraging those you love and lead to join in? How about your Battle Buddies? How about your small group? Your pastor?
- Ask God to give you a burden for your nation and live in alignment with His call to intercede. May He have mercy on America!