Encounter the Truth

At the completion of the temple, Solomon prays for the people—that the Lord might be gracious to them and bless them. He then represents the people in offering praise and sacrifice to the Lord, and the people go home joyful for the Lord’s goodness to them. Here we have a picture of the bliss of living under the Lord’s King and in the Lord’s presence—a beautiful picture of what it will be like to live in the heavenly Jerusalem.

Through the obedience of a king who was a man of rest (and not of war), the Lord caused His temple to be completed as a fittingly beautiful house, so that He might dwell among the people. As Solomon labours in obedience to the Lord to complete this great project, we learn a pattern and key principles for how the work of the Kingdom moves forward.

Through the obedience of a king who was a man of rest (and not of war), the Lord caused His temple to be completed as a fittingly beautiful house, so that He might dwell among the people. As Solomon labours in obedience to the Lord to complete this great project, we learn a pattern and key principles for how the work of the Kingdom moves forward.

King Solomon loved the Lord, and the Lord's blessing rested on him in the gifts of wisdom and material abundance. The blessing of the king resulted in the blessing of the people. This truly was a golden age in the life of Israel—and a great picture of a day to come when the Lord's people will live under the rule of his greater King in his greater kingdom.

King Solomon loved the Lord, and the Lord's blessing rested on him in the gifts of wisdom and material abundance. The blessing of the king resulted in the blessing of the people. This truly was a golden age in the life of Israel—and a great picture of a day to come when the Lord's people will live under the rule of his greater King in his greater kingdom.

Despite the frailty of human leaders and the sin of human opponents, God’s king, Solomon, is enthroned and his plan for his people is moving forward, all in accordance with the promises of his word.

Despite the frailty of human leaders and the sin of human opponents, God’s king, Solomon, is enthroned and his plan for his people is moving forward, all in accordance with the promises of his word.

God’s “righteousness” is his character of total rightness, integrity, goodness and truth—and his “justice” is his expression of that character in his governance of the universe. And the two ideas, although distinct, belong together in the Bible’s portrait of God.

God’s “righteousness” is his character of total rightness, integrity, goodness and truth—and his “justice” is his expression of that character in his governance of the universe. And the two ideas, although distinct, belong together in the Bible’s portrait of God.

In an apparently shocking contrast, Jesus calls out the religious insiders for hypocrisy and exposes their sin, while ultimately welcoming an outsider who comes to him in humble faith. He makes it clear that religious ritual is worthless as a means to cleanse from sin. Only humble faith in the Son of David has any power. Where have religion and ritual become a mask for sin in our lives? Are we casting ourselves solely upon the mercy of Jesus for our cleansing and acceptance before God?