Walk and Talk with God #15

 

25 Now therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.’ 26 Now therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David my father. 

27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! 28 Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, 29 that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. 30 And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive. (I Kings 8)

God is so much bigger than our prayers. That makes them all the more important. We saw yesterday that Solomon started early walking and talking with God, and asking for His wisdom in living out his calling as king.  His first major accomplishment as king was to build the temple his father David had planned, and the prayer here is what he prayed before the people at its dedication. But notice as he talks, it's like God alone is the recipient of his prayer, even as he asks the Lord to answer the prayers of his people, as well as his own.  And what is the bottom line of his prayer? "Father, please forgive."  Even though he had asked God for wisdom to lead, he was already aware of his sins and failures - that he needed to talk to God every day, and walk before and with the Lord.  Today is no exception. God is a busy guy, but never too busy to talk with you, not stuck in some other location you cannot get to, never unconcerned about what concerns you today. Walk and talk with God.