It Takes A Village – Week 11
Names. Lists and lists of names, all personal and carefully crafted within the pages of Chronicles- the word chronicles itself meaning a factual written account of things of importance. And the author, possibly the priest Ezra as debated by biblical scholars, deemed every name of great importance. So important it was recorded in God’s literal Word.
The Persians were ruling the Middle East and allowed a few thousand Jews to return to the rubble that was their land to attempt to rebuild what they had lost. With very little they were able to build a small temple to worship and begin healing the community they had with one another. Determined to hold tight to their past, these Israelites knew their heritage promised them a future.
It is in the second book of Chronicles that we find God appearing to Solomon urging him to ask what he desired. Solomon did not ask for money, wealth, fame, nor rule over their enemies, but wisdom to rule God’s beloved people. Because of Solomon’s unselfish request, God honoured it with a fierceness only God could gift. With this Spirit guided wisdom and knowledge, Solomon built the temple.
King Solomon holds a dedication and prayer for the new temple gathering his people and blessing them in this new house of The Lord. Interestingly enough, the first prayer Solomon prays is one for the community and relationships among the people:
Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.
“When anyone wrongs their neighbour and is required to take an oath and they come and swear the oath before your altar in this temple, then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, condemning the guilty and bringing down on their heads what they have done, and vindicating the innocent by treating them in accordance with their innocence.
2 Chronicles 6:21-23
Life Application:
Before all other requests, people come first. Because things like money, wealth, fame, and success over our enemies are of little importance. God sent us a Saviour who desires and requires us to have a personal relationship with Him. And He desires us to make right our relationship with Him so that He may make right our relationships with others. Discord within our community and village does nothing but allow the enemy to distract our souls from seeing God at work. Are there people in our community whom we struggle to forgive? Are there brothers and sisters in Christ in our village that we continue to quarrel with over things that are of no importance?
We must remember the truth that as Christ’s church we are building a legacy. His legacy to a broken and dying world. And if we open our eyes a little wider we can see how rapidly false worship is attempting to suffocate our efforts. Our names are still being recorded in history- God’s book of life. Let us put into practice the dedication prayer of the wisest man who ever lived- the man who did not ask the God of all heaven and earth for money, wealth, fame, nor rule, but wisdom and knowledge for the people whom he loved. Let us pray for the community of which we belong and the relationships that hold our village together.
Father, I pray for the people whom you have given me to love. I ask that you bless me with the wisdom and knowledge of heaven so I may do your good works to the best of my ability. And forgive. Help me to always forgive. In Jesus name, amen.
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