2 Chronicles 7:12
12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
The thing that caught my attention this morning was God's Word to Solomon, "I have heard thy prayer and chosen this place unto myself." What caught God's Attention was not the enormous amounts of gold, silver, brass, timbers, and other such precious materials used in the building of the house, nor was it the artistry and craftsmanship displayed on the walls and tapestries, neither was it the enormous size of the temple. What caught his attention was the prayer prayed. Solomon knew that even he, the richest and wisest man on earth, had nothing that would impress God. He admits this in the opening of his prayer in 2 Chronicles 6:18-19 "But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built! 19 Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee:" Solomon knew something that we all should realize as well, that no matter the size of our sacrifice, it isn't large enough. The heavens cannot contain him, the earth is his footstool, what then could we build that would be sufficient for his glory and honor? Having this reality before him, the magnificence of the temple did not puff him up but humbled him, because as great as it was God was still infinitely more magnificent. So we should look at every ministry we have built, every sacrifice we have made, and be humbled because as great as they may be in the sight of men they are as the dust of his feet.
Notice though that Solomon knew there was one thing that moved God more than material goods and fine works, prayer. 2 Ch 6:19 "Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee:" Solomon did not ask God to consider his ability, wisdom, riches and sacrifices but his prayer. That is a greater commodity than all the gold in the world. The Lord has little use for those material transactions, they hold little weight with him, but he deals in heart transactions. The matters of the heart are as precious stones to our Lord, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." "And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." Solomon asked God to consider his prayer, not the work of his hands, and God tells him in our verse today, "I have heard thy prayer and have chosen this place to myself for a house of sacrifice."
So if you have been attempting to build a work for the Lord, know that no matter the materials used, or the time spent, it could not be grand enough to merit his favor. He is looking for heart transactions, bend your knees, lift your voice, and rehearse his promises, speak of his faithfulness and his worthiness and perhaps he will hear your prayer, and turn your ministry into a manifestation. Solomon would have had nothing more than a grand cathedral had God not manifested his presence in the midst of it. If all we ever have is what we can do then men may look on in wonder but sweeter than all the praise of every man on earth is to hear the voice of God say "I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice."
Comments