I.
We turn this week to Solomon’s words to the people after the Temple is dedicated. As you read Solomon’s words pay attention to how he recounts the history of what brings them to this moment.

II.
1 Kings 8:14-21 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel stood. He said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David, saying, ‘Since the day that I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any of the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that my name might be there; but I chose David to be over my people Israel.’ My father David had it in mind to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to consider building a house for my name; nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.’ Now the Lord has upheld the promise that he made; for I have risen in the place of my father David; I sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. There I have provided a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with our ancestors when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.”

III.
Do you recall other places in Hebrew scripture were the history of their journey with God is brought to mind, to remembrance?

Do you think that kind of remembering of a spiritual history is important?

One thing you could do right now is to slow down and recall your journey with God over time. What events on that journey stand to you? Do you recall high points and low points? How might recalling both help you as you journey from this day?

IV.
Solomon could speak of what, “… God … has fulfilled …” and “… the Lord has upheld the promise he made …”

How does that strike you? Do you have any sense of that in your journey?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}