I Kings 8:61
This verse is part of a beautiful prayer offered by Solomon
at the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. (If you want to read the entire
prayer, it is found in I Kings 8:22-53.) When Solomon prayed these words before
the congregation of Israel, they were experiencing a very high spiritual peak.
After years of planning, gathering of costly materials, and construction, the
Temple was finally ready to be dedicated to its use as a holy place. The Temple
itself, made with gold, silver, and brass, was a tangible and physical reminder
before them as they listened to Solomon’s prayer.
Solomon took this opportunity to bless the people of Israel
by encouraging them to continue following God’s statutes. He knew they would fail to do so,
and he knew that at times they would not follow as they should. Just a few
words previous, in verse 46, he had said “for there is no man that sinneth not”.
He was wise enough to know that it is easy to be faithful, thankful, and
resolved to follow God’s statutes when you’re at a high point, celebrating,
listening to inspiring words, and surrounded by throngs of other faithful
people. His blessing for the people ends with a reminder, a plea to them to
follow God when times are tough, when they’re living in a foreign land, when
they’re surrounded by people who don’t believe (or even by people who persecute
them for believing).
We should learn the same lesson. It’s easy to sing praises
if you’re surrounded by believers. It’s easy to say “Amen!” at the end of a
beautiful prayer. It’s easy to resolve to break that sinful habit when you’re
sitting in a pew being inspired and feeling God’s presence.
But it’s not so easy to praise when your car breaks down on
the way to work. It’s not as easy to talk about God when you are surrounded by
people who disagree or maybe even mock you. It’s not easy to follow God’s laws
when the object of a sinful temptation is right
there in front of you instead of being an abstract idea that you’re
contemplating overcoming from the spiritual safety of a pew.
We should remember, when we are feeling in the spiritual
“mood” in church that faith is not a mood. Faith is shown in daily obedience to
God’s statutes, and we shouldn’t check our obedience at the door of the church
on the way out. We should keep God’s commandments, even on the dark days, “as
at this day…” where “this day” is the mountaintop spiritual high.
