1 Kings 9: God’s Care for His People

The Lord said to him: “I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.” -1 Kings 9:3

The temple was a big deal to God. When completed, he showed up to tell Solomon the Lord had consecrated, or set apart, this temple and had put his name there forever. His eyes and heart would always be there.

Later, God also spoke of the temple’s destruction if his people departed from him. Yet one thing did not change. God still cares about the place where the temple was located. He still has a heart for his people.

Part of God’s plan is yet unfulfilled. In the future the Bible speaks in other places about a new temple that will be built. Ultimately, the Messiah will reign from the throne.

One thought for me today was this: If God still cares so much for the people of Israel and the place where his temple was built, how should I feel about Israel and Jerusalem?

If I understand this part of the Bible correctly, I think he wants me to care about it a lot. In other places the Bible speaks of praying for the peace of Jerusalem. Scripture often speaks of the importance of both the Jewish people as well as their promised land. While today, the nation remains the center of much controversy and even conflict, we can continue to pray for the land, its people, and the look forward to the day when the Messiah will reign from his throne.

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Dillon Burroughs is the author and coauthor of numerous books and is handwriting a copy of all 31,173 verses of the Bible at HolyWritProject.com. Find out more about Dillon at Facebook.com/readdB or readdB.com.