While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them. Then he said:
“Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his own hand has fulfilled what he promised with his own mouth to my father David. For he said, 16 ‘Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, but I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.’
“My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. But the LORD said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’
“The LORD has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. I have provided a place there for the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.” I Kings 8:14-21 NIV
Today I want to focus on the words of Solomon and not his actions. His actions reveal that God is priority, but I believe his words betray his actions.
Just as Solomon reminds the people that God has kept His promises, Solomon continues his speech with four prominent 'I' statements. Apparently while God kept His promise this only occured because of all that Solomon did. Really?
All the wisdom that was given to Solomon and he still failed to realize that he was but a player in the great plans that God had for the people.
When we begin to get too caught up in grabbing credit for things done, we quickly begin to forget that God is the primary priority. We become the most important and God becomes secondary.
Our words can betray our actions.
Our words reveal our heart.
What are your words revealing?
Too much 'I' will lead us astray. Keep reading the story and discover for yourself.
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