Nougat 19

Some people are convinced that in speaking personally to us, God is convicting us of sin or instructing us. But there’s more to hearing from God. When we remember that God desires a relationship with us that extends beyond a moment, it becomes clear that God can speak with us about anything that is on God’s heart. Or on ours, as God sees beyond our words to what is in our hearts. In Today’s Holy Nougat, we see Solomon hearing from God beyond conviction of sin or receiving instructions.

1 Kings 9:3 CEVDCI

[3] The Lord said: I heard your prayer and what you asked me to do. This temple you have built is where I will be worshipped forever. It belongs to me, and I will never stop watching over it.

Hearing God 2

This wasn’t the first time Solomon heard from God. God met with Solomon in Gibeon, in that famous wisdom encounter of 1 Kings 3. (As we will probably reflect on it in this series, I’ve only mentioned the chapter). However, this encounter was different. God confirmed that Solomon’s prayer regarding the Temple was heard and would be answered. It went directly from God to Solomon … God gave God’s personal word. (My sister would say Solomon was cooking with gas). The confirmation that God spoke would be in the fulfilment.

Self-Check

What would our response be if God spoke directly to us to confirm an answer to a specific prayer?

Deeper Dive

If we interrogate this Scripture even partially, we may find a challenge. For it is a common enough fact that it was the ‘first temple’, suggesting it was either abandoned or destroyed. A reading of 2 Kings 25:8-9 indicates that Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon burned the temple when they laid siege to Jerusalem. Many exegetes suggest that the Temple existed for 400+ years before its destruction.

If we look at this on the surface, it doesn’t add up. God’s Word promised permanence. It implied that the Temple would be in existence forever as the host of God’s glory. Many who seek assurance of answered prayers, or of God’s capability to answer prayers might find this discouraging. It is a sincere concern, for if we cannot expect God to honour God’s Word, does it even matter if we hear from God?

Please bear with me for a little while longer. A not-so-random comment by Y’shua in John 2:19 offers clarity. In John’s Gospel, Jesus cleansed the Temple long before the week of His crucifixion. After clearing the Temple, His authority was questioned. He responded that the destroyed temple would be restored in 3 days!!!!

As the direct descendant of King David, we know that Y’shua was the fulfilment of God’s promise to David. We also know that John 2 confirmed that the disciples understood Jesus’ prophecy after His resurrection. In taking God’s eternal clause in the promise to Solomon, we can deduce that God not only spoke of the literal temple, but also of the eternal temple – Jesus Christ.

It may seem like a leap. However, the Hebrew text suggests that God will perpetually be in the house that Solomon built as God’s dwelling. And if that is so, then God did answer Solomon’s prayer while honouring Y’shua’s prophecy. Moreover, from the Hebrew text, we deduce that any house – including our hearts – that is consecrated to God as God’s dwelling becomes God’s residence.

Having confirmed that Solomon’s prayer was answered, and that God honoured God’s Word, we can further conclude that God spoke to Solomon in his dream. For, as important as it is that we hear God speak, it is equally important that we confirm God’s voice.

Point to Ponder

How may we confirm that we’ve heard from God in our own lives?

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May all we seek be found in Christ