In Thine Heart

Sunday AM Service

February 25, 2024

And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. And the LORD said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart. Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name. And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. (I Kings 8:17-20)

What Is In Your Heart?

Just over two years ago, I set out on a Psalm 100:4 journey and started it with a post "Set Thine House In Order". I often reflect back on this journey, and today when scriptures opened up to I Kings 8, my eyes were drawn to verse 18 immediately. As the visiting minister started reading in verse 1, I started opening my phone to take notes about this verse. I hadn't really been hearing him reading the previous 17 verses, until right at the very moment I typed in the first word of verse 18. I continued typing on my phone, thinking that is really odd coincidence.

I have been reflecting on all of God's goodness in my life, in my house. How and why would the creator of everything, would reach down and bless me and my house. How He knew what was in my heart, and blessed me with more than I was even thinking about. At the time of writing the post above, I was more thinking of how to provide for my family with my physical heart condition, livelihood, and preparing my house in event my health continued to deteriorate. Instead, God directed my paths down a road of spiritual struggles, blessed me physically and spiritually in ways not possible. Events happened that were completely out of my control. Things I couldn't win at, even though I tried. As I was reading verse 18, God showed me "... it was in thine (my) heart to build an house unto my (God's) name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart".

These are powerful words, words of reassurance to believers. Of course if you continue reading, King David didn't get to build the house, but his son Solomon did. These verses didn't jump out at me initially, until I was reading the chapter again. I believe God shows us things in the scriptures that are intended just for us, not the whole text at time. He uses words to speak to us through the Holy Spirit he has given us.

As we continued reading, I see verse 26 and notice "...let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father". Solomon was praying that God's word to his father be verified. Almost in a way, he is saying let it be proven that you wanted a house.

And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father.(I Kings 8:26)

Then later in verse 28, he asks God to respect his prayer. A few months ago, God showed me in scripture that he doesn't want his name to be used in vain; doesn't want prayers in vain. This stood out to me, as we don't want our prayers to be in vain either. I know that God heard my cries, my prayers. There were months where I didn't feel God was hearing me. Many days where I felt that "... thy servant prayeth before thee to day". Now afterwards, I know my prayers were not in vain. I feel God had "respect unto" my prayers. What a wonderful spiritual blessing to know that when we pray, God hears all of our prayers. We may not see immediate answers, or it may not be in his will, but we do know and I am a witness of it, God respects our prayers.

Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day: (I Kings 8:28)

As the minister had closing thoughts, he went to how Solomon had sacrifices of all the best lambs from everyone at the new temple. How it would have been the largest sacrifice they could do. The he transitioned to how Solomon even though he had such a heartfelt prayer he ultimately fell into sins later on. I reflected on the temple was still torn down later after Christ was sacrificed. Then we see how Christ sacrifice, his blood was for building a temple in us where the Holy Spirit lives. Christ had it in his heart to build a house for the Holy Spirit to live. A temple that could not be torn down.

When Solomon built the temple, and God came, there was smoke that filled the room, nothing else could reside there. Priests were overcome with the smoke and had to leave to room. That is how a believer's life should be. When we are saved, the Holy Spirit comes in and his presence pushes things in our life out. We are overcome, nothing else can reside there spiritually. Now we are still flesh, and our flesh tries to keep getting back in, but the spirit overcomes and fills us with his presence. We find at times we are filled with the spirit when we seek God's will. Also at times when we seek things of this world, we don't hear the spirit as we should. We almost need a "smoke detector" to alert us, and let the Holy Spirit drive things out. We still have free will and tend to not hear the detector going off. Scriptures also do show us that our salvation is not based on our ability to overcome our flesh, our sins. Verses come to mind about "it is no I that do it". That may be another post to reflect on later, but I included them for thought.

For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:14-25)

Thank you, God for sending your son to build a house in us for thy Holy Spirit. Help us to live an overcoming life. To follow thy will. In Jesus Name, Amen