Julie
"For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever." I love how often this is repeated over and over again. I have marked every time I have read steadfast love since I noticed it and now I wish I had done that from the beginning. I feel like it's an awesome reminder that his love is always there.
Solomon finishes the temple and places the ark and prays to God asking for him to forgive the sins of anyone that repents in the house of worship. This could be where the Catholics get their practice of going to confession. Although, I did not see whether God has agreed to this yet or not.
"In God I Trust." These are words that we have seen or heard most of our lives, although it's as we instead of an I. It's interesting that although we have heard this for so long it has not sunk in the way that it should. What I needed to hear this morning was the first 4 verses of this psalm. I do feel like this every day and I need to pray and say, "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?" That might need to be part of a daily prayer to help build that confidence and trust.
Michelle
His steadfast love stood out to me as well. It does seem to be repeated quite often. As we have read, the Ark is brought to the temple, Solomon dedicates it and gives prayer and asks God to forgive those that pray to him in the temple, forgiving their sins. It does seem relative to the Catholic confession. Makes sense. The devotional with this section is pretty powerful. It's called Loose Ends. It talks about how God told David that he would not be the one to finish the temple, Abraham was promised descendants but would never see them, the prophets were promised a Messiah, but they didn't live to see him in the flesh. That we can't always finish what we start and how that idea is counter to our sensibilities as women. We have lists, planners, and people depending on us and we hate loose ends. But that sometimes we are supposed to leave those loose ends dangling. Never thought of this. It talks about how David started preparing for the temple and that God said it wasn't his to build but that his son would build it. "Much of the work we do for God is a continuation of what another person began." Who would have thought that. "If David had pressed ahead with constructing the temple, not only would he have been disobedient but he also would have deprived his son of a unique opportunity to use his wisdom, gifts and talents to serve God....The simple truth is that loose ends leave room for someone else to come along and continue the work in new and unique ways. And God may want you to move forward to a different phase of life. Leaving room for loose ends allows God's kingdom to extend beyond our influence and reach into eternity." I have never thought of it this way. When it's time to move on from something, I always feel like it needs to be completed first, but this gives a whole other perspective. That it's not that you are leaving it left unfinished, but allowing another the opportunity to continue and progress in their own God given way. What a revelation. This makes me think of things we are going thru now. It's hard to walk away from things, especially when you have given so much of yourself to something. But maybe, this is leaving the door open for God to put someone else there to continue what you started. And while we may have bitter feelings about the way things are getting left and the issues that have arisen that are moving us out, that is for God to handle and whomever he puts in that place, as it may be their talents that need to be used in that situation now, or maybe they are needing what you were given while there and it's their time. Such a different perspective to be given today.
I think you are right about the psalm. Verses 3 and 4 stood out to me as well and yes can be a constant prayer right now. "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise--in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?". Such powerful words. And relates so heavily to how I am feeling lately. Stop thinking about those around you that seem to be pushing against you in every way, but focus and put your trust in God to bring you through and past this, knowing he will take care of you.
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