Old Testament | 1 Kings 8:1, 6, 10–11, 22–30, 41–43 (with Nick Locke)

About this Episode

Opening Song:

O Lord, open our lips
And our mouths will declare your praise.
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son,
And to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning,
Is now and ever shall be,
World without end,
Amen.

The Scripture for today is 1 Kings 8:1, 6, 10-11, 22-30, and 41-43.

Let’s prepare our hearts to hear from God’s Word as we listen to You Will Remain by David Leonard, David Wood, and Leslie Jordan. The opening percussion without harmony establishes a primary steadiness--a weight placed on the foundational aspects of our God. One line is isolated, with a spotlight of harmonic intensity on the words “You are the Great I Am.” As the song continues, “through all things, the Lord remains.”
Lyrics:

You, Oh Lord are my stay
Humbly came
My soul to save
To light the way, oh

All I have is found in You
Christ in me, all things true
All things pure
All things good

You are the Great I Am

So unchanging
Your promise is sure
Never ending
Your love will endure
You were, You will be
You always are the Great I Am

You, Oh Lord will remain
When everything else
Fades away
You, Oh Lord will remain

So unchanging
Your promise is sure
Never ending
Your love will endure
You were, You will be
You always are the Great I Am

Hallelujah, hallelujah
Your love never fails
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Your love never fails
Passage:
1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ houses of the people of Israel, before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.
6 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim.
10 And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD, 11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.

22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven, 23 and said, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart; 24 you have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day. 25 Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.’ 26 Now therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David my father.

27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! 28 Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, 29 that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. 30 And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.

41 “Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for your name’s sake 42 (for they shall hear of your great name and your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house, 43 hear in heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name.

(1 Kings 8:1, 6, 10–11, 22–30, 41–43 ESV)

Musical Reflection:

All to Jesus I Surrender (SURRENDER) by Winfield S. Weeden
Reflection Notes:

This tune was originally intended to have two-part harmonies on the verse and four-part harmonies of the refrain; the additional harmonic fullness adds to the repeated emphasis of the words “I surrender all.”

Prayer:
This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of Jesus. Amen.