God’s Promises Require Obedience
God’s promises are accessed by obeying His precepts. God’s fulfillment of promises in our lives is so others might know Him when they see God’s presence and blessing in our lives. God’s promises are yes and amen but receiving them is conditional upon our end of the promise. “If” we follow God’s ways, He will do what He said He would. Don’t be only hearers of God’s word. Live it out.
We are back in book of 1 Kings today, 6-10. In 1 Kings 6 Solomon is setting out to build and complete the Temple for the LORD. In 1 Kings 6:7 we learn that this building was done in silent reverence:
“The temple’s construction used finished stones cut at the quarry so that no hammer, chisel, or any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.”
It was during a time of peace that the Temple was peacefully built. God uses man to build His temple, but it was going to be done peaceably. How are we building God’s church today? By our own methods or by God’s? Are we peacefully working together? Or is there the noise of sin in our ranks?
Solomon was building the Temple of the LORD so God would be present with His people in that Temple. But God’s presence was contingent on Solomon’s faithfulness.
A Contingent Promise
God’s promises require obedience because they are based on our willingness to follow through on a two-way covenant. In 1 Kings 6:11-13, God reminds Solomon of a promise He will keep “if” Solomon carries through on his end:
“11 The word of the Lord came to Solomon: 12 “As for this temple you are building—if you walk in my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep all my commands by walking in them, I will fulfill my promise to you, which I made to your father David. 13 I will dwell among the Israelites and not abandon my people Israel.”
The Promises Require Faithfulness
God’s promises require obedience because of God’s love and faithfulness to us. And we must prove faithful. The promises of God hung in the balance of Solomon’s faithfulness. They do for us, too. God’s promises are yes and amen, but they are conditional and hinging on our obedience. The temple being built for God would not be inhabited by God unless Solomon followed through on His end and:
- Walked in God’s statutes
- Observed God’s ordinances
- Kept ALL off God’s commands by living them out – walking in them
We cannot be only hearers of God’s word. We must live it out. And not in part, but in whole.
The Promises of God Require Living Out His Precepts
How will we walk it out if we are not first looking (observing) and studying God’s word? God’s word requires obedience because for a good God not to hold us accountable would not be in line with His perfect character. Leavins us in our sin would separate us from Him.
Applying all of His word to our lives means we don’t skip any of God’s word, but humble ourselves to the application of His truth in our lives. This will mean examination of ourselves and obedience to what God’s word reveals.
Solomon completed building the Temple in seven years, then he set to build his entire palace complex in 13 years. In 1 Kings 8 Solomon dedicates the Temple, assembles the elders of Israel in Jerusalem to bring the ark of the LORD’s covenant from the city of David (Zion) and utters a beautiful prayer to God. Picking up one verse before our Scripture of the day:
Scripture of the Day: 1 Kings 8:22-24
“Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire congregation of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. And he prayed, ‘O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion. You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth, and with your own hands you have fulfilled it today.'”
The Fulfillment o God’s Promises Require Wholehearted Devotion
God fulfills His promises to those who walk before Him in wholehearted devotion. This is hard for us to do because we drift away so easily and can be duplicitous. But with God it is possible. Solomon’s prayer to God offered some loopholes when we fall short. If we will repent and turn back to walk in God’s ways, then God would forgive.
Solomon’s motivation for the fulfillment of God’s promises in 1 Kings 8:43 reminds us that God’s promises, his blessing and His favor are so others can witness God’s presence in our lives. For His glory and our good. When people come—and Solomon covers everybody—God’s people Israel, a man who sins against his neighbor, even when a foreigner comes and prays:
“Then hear from heaven where you live, and grant what they ask of you. In this way, all the people of the earth will come to know and fear you, just as your own people Israel do. They, too, will know that this Temple I have built honors your name.”
If people can see God’s goodness and faithfulness in our lives when life is hard, they see his presence and can know Him.
After Solomon prayed to God, he charged God’s people to be wholeheartedly devoted to God:
1 Kings 8:56-61
“Praise the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses. 57 May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us or abandon us. 58 May he give us the desire to do his will in everything and to obey all the commands, decrees, and regulations that he gave our ancestors. 59 And may these words that I have prayed in the presence of the Lord be before him constantly, day and night, so that the Lord our God may give justice to me and to his people Israel, according to each day’s needs. 60 Then people all over the earth will know that the Lord alone is God and there is no other. 61 And may you be completely faithful to the Lord our God. May you always obey his decrees and commands, just as you are doing today.”
Not one of God’s promises failed. Not one. When God’s people obey God’s word and live according to it, they are blessed.
In 1 Kings 10 the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon and marveled at his wisdom and wealth. We can do the same thing Solomon did. We can ask God for wisdom. When we walk in God’s ways and walk in wisdom, people will be drawn nearer to God.
1 Kings 10:23-25
“23 So King Solomon became richer and wiser than any other king on earth. 24 People from every nation came to consult him and to hear the wisdom God had given him. 25 Year after year everyone who visited brought him gifts of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.”
Application
- God’s promises are accessed by obeying His precepts.
- God gives wisdom to all who ask without finding fault (James 1:5).
- God’s fulfillment of promises in our lives is so others might know Him when they see God’s presence and blessing in our lives.
- Wholehearted devotion is the requirement for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
- God’s promises are yes and amen but receiving them is conditional upon our end of the promise. “If” we follow God’s ways, He will do what He said He would.
- Don’t be only hearers of God’s word. Live it out.
7-Fold One-Year Bible Reading Plan
Day #163: 1 Kings 6-10
Scripture of the Day: 1 Kings 8:23-24
Listen: https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/1Kgs.6
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