DAY 120

WHAT WILL YOU OFFER?

1 Kings 8 & 9 and Luke 21:1 – 19

Today, between the Old Testament and the New Testament we have an amazing juxtaposition of “offerings” and “the Temple.”

In the Old Testament the Temple is consecrated and Solomon is providing a seemingly endless offering to God. In the New Testament Jesus foretells of the Temple’s destruction (which will happen in 70 A.D.) and a widow offeres two small copper coins.

Yet while these seem to be in opposite directions, they are very similar in spirit. As Solomon brings the Ark to the Temple I cannot help but think of some of the big, really big, services that have been held at the Cathedral where I serve. There are zillions of details and much excitement. It is a bit exhausting, but when we get it right (sometimes we do and sometimes we don’t)…when we get it right, it feels like a glorious offering of worship to Almighty God, as if a cloud fills it.

I am moved by Solomon’s prayer. The sincerity of it is amazing. So many parts of it are insightful. “There is no God like you! The heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less a house” we read in verse 27. And then in verses 42-43 he prays for foreigners!

Part of Luke 21 gives us another perspective. The Temple is not giving God glory; quite the opposite. However a widow enters and gives all that she had to live on! There is it, the same thing Solomon was doing…giving his all. Now I don’t want you to be thinking about economics right now, but rather motives. Solomon certainly had more money and this widow probably not. But both had hearts that wanted to give all to God. The Great Commandment is to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind soul and strength. That is what we are witnessing today.

Solomon’s father, King David, after he had completely messed up with the Bathsheba situation wrote these words in Psalm 51: You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.  You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.  You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

God desires a heart open to him…take a moment and offer yours to him.