DEVOTION
1ST Kings
FINDING REST
1 Kings 8:54-61
54 When Solomon had finished all
these prayers and supplications to the LORD, he rose from before the altar of
the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven.
55 He stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying: 56
"Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he
promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his
servant Moses. 57 May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers;
may he never leave us nor forsake us. 58 May he turn our hearts to him, to walk
in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees, and regulations he gave our
fathers. 59 And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the LORD,
be near to the LORD our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his
servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day's need, 60 so
that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there
is no other. 61 But your hearts must be fully committed to the LORD our God, to
live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time."
NIV
These words of Solomon to the people
of Israel are packed full of truths that apply to our lives as well. First, He
praised the LORD because He was giving rest to his people, Israel. Jesus
promised us that if we are ever burdened or get weary, we only need to come to
Him and He will give us rest. He further promised that when we take His yoke
upon us, that is, walk in step with His leading, and learn from Him, because He
is gentle and humble in heart, and by doing that, we will find rest for our
souls. How much better can life be than to live with rest within our souls, our
hearts, and minds? Stress is a soul killer. Bitterness, unforgiveness, anger,
hurts, envy, jealousy, self-righteousness, and gossip are all destroyers of
rest and soul killers. Solomon blessed the people with the truth that the LORD
would never leave them nor forsake them. The writer of Hebrews, under the inspiration
of the Spirit, reminds us of Moses' words to the people: God promised that He
would never leave them nor forsake them. Jesus told His disciples, which includes
us, that He would not leave us as orphans; He would come to us. It does require
that we turn our hearts to the Lord God Almighty and walk in all His ways. This
may be one of the most challenging truths to apply. We might get distracted by
wanting to walk in our own ways, even doing what we think are good things or
good deeds. But that may not be His way. He is our Lord, and that means He is
in charge of our lives, knowing what is best for us, so we should take Jesus’s yoke
upon us, letting Him lead us through life and do what He wants for us. Walking
in His ways would also require us to fully commit our hearts to the Lord our
God and live by His decrees. In doing so, we will find rest for our souls.
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