10-27-2024 “May You Hear…” (1 Kings 5:1-5; 8:22-43)

“May You Hear…”  1 Kings 5:1-5; 8:22-43 2 Samuel 7:22-26 1 Kings 5:1-5 1 Kings 8:22-23 22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire congregation of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. 23 He said: Lord God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below, who keeps the gracious covenant with your servants who walk before you with all their heart. 1 Kings 8:27-30 27 But will God indeed live on earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain you, much less this temple I have built. 28 Listen to your servant’s prayer and his petition, Lord my God, so that you may hear the cry and the prayer that your servant prays before you today, 29 so that your eyes may watch over this temple night and day, toward the place where you said,“My name will be there,” and so that you may hear the prayer that your servant prays toward this place. 30 Hear the petition of your servant and your people Israel, which they pray toward this place. May you hear in your dwelling place in heaven. May you hear and forgive. 1 Kings 8:41-43 41 Even for the foreigner who is not of your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name— 42 for they will hear of your great name, strong hand, and outstretched arm, and will come and pray toward this temple— 43 may you hear in heaven, your dwelling place, nd do according to all the foreigner asks. Then all peoples of earth will know your name, to fear you as your people Israel do and to know that this temple I have built bears your name. 1 Kings 8:27 But will God indeed live on earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain you, much less this temple I have built. Omnibenevolent- God is all-loving Omniscient- God is all-knowing Omnipotent- God is all-powerful Omnipresent- God is everywhere 1 Kings 8:27 But will God indeed live on earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain you, much less this temple I have built. 1 Kings 8:29 so that your eyes may watch over this temple night and day, toward the place where you said, “My name will be there,” and so that you may hear the prayer that your servant prays toward this place. "My name will be there..." The Temple bears the name of God (1 Kings 8:29) Jesus Christ bears the name of God (John 1:1, 14) The Church bears the name of God (Colossians 3:12-17) Colossians 3:12-17 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. 14 Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. MSG 1 Kings 8:27-32 Can it be that God will actually move into our neighborhood? Why, the cosmos itself isn’t large enough to give you breathing room, let alone this Temple I’ve built. Even so, I’m bold to ask: Pay attention to these my prayers, both intercessory and personal, O God, my God. Listen to my prayers, energetic and devout, that I’m setting before you right now. Keep your eyes open to this Temple night and day, this place of which you said, “My Name will be honored there,” and listen to the prayers that I pray at this place. MSG John 1:14a The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.