2 Chronicals 7:12 God appeared to Solomon that very night and said, "I accept your prayer; yes, I have chosen this place as a temple for sacrifice, a house of worship.
It seems to me to be slightly out of order? Verse 1 through 11 are all about Solomon building the temple. In verse 11 it says, Solomon completed building The Temple of God and the royal palace—the projects he had set his heart on doing. Everything was done—success! Satisfaction!
But.... it's not until verse 12 that God gives his approval? And the wording is peculiar as well. "I accept your prayers." "I have chosen this place."
While I realize that there is great liberty in the Message Bible but I do think that it often times captures the meaning of some words with a clarity that you may not get from another translation. In verse 11 it says that Solomon completed... the projects he had set his heart on doing. Does that mean that there is a place to do projects that I desire to do? Don't I need a word from the Lord? My answer is no and no. Solomon had a deep personal and very intimate relationship with the Lord. And out of a revelation of that relationship came the correct response.
Look at what took place in verses 1 - 3 When Solomon finished praying, a bolt of lightning out of heaven struck the Whole-Burnt-Offering and sacrifices and the Glory of God filled The Temple. Solomon did his part and God did His part. Solomon prayered! God sent a bolt of lightening, struck the Whole Burnt Offering, AND filled the Temple. Talk about abundantly above all we could ask or expect!
God showed up in response to Solomon being a man of prayer. Read the rest of the verse.
The Glory was so dense that the priests couldn't get in—God so filled The Temple that there was no room for the priests! Why did God so fill the Temple? Because Solomon prayed.
When all Israel saw the fire fall from heaven and the Glory of God fill The Temple,
They actually saw.... fire from heaven is spectacular, BUT they SAW the Glory of God.
they fell on their knees, bowed their heads, and worshiped, thanking God: Yes! God is good! His love never quits!
It seems logical to me to conclude then that Solomon basked in the presence of the Lord or shall we say humbled himself in prayer. Thus He built the temple not as his projects, but that it was a response out of the revelation of relationship he experienced with the Lord. That's how God could say several verses later, "I have chosen this place."
That's very simular to what occurred with Onething Prayer Center. Ann Marie and I went to a deeper revelation of God's love for us and sought to be with Him through more prayer and He directed our response to open Onething. We have experienced moments of seeing God's Glory but no where near what Solomon did. Perhaps one day? But I am often reminded that there is no security in what God is doing, only in who He is. Selah! (think on this)
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Your comment no and no, I think you are assuming that people are intimately in relationship with God when you say that. There are many people that are doing things out of their own desires that is why they are some of the places they are and why they are having troubles, finances, marriage, relationships, jobs etc...because they are NOT getting their revelations and responses for their life issues out of that revelation of the Father but often their advice and their practical applications are coming from knowledge of the world not the WORD! I appreciate your beleiving the best for people though that they would enter into that relationship so their responses would be correct. You are the eternal optimist...GOOD FOR YOU!!
That's why The Prayer Center stays open because of the desire you have for people to find God in the way He has shown you is possible.
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