Celebrating what God has done is a vital way we encourage faith in ourselves and others. Solomon does this in chapter 8. The occasion is a great celebration of the faithfulness God had displayed to Israel in bringing them into the land, establishing them and setting up His temple. What a great day it must have been! What do you celebrate? When was the last time you celebrated God’s faithfulness with your family or friends? When was the last time you testified of God’s goodness in the land of the living?
Also notice Solomon’s prayer and how it features God’s steadfast covenant love and also the need for people to repent of sin and turn back to God when they fall away. Solomon’s temple has been replaced by the person of Jesus Christ. We know longer pray in the temple or to the temple but we pray in the name of Christ as we are in Christ. But the principles are the same: We must remember God’s steadfast love and we must repent and call out for God’s mercy when we fall away. When was the last time you repented of something? Until we get to be in God’s presence, the Christian’s lifestyle is one of repentance – turning from sin and seeking God’s help.