1 Kings 7: Building Palaces
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Are these spaces and times meant to keep the world out or to invite the world in? Have they become oases on the road of life or have they devolved into chaotic and jarring experiences? Are they God-absent or God-centered? Am I relying on myself, my skills as an architect and designer . . . or am I trusting God completely?
Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? (Matthew 6:26-30).
Why do we worry? Why do we spend so much time building barriers when we ought to be disentangling ourselves from enabling relationships? Ought not we spend more time bringing The Word to one another and building bridges? Imagine a world in which we are free from anxiety and fear, a world in which we trust God completely with our needs. Does he not know them better than anyone else? Ought we not to go to him for our shelter and our shade? Why do we build so many palaces when God has a dwelling place already fashioned for us?
From last evening’s and this morning’s MAGNIFICAT intercessions:
God is our promised shelter and our shade. To him we pray: Protect us from all harm.
In the midst of life’s tribulations, strengthen our hope in your promised kingdom. Protect us from all harm.
In the midst of physical ailments, grant us trust in your healing power. Protect us from all harm.
In the midst of worry and distress, send us peace of heart. Protect us from all harm.
With trust in the love our heavenly Father has for us, we pray: You are our life, O Lord!
You care for the works of your hands: teach us to help and not to hinder your loving providence. You are our life, O Lord!
You feed and clothe all of your children: forgive us the greediness that seeks to deprive others for your own benefit. You are our life, O Lord!
You provide for all the earth: grant us the wisdom to see and to serve your purposes. You are our life, O Lord!
What need of we of palaces . . . when our God provides us all?
Written on August 26, 2008 and posted today as a Favorite. To learn more about ancient Jerusalem and Herod’s Palace, click on the image above or go to: http://www.biblestudyspace.com/page/herod-s-palace
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