Building Blessings

Based on 1 Kings 9-10, Psalm 67

It is so incredible to read the beauty of the place Solomon built for The Lord. Solomon was not only building a place for God to dwell, but he was also building a relationship with God upon the foundation of His Word. When we build with our effort and build with our hearts, we are building blessings along the way!

"Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him." Psalms 67:6‭-‬7.

As our Pastor has preached during many of our livestream services, people will see the blessed of The Lord! When we desire to be a people who obeys God, we reap the blessings and protection God has for us! That speaks volumes to the world around us, and now more than ever the world needs to see the goodness of God! Our church has been mightily protected & blessed during this time of COVID-19, and we want the world to know that God will have His way in this whirlwind if we trust Him!

In our last passage, Solomon prayed an extensive prayer over the newly-built temple. God heard his words, and He appeared to Solomon again like He did in the dream. He was reminding Solomon that the great birthright & blessings came only with willing obedience to Him:

"And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel." 1 Kings 9:4‭-‬5.

"But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them: Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:"
1 Kings 9:6‭-‬7.

We must remember that blessings are built upon a solid relationship with God. We don't serve God for the purpose of blessings, we serve Him for the purpose of love! Blessings always follow, but again, our hearts need to be in the right place. The masterpiece of that temple, all the beauty and time spent, would mean nothing if Solomon and Israel did not keep building their relationship with God! It would be a proverb & byword among all people...and Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs too! We will see in future chapters that Solomon really gets challenged to keep his vows to God...but in the meantime, Solomon is in a good place, and everyone takes notice...even the queen of Sheba:

"And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard." 1 Kings 10:6‭-‬7.

Again-others need to see what God can do! Blessings were certainly building upon blessings in Solomon's life, and it exceeded the expectations of everyone. Once people give glory to God and commit their lives to Him, it will be evident that God will exceed their expectations too! Blessings will build upon blessings! We can't live off of the blessings of others either, we need to seek God for ourselves!

"Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the Lord loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice."
1 Kings 10:8‭-‬9.

When the queen of Sheba beholds the blessings of Solomon, she blesses The Lord! She knew it could only be God who could provide in this way (even though at first she believed not!). Some people need to see the demonstration of God in order to really believe, but there still has to be an opening to receive it once it is seen! This queen was open. She was willing. She was even blessed by Solomon as she left, and she gave him some gifts too. The blessings just keep on building...and they spread and overflow to others too! And all of this was built on a relationship with God...and so it needs to be with us!