Day 92, or April 2nd. We constantly need reminding.
Our thoughts today are from 1 Kings chapter 8 verse 9. There was nothing in the ark except
the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant
with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.
Now the big picture surrounding this verse. It's all systems go on project temple. It
takes seven years to complete it. Seven, the perfect number in Judaism. Then it takes almost
twice as long for Solomon to finish his own house. Thirteen years to be absolutely accurate.
The house was about four times the size of the temple. Need I go on to show how Solomon
was slipping away from God's standard. The ark is installed with all the other items
of furniture, and the shekinah glory of the Lord fills the temple. It was so full that
the priests couldn't gain access, as Solomon preached and prayed, as the people rejoiced.
And now today's action step. The ark of the covenant, which Solomon carefully placed in
the new temple in Jerusalem, was not all that it used to be. When it was in the tabernacle
it contained the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod, and a jar of manna. Now it only contained
the Ten Commandments, the two magnificent reminders of God's faithfulness to them,
as they escaped from Egypt and survived forty years in the wilderness.
Aaron's rod and some manna were both missing. Israel was still founded on the solid foundation
of the word of God, as we must be too. However, they seemed to have forgotten the amazing
works of God and the miracles of the budding rod and the daily supply of manna for forty
years. The reminders had gone. If we forget how good God has been to us in the past, the
word of God can become an academic exercise if we're not careful. Remind yourself regularly
just how good God has been. Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise
you what the Lord has done. Name one now!