WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:03.680 You're listening to the Bible Guys, a podcast where a 2 00:00:03.720 --> 00:00:06.440 couple of friends talk about the Bible in fun, in 3 00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:16.199 practical ways. Good morning, good morning, we talk hone that through. 4 00:00:16.280 --> 00:00:18.679 Good morning, good morning to you. 5 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:22.600 And man, how great was that? I picked up It's 6 00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:25.879 been weeks since I've been able to witness. Oh well 7 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:31.640 then you were in person. Yes, it's so much more glorious. 8 00:00:31.679 --> 00:00:34.159 I wish I wish everybody, all of our listeners could 9 00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:37.679 be sitting here in this moment. What you break out 10 00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:38.119 into song? 11 00:00:38.200 --> 00:00:40.640 What a privilege to sit next to the own song. 12 00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:41.880 That is incredible. 13 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:44.600 Yes, but hey, good morning everybody. Welcome to the Bible Guys. 14 00:00:44.679 --> 00:00:46.320 I am Chris and I'm Jeff, and. 15 00:00:46.280 --> 00:00:49.920 We're here today to talk about in the middle of 16 00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:52.240 a series we're in called Dangerous Prayers, and today this 17 00:00:52.280 --> 00:00:56.280 week is intercessory prayers. Yeah, to intercede on other's behalf 18 00:00:56.600 --> 00:00:58.920 and uh, anyway, before we get into that, we have 19 00:00:59.600 --> 00:01:01.880 a sort of a different kind of segments. 20 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:04.920 Yeah, okay, So well I've done this a couple of times, 21 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:06.879 I know. So this is a fill in the blank. Yes, 22 00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:09.400 So I'm going to start a sentence and then you 23 00:01:09.439 --> 00:01:11.879 have to complete it in an unexpected way. 24 00:01:11.959 --> 00:01:13.359 Yeah, which is very interesting. 25 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:19.120 Yeah, so let me think. So let's let's let's get it. 26 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:22.280 But oh, I know, driving in today, I saw something. Okay, 27 00:01:24.439 --> 00:01:26.359 so I'm going to start the sentence. You have to 28 00:01:26.359 --> 00:01:32.920 finish it, Yes, go ahead. The one thing Bigfoot refuses 29 00:01:32.959 --> 00:01:44.120 to talk about at his family reunion is how sorry 30 00:01:44.159 --> 00:01:46.120 about that? That's a hard one. Well, there's a lot 31 00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:47.879 of silence on this podcast going. 32 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:50.560 To I was going to say, how poop sticks to 33 00:01:50.599 --> 00:01:50.920 his fur? 34 00:01:51.159 --> 00:01:55.040 Oh no, now you're in trouble, but you know that. 35 00:01:55.159 --> 00:01:59.079 Right then I hesitated, but then I said, you know 36 00:01:59.159 --> 00:02:01.040 what I'm gonna say. I'm gonna say it. 37 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:02.719 Yes, okay, because it's not that bad. 38 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:04.840 Come on, I mean, let's we all have you know 39 00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:07.719 any anybody with animals like dogs? Like? 40 00:02:07.799 --> 00:02:10.719 Come on for yes, there it is okay. 41 00:02:11.479 --> 00:02:14.599 And by the way, I could have gone on and 42 00:02:14.639 --> 00:02:18.039 done a more lengthy thing, but I was I was 43 00:02:18.080 --> 00:02:20.479 holding back because it's a it's anyway. 44 00:02:20.680 --> 00:02:23.680 Yes, that was a quick one. I was driving in 45 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:26.400 today and just as I was pulling in the parking lot, 46 00:02:26.479 --> 00:02:28.479 there was a Subaru in front of me. Yes, they 47 00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:31.000 had a great, big but bigfoot sticker on the back. 48 00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:31.159 Of the. 49 00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:34.800 One another one? 50 00:02:34.960 --> 00:02:42.479 Okay, so quick to see podcast. Uh, if pirates ever 51 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:47.319 hijacked the Bible guys podcasts, they would replace me with 52 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:49.479 they replaced Jeff with. 53 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:58.639 Blackbeard? Why, and they would replace me with Johnny Depp? 54 00:02:59.080 --> 00:03:04.080 Okay? Why? Well because why would that make for a 55 00:03:04.120 --> 00:03:05.800 more compelling podcast? 56 00:03:06.520 --> 00:03:09.759 Well it wouldn't because who could be more compelling than 57 00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:10.520 the original Bible? 58 00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:11.039 Well there you go. 59 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:15.479 Okay, but the but the but the scenario was if 60 00:03:15.560 --> 00:03:18.840 they hijacked the Bible guys, who they replaced him with? 61 00:03:18.840 --> 00:03:21.719 And I'm just picking with two people, black Beard and Johnny. 62 00:03:21.879 --> 00:03:24.120 Yeah, black Beard. Actually I've read a lot of Bye 63 00:03:24.120 --> 00:03:28.800 black Beard, and he was this big, huge guy who 64 00:03:29.319 --> 00:03:32.080 nobody could defeat. So I gave you a pretty big confidence. 65 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:32.319 Okay. 66 00:03:32.840 --> 00:03:36.360 And Johnny Depp is more along the lines of like 67 00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:41.319 Hollywood big pirate, Hollywood Hollywood guy, a handsome guy. Well, yeah, 68 00:03:41.319 --> 00:03:43.319 he's definitely is handsome. So that lines up. 69 00:03:43.479 --> 00:03:47.840 Okay, sure, sure, okay, that all wines up. So I 70 00:03:47.840 --> 00:03:50.400 saw a thing that said that it was a black 71 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:53.919 Beard that used to put gumpowder in his beard. Yes, yes, 72 00:03:53.960 --> 00:03:55.199 that was just kind of crazy guy. 73 00:03:55.319 --> 00:03:56.599 Yeah, he he was sort of crazy. 74 00:03:56.719 --> 00:03:59.800 Okay. Well, hey, there's two of them pirates in a bigfoot. 75 00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:02.159 Yeah, well we get formally. 76 00:04:02.759 --> 00:04:04.240 Oh gee, I don't have another one. 77 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:06.000 Just start anything, any sentence at all, go. 78 00:04:06.319 --> 00:04:07.800 Okay, any sense? 79 00:04:07.879 --> 00:04:08.599 It could be normal. 80 00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:13.159 The reason I look like this is am I speaking 81 00:04:13.199 --> 00:04:15.520 about you? Oh yeah, yeah, I started your sentence. 82 00:04:15.560 --> 00:04:16.480 Okay, so say it again. 83 00:04:16.680 --> 00:04:19.439 So the reason I look like this is I had. 84 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:24.120 The blessing of my parents awesome genetics. 85 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:24.839 Oh is that it? 86 00:04:25.079 --> 00:04:25.279 Yes? 87 00:04:25.480 --> 00:04:25.839 Is that it? 88 00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:29.040 Well? What else am I going to say about me? 89 00:04:30.399 --> 00:04:32.839 You set me up to say something? I gotta say 90 00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:33.480 something like that? 91 00:04:33.800 --> 00:04:37.680 Okay. Well, it's the humility, Chris. It's your humility that 92 00:04:37.800 --> 00:04:38.800 just makes everybody love. 93 00:04:38.839 --> 00:04:41.399 Well. I don't know if you've heard, but nobody is 94 00:04:41.399 --> 00:04:42.480 as good as humility is me. 95 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:45.160 Yeah. Yeah, you're just about the best. I'm the most humblest. 96 00:04:45.480 --> 00:04:45.839 Yes. 97 00:04:46.199 --> 00:04:49.680 Yeah, well, speaking of things we need to repent of. 98 00:04:51.079 --> 00:04:54.240 Wow, wow, I'm not sure we've ever had a transition 99 00:04:54.399 --> 00:04:58.480 like that. It's like a transition slam no no. 100 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:03.120 So today we are in Second Chronicles, chapter uh six 101 00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:06.480 and seven, and these are some of my favorite passages. 102 00:05:06.519 --> 00:05:10.000 Oh stop, stop, that's going to become a running. 103 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:12.240 Joke now, Chris accuses me every time we read a 104 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:14.680 passage that I always say, this is my favorite passage. 105 00:05:14.680 --> 00:05:17.439 Well, and I mentioned this before, uh, and I think, 106 00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:19.120 did I say this on stage? I didn't say this 107 00:05:19.160 --> 00:05:22.240 on the podcast. I said this on stage, didn't I? Yeah? 108 00:05:22.360 --> 00:05:24.480 So Jeff and I taught recently on stage and he 109 00:05:24.519 --> 00:05:26.879 had said, oh, this is one of my favorite verses. 110 00:05:27.399 --> 00:05:29.879 And I said, okay, or no, I did say this 111 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:32.240 on the podcast. It doesn't matter, but I said, I 112 00:05:32.680 --> 00:05:35.879 started to take note every time you thought, hey, this 113 00:05:35.959 --> 00:05:38.040 is my favorite passage. I oh, okay, well I need 114 00:05:38.040 --> 00:05:42.240 to remember that this is Jeff's favorite page. Yeah, And 115 00:05:42.279 --> 00:05:43.680 then you would say it again. I'm like, oh, he 116 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:46.319 likes these two things. And then you said it again. 117 00:05:46.360 --> 00:05:49.360 I'm like, oh, these are his three favorite. Now it's 118 00:05:49.399 --> 00:05:52.600 like every Bible verse that is in the Bible is 119 00:05:52.600 --> 00:05:53.120 your favorite. 120 00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:55.399 I love the words. So I'm like, I love the Bible. 121 00:05:55.480 --> 00:05:56.879 This is now a meaningless comment. 122 00:05:57.680 --> 00:05:59.879 It's not meaningless. I love it. 123 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:02.600 That's like saying, do you ever see jingle all the 124 00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:05.120 way with arn a sour snagger. Yes, where he goes, 125 00:06:05.319 --> 00:06:08.519 remember you'll buy number one customer, and he says it 126 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:10.480 to everybody and then he got out the pub with 127 00:06:10.519 --> 00:06:12.480 his wife and he says, remember you my number one 128 00:06:12.519 --> 00:06:16.240 custom one and she's like, oh yeah. 129 00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:20.199 So this segment here Second Chronicles, the early chapters of 130 00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:23.519 Second Chronicles, Solomon has built the temple. 131 00:06:23.920 --> 00:06:25.160 Put that cookie down. 132 00:06:26.360 --> 00:06:30.160 That's another good thing. Good quote. Yeah, that it doesn't 133 00:06:30.160 --> 00:06:32.680 happen in this passage. No, it's still on the movie. 134 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:35.519 Yeah, okay, oh I just have we moved on? 135 00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:39.120 Yeah, I moved into Second Okay, where Solomon has built this. Sorry, 136 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:41.480 Solomon has built the temple, is what he just said. 137 00:06:42.439 --> 00:06:47.959 And so the first permanent temple in Jerusalem. 138 00:06:48.040 --> 00:06:50.279 Yeah. And by the way, can I just interject and 139 00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:54.639 say I sort of was reminded when we went through David. 140 00:06:54.680 --> 00:06:55.560 Member, Yes, we. 141 00:06:55.519 --> 00:06:59.040 Went through the Old Testament, and uh, David wanted to 142 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:01.439 build the temple, but said, your hands are too bloody, 143 00:07:01.480 --> 00:07:04.079 remember yes, And he said, you know you're a warrior, 144 00:07:04.120 --> 00:07:07.199 who is you know? Your assignment was to take care 145 00:07:07.240 --> 00:07:09.560 of all the enemies that blasphemed against me, And so 146 00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:13.000 we're gonna let Solomon do it because his hands aren't bloody. 147 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:17.560 And so Solomon was given this responsibility by God. Right anyway, sorry, 148 00:07:17.560 --> 00:07:18.199 go ahead. 149 00:07:18.199 --> 00:07:23.800 So I'm asking Chett Gbt how expensive was Solomon's temple? 150 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:25.399 Oh? My word, are you kidding me? 151 00:07:25.879 --> 00:07:26.560 It was billions? 152 00:07:26.600 --> 00:07:30.639 Me in the billions, It was billions. I mean, didn't 153 00:07:30.680 --> 00:07:33.079 Solomon just give a billion of his own money? It 154 00:07:33.160 --> 00:07:34.839 was over a billion dollars just of his own money. 155 00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:37.439 Yeah. So it says it took seven years to complete, 156 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:41.480 involve tens of thousands of workers, was covered with enormous 157 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:46.160 amounts of gold, silver, cedar, and precious stones. It mentions 158 00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:49.920 one hundred thousand talents of gold and a million talents 159 00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:53.480 of silver plus bronze, iron, timber stone in abundance. A 160 00:07:53.519 --> 00:07:57.399 talent is about seventy five pounds, so it's about seven 161 00:07:57.399 --> 00:08:00.560 and a half million pounds of gold word, which would 162 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:03.199 in today's gold prices, that's over two hundred and ninety 163 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:07.920 billion dollars worth of gold. Oh, a million talents of silver. 164 00:08:07.959 --> 00:08:11.279 At seventy five million pounds of silver, it would be 165 00:08:11.319 --> 00:08:15.800 about thirty five billion dollars worth of silver, so Solomon's 166 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:19.839 Some would suggest that Solomon's temple would have cost three 167 00:08:19.959 --> 00:08:23.319 hundred to five hundred billion dollars in today's money, and 168 00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:26.120 some estimates push it over a trillion dollars it's most 169 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:28.040 expensive building ever created. 170 00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:29.439 Ever created in the history of the world. 171 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:33.120 Yeah right. And by the way, that's a level budget expensive. 172 00:08:33.639 --> 00:08:36.960 Yeah, that's what that's what it says. 173 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:41.279 Yeah, so it may have been the most expensive building 174 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:42.440 project in human history. 175 00:08:42.919 --> 00:08:46.399 So it's no wonder excuse me, we and when we 176 00:08:46.440 --> 00:08:48.919 go to Israel, and if you've and you've been there 177 00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:51.399 at the western wall, yes, uh so the western wall 178 00:08:51.519 --> 00:08:55.320 is the only remnant of the entire temple. 179 00:08:55.639 --> 00:08:57.960 Correct, that's right. We have the temple mount is where 180 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:01.360 alacksa mosque sits. Okay, but this western wall is the 181 00:09:01.399 --> 00:09:04.960 only only piece of the remaining piece of the temple 182 00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:09.360 that the is that her the Israelites are able to touch. 183 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:12.679 Was that was that Solomon's temple the western wall or 184 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:13.480 is that Harrod's temple? 185 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:17.639 The western wall is Herod? Is Solomon's temple the bottom 186 00:09:17.720 --> 00:09:19.360 stones and then Herod built on top. 187 00:09:19.639 --> 00:09:23.399 That's what it was. Yeah, okay, So so anyway, uh, 188 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:25.480 It's all I was going to say is there's no 189 00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:29.879 it's no wonder why that temple was pillaged. Oh, it's 190 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:33.120 wonder why it was stripped there, Yes, right, I mean 191 00:09:33.159 --> 00:09:36.320 two hundred and ninety billion dollars just in gold, right, 192 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:38.960 that is corazy magnificent. 193 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:42.399 So so when when we describe Solomon being one of 194 00:09:42.440 --> 00:09:44.279 the wealthiest people that have ever lived. 195 00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:46.080 Correct, is this weekend, by the way? 196 00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:50.200 Yeah, and and just just incredible. So this space is amazing. 197 00:09:50.279 --> 00:09:54.039 And Solomon gave billions upon billions upon billions of his 198 00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:56.799 own wealth, and David gave billions of his own wealth. 199 00:09:56.840 --> 00:09:59.159 And then the people gave billions of their own wealth. 200 00:09:59.159 --> 00:10:00.960 And they said, we want to make a permanent home 201 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:04.840 for God, and so they build this temple. And then 202 00:10:04.919 --> 00:10:09.519 Solomon praise and he says, listen, I know you are everywhere, 203 00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:11.840 and you don't have to confine yourself to one place, 204 00:10:12.200 --> 00:10:15.159 but this is where we are saying. We are honoring 205 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:18.440 you in this place. And so then in chapter five 206 00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:23.440 I love this. It says the trumpeters were singing, and 207 00:10:23.519 --> 00:10:26.720 the singers were performing together in unison to praise and 208 00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:31.279 give thanks to the Lord all of the Levites, who 209 00:10:31.279 --> 00:10:33.720 were dressed in fine Linden robes, and they stood at 210 00:10:33.720 --> 00:10:36.840 the east altar. They were playing cymbals and leers and harps, 211 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:39.000 and they were joined by one hundred and twenty priests 212 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:41.960 who were playing trumpets. This is quite the orchestra. Yeah, 213 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:44.360 and they're going nuts, and the singers are praising, and 214 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:46.759 they raise their voices and praise the Lord with these words. 215 00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:50.919 He is good, his faithful love endures forever. And then 216 00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:53.440 the Bible says, at that moment, a thick cloud filled 217 00:10:53.480 --> 00:10:56.120 the temple of the Lord. The priests could not continue 218 00:10:56.120 --> 00:10:58.799 their service because of the cloud. For the glorious presence 219 00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:01.720 of the Lord filled the temple of God. So for 220 00:11:01.720 --> 00:11:04.240 a guy who thinks the movies, yes, can you imagine, Yes, 221 00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:07.960 there's so powerful. Another translation says, the priests actually all 222 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:11.480 fell to their knees. They couldn't continue to stand in 223 00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:13.960 the presence of God. Right, So yeah, that then Solomon 224 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:17.279 comes out. There's a big platform and that he built 225 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:20.200 in the temple, the outer court of the temple, and 226 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:22.200 he gets up on that platform and he bows down 227 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:24.279 on his knees. Here's the most powerful king in the 228 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:26.720 world at the time, bows down on his knees and 229 00:11:26.759 --> 00:11:30.320 he begins to pray, and he says, God, we're dedicating 230 00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:32.639 this to you, and we are thrilled to do so. 231 00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:36.120 And would you honor our prayers when we turn to 232 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:37.960 you in this place? Would you honor our prayers? And 233 00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:39.799 then he acknowledges sometimes we're going to sin. He At 234 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:41.919 one point, he says, and who doesn't sin? He says 235 00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:44.360 that in here right. So at points we're going to sin, 236 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:47.200 and your judgment is going to come. And when we repent, 237 00:11:47.320 --> 00:11:49.679 we turn back to you God. Would you hear our prayers? 238 00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:52.000 Would you write? Would you hear us? And so then 239 00:11:52.039 --> 00:11:54.679 if you look in chapter six, verse twenty what is it? 240 00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:58.399 Twenty four twenty four, he says, if your people Israel 241 00:11:58.440 --> 00:12:00.720 are defeated by their enemies because they've sinned against you, 242 00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:03.879 and if they turn their back and knowledge your name 243 00:12:04.039 --> 00:12:07.039 and pray to you here in this temple, then hear 244 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:09.200 from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel, 245 00:12:09.559 --> 00:12:11.799 and return them to this land you gave to them 246 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:14.039 and to their ancestors. If the skies are shut up 247 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:16.320 and there's no rain because your people have sinned against you, 248 00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:18.679 and if they pray toward this temple and acknowledge your 249 00:12:18.759 --> 00:12:21.600 name and turn from their sins because you have punished them, 250 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:24.360 then hear from heaven and forgive their sins of your servants, 251 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:26.799 your people Israel, and teach them to follow the right path, 252 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:29.120 and send rain on your land. That you have given 253 00:12:29.159 --> 00:12:31.320 to your people as their special possession. And if there's 254 00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:33.639 a famine in the land, or a plague or crop disease, 255 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:36.159 or attacks the locusts or caterpillars, or if your people's 256 00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:39.120 enemies are in the land besieging their towns, whatever disaster 257 00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:41.960 disease there is. And if your people Israel, pray about 258 00:12:41.960 --> 00:12:45.159 their troubles and sorrows, raising their hands toward this temple, 259 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:48.399 then hear from heaven where you live, and forgive, give 260 00:12:48.440 --> 00:12:51.279 your people what their actions deserve, for you alone know 261 00:12:51.320 --> 00:12:54.080 each human heart. Then then they will fear you and 262 00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:56.360 walk in your ways as long as they live in 263 00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:59.200 the land you gave to their ancestors. Is that where 264 00:12:59.240 --> 00:13:03.000 we end on that one? Keep going up through thirty one, Yeah. 265 00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:05.360 And then we're skipping over to second chronicles seven. 266 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:10.879 Right, So then he continues praying like that, if we 267 00:13:10.919 --> 00:13:13.240 sin against you, God, would you hear our prayers? And 268 00:13:13.320 --> 00:13:16.639 then when he finishes, the Bible says in seven verse one, 269 00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:19.480 it says, when Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from 270 00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:21.720 heaven and burned up the burn offerings and sacrifice. The 271 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:24.200 glorious presence of the Lord filled the temple. How cool. 272 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:25.399 This is quite the event. 273 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:26.600 Yea, quite the event. 274 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:29.679 Here's the most expensive building ever built in human history, 275 00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:34.200 and God's showing up. Yes, yes, right. So they're in 276 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:36.000 the glory of the Lord. The presence of the Lord 277 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:39.399 filled the temple. And when all the people of Israel 278 00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:42.320 saw the fire coming down, the glorious presence the Lord 279 00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:44.000 filling the temple, they fell face down on the ground 280 00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:45.799 and worship or praise the Lord, saying he is good, 281 00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:48.600 his faithful love endures forever. Then they do a bunch 282 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:52.080 of sacrifices, thousands and thousands of sacrifices, and so the 283 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:54.679 Bible says in verse eleven of chapter seven. So Solomon 284 00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:56.600 finished the Temple of the Lord as well as the 285 00:13:56.679 --> 00:13:59.000 royal Palace, and he completed everything he'd planned to do 286 00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:01.120 in the construction of the temple and the palace. And 287 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:03.639 then one night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said, 288 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:06.279 I have heard your prayer and have chosen this temple 289 00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:09.480 is the place for making sacrifices. At times, I might 290 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:12.240 shot up to heavens so that no rainfalls or command 291 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:15.600 grasshoppers or devour crops, or send plagues among you. And 292 00:14:15.639 --> 00:14:18.600 he's talking about because of the sins that Solomon admitted, 293 00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:22.279 they'll probably commit, right, He says, then, so if this 294 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:26.039 judgment is coming, then if my people who are called 295 00:14:26.039 --> 00:14:29.840 by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek 296 00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:32.759 my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will 297 00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:35.879 hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore 298 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:38.360 their land. My eyes will be open and my ears 299 00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:41.639 attended to every prayer made in this place, for I 300 00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:45.000 have chosen this temple and set it apart to be holy, 301 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:47.000 a place where my name will be honored forever. I 302 00:14:47.039 --> 00:14:48.720 will always watch over it, for it is dear to 303 00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:53.200 my heart. Wow, it's amazing. 304 00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:57.480 Yeah, it's amazing. So I want to go back to 305 00:14:58.039 --> 00:15:02.240 Solomon's original prayer. Let's talk about chapter six first. So 306 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:05.279 Solomon is praying, and just like you said, he's admitting 307 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:08.639 all of these things. There's a note in my Bible, 308 00:15:08.679 --> 00:15:13.000 the Transformation Study Bible, and it actually says this. It 309 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:20.039 says in his dedicatory prayer, Yes, Solomon mentioned seven circumstances 310 00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:23.200 that he knew would arise it might cause offense to God. 311 00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:26.080 He asked God to hear from heaven respond with mercy 312 00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:29.679 to those who approached him at the temple if they colon, 313 00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:33.639 and then it lists the seven things. If they number one, 314 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:36.679 had wronged another person Verses twenty two and twenty three. 315 00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:39.519 If they had suffered defeat from enemies, if they had 316 00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:42.360 experienced drought, if they had been struck by their own 317 00:15:42.440 --> 00:15:45.639 natural disasters, or they were sincere seekers of other nations, 318 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:48.720 if they were preparing for war, or if they had 319 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:53.039 sinned against God in any way that had led to captivity. 320 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:56.600 It says Solomon recognized, as we should the more often 321 00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:59.039 than not, that we should approach God with sinful offenses 322 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:02.080 in our lives. But rather than this fact causing him 323 00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:04.000 to turn away and shame and guilt, it ought to 324 00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:06.799 cause us to run toward God with hope and mercy. 325 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:12.120 Solomon anticipated the words of the writer of Hebrews. I 326 00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:14.840 don't know if that's true, but it's the same concept, 327 00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:18.279 I guess. So let us come boldly to the throne 328 00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:22.120 of our gracious God. Then we receive his mercy, and 329 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:24.559 we will find grace to help us when we need 330 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:28.519 it most Hebrews four sixteen. So I don't know. This 331 00:16:28.919 --> 00:16:29.440 pretty cool? 332 00:16:29.559 --> 00:16:32.039 Yeah, well, I think it's interesting Verse thirty six. In 333 00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:35.919 chapter six, he says, if they sin against you, and 334 00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:39.639 who has never sinned what he says, you might become 335 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:41.600 angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and 336 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:44.279 take them captive to foreign land for our away. But 337 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:46.519 he said, in that land of exile, they might turn 338 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:49.360 to you and repentance and pray, we've sinned, done evil 339 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:51.360 and acted wickedly. And if they turn to you with 340 00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:52.919 their whole heart and soul in the land of their 341 00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:56.039 captivity and pray toward you, to the land you gave 342 00:16:56.080 --> 00:17:00.240 their ancestors, then hear their prayers and their petition from 343 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:03.240 heaven where you live, and uphold your cause for your 344 00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:05.440 people who have sinned against you. I love that right. 345 00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:09.000 So this is his prayers. God, listen, we're going to 346 00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:12.039 mess up. And there takes a certain amount of humility 347 00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:15.440 for a king this powerful to admit, Hey, we're likely 348 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:18.039 to mess up. He's not saying it's okay that we're 349 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:20.400 messing up. God, if you have to bring judgment against 350 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:24.400 us because we've sinned so deeply, we understand. And then 351 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:29.160 just hear us. When you finally get our attention and 352 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:32.079 we turn to you, don't turn your back ons right, 353 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:34.319 and we're going to trust you that you're going to 354 00:17:34.359 --> 00:17:36.559 hear from us, and that you're going to hear us, 355 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:39.400 and that you're going to forgive us. And then God says, listen, 356 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:41.680 if my people who are called by my name will 357 00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:44.799 humble themselves and pray and seek my face turn from 358 00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:48.279 their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven? Right? 359 00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:52.319 And he says, and I will forgive your sins and 360 00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:54.319 restore your land. And I think about that a lot. 361 00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:57.720 I think, you know, this idea of praying on behalf 362 00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:59.480 of our nation I think is really important. 363 00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:02.960 Yeah, you just that verse on Sunday. Yeah, yeah, about Sunday. 364 00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:05.640 And so sometimes we can get frustrated thinking, you know, 365 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:08.200 the answer to solving all the problems in our nation 366 00:18:08.680 --> 00:18:11.799 is to get bad people to be better people. Right, 367 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:13.839 if we could get the enemies of God to be 368 00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:17.319 good people. And God says, listen, if my people who 369 00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:20.119 are called by my name right will humble themselves, So 370 00:18:20.279 --> 00:18:23.240 first requires those who claim to be followers of God 371 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:25.480 that we have to humble ourselves, and we have to 372 00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:27.720 confess our sins, and we have to decide we're going 373 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:29.920 to turn from our wicked ways instead of always pointing 374 00:18:29.960 --> 00:18:31.759 fingers that everybody else and all the things that everybody 375 00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:34.960 else needs to change. Like the Pharisee did when he 376 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:37.319 was praying and the text collector was standing next to him, 377 00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:38.920 he was willing to point out that other guy's sins 378 00:18:38.920 --> 00:18:41.119 because he feels like he's pretty good at least I'm 379 00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:43.759 not as bad as that guy, right, right, And God says, 380 00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:46.680 don't be like that. Instead, my people can get my 381 00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:50.319 attention when they humble themselves and they pray, and he says, 382 00:18:50.359 --> 00:18:52.720 that's what I'm going to hear from heaven. I'm going 383 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:55.240 to forgive your sins and I'll heal your land. That's 384 00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:57.960 the beginning of healing for our nation is when God's 385 00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:59.119 people begin the repentance. 386 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:01.960 Yeah, and there's a note here that talks about this 387 00:19:02.119 --> 00:19:04.480 in my Bible as well. For this section, it says, 388 00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:09.440 as he had done at Gibeon in chapter one, God 389 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:12.119 appeared to Solomon and spoke the word that he needed 390 00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:15.319 to hear. He assured the king that he that he 391 00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:17.400 had heard his prayer and that he would answer it. 392 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:20.160 God's eyes would be on the house of Solomon and 393 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:22.480 the house that he built and dedicated, and his ears 394 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:24.400 would be alert to hear the prayers of his people. 395 00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:27.720 The people in their king had dedicated the temple to 396 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:30.400 the Lord, but now God would sanctify it and make 397 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:32.640 it his own. God's name was on the temple, and 398 00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:35.480 God's eyes were watching, and his ears were listening. It 399 00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:37.200 was indeed the house of the Lord. That is not 400 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:42.039 the note that I intended to read. Yeah, the note 401 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:43.799