God Through the Eyes of Solomon

When speaking of God in the Old Testament we tend to speak only of His judgement, seeing Him as if He were a heavenly enforcer looking for those whom He could condemn. Meanwhile the New Testament is all about love and mercy, a focus how God forgives our sins. But if God was so heavy handed in the OT, why did people like David want to serve Him? In our search to find God we must not overlook the descriptions of those in the OT who knew Him. We need to look at people like Solomon whose prayer at the temple dedication sounded a lot like he was calling on a God of mercy not the OT judge we have become accustomed to seeing.

2 Chronicles 6:12-31

King Solomon fulfilled his father's dream of building a temple for the God of Israel. Upon completion of this rather elaborate construction project God revealed His pleasure by resting His glory upon the building in the form of a cloud. It was then in the presence of the Lord and of the people that Solomon said a prayer of dedication over God's new home.

In his prayer Solomon acknowledges the Supreme Judge, speaking of a future where both individuals and the nation as a whole would suffer as a result of sin. He speaks of the disasters to come to those who turn their backs on the Lord. Solomon knew God as a judge and does not question His judgements. He seems to accept these as a natural consequence of man's fallen state.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Romans 3:23

Like Solomon, the writers of the New Testament saw God as a judge. The verdict received via the inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16) is that all men and women are guilty. The punishment, as decreed from the judgement seat, is far worse than suffering famine or even invasion:

"For the wages of sin is death..."

Romans 6:23

Like it or not the judge seen by Solomon in his day has also judged us today. And just as Solomon, in all his wisdom, accepted God's judgement as right so should we. But we should also recognize that even in the OT Solomon saw much more in God than a judge.

Knowing the people would sin Solomon appeals to God, asking that He would forgive them and restore them when they turn to the Lord in prayer. This was an appeal for God's mercy and grace. Solomon saw God as merciful and had no trouble asking God to forgive sins which had yet to be committed. The wisest man on earth spoke of God in the Old Testament as if he were speaking to the merciful Lord found in the New Testament.

As king of Israel Solomon shared a special relationship with God. He saw God at work in the life of his father and during his own rule as he served during the construction of the temple. What Solomon saw was a judge. At the same time he saw God as merciful. He saw grace. He saw restoration at the hand of the Lord. These would compel him to pray as he did at opening day of God's temple. Solomon's prayer reveals how God looked through his eyes. Do you see the same?