Words of Wisdom: Tolerance Is Not Allowed
Words of Encouragement:
We have been taught by the world that “tolerance” is a good thing. We have come to understand that we must be willing to give and take or to compromise for the overall good of those with whom we live, work, or play. It is through compromise that Satan moves in our hearts to distort our views of right and wrong and ultimately offers us a “new” form of righteousness that is not of God. God has taught me that His ways are not negotiable. He is not democratic. And more to the point, He is NOT tolerant of sin! This is not to say that we will not make mistakes. We will, and we do. However, we must come before God with a truly repentant heart and seek forgiveness from the Lord. He will not listen to our spoken words, but will look into our hearts for our true intent instead. There He will find the truth! With this truth, if we are indeed truly repentant, He washes away the stains of our sins and continues to grant us access to His presence.
As you read and “pray the scriptures” below as you have been taught by me…look for the words of truth spoken by God to King Solomon. He loved him unconditionally, BUT He was clear with His expectations of him and all the people of Israel. God refused to tolerate sin or disobedience. He does not want or need our false prayers and sacrifices without us giving Him total access to our hearts. He does not need us to partially dedicate our lives to Him…He wants ALL of our hearts! He does not need our songs of praise…He wants ALL of our hearts!
Scripture for Consecration:
After King Solomon had completed the building of the Temple for God, look at what the people and God did. (vs 1-11).
God’s Reaction to Solomon’s prayer after the dedication of the temple. God will NOT be mocked and is an ALL consuming Fire as verified by the scriptures below:
1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. 2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house. 3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. 4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord. 5 And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 6 And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the Lord, which David the king had made to praise the Lord, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood. 7 Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat. 8 Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt. 9 And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. 10 And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the Lord had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people. 11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord, and the king’s house: and all that came into Solomon’s heart to make in the house of the Lord, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.
God knew the heart of the people and He then made sure King Solomon understood. He explained that He had indeed heard the great prayer offered by King Solomon and saw the many sacrifices offered for the establishment of the new temple that was built for the Lord. BUT, He still made it plain that He was NOT tolerant of sin! The promises of God are true, but there are conditions to be met. O LORD, have mercy on our souls. Be wise in your reading and understanding of these scriptures.
God appears to Solomon and gives him some conditional promises
12 And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. 13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. 17 And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; 18 Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel 19 But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; 20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. 21 And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and unto this house? 22 And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them. (2 Chron 7:1-22)