“When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin)” 1 Kings 8:46a
At the beginning of Chapter 8, we’re told “Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel…to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the city of David”. You see, the Temple had been finished and this was the day of its dedication. We’re also told that they were “sacrificing so many sheep and oxen they could not be counted or numbered”. It was quite the Celebration! Well, the Ark is placed inside the Temple, the Cloud of God’s Special Presence filled the Holy of Holies, and Solomon offers up a Dedication Prayer.
Today’s Verse is in the midst of his Prayer. It is so short, that you might have even missed it; but oh…, how important it is! Hidden in the midst of this Beautiful Petition is this Theological Gem. It is a brief and concise summary of where Man is in his relationship before a Holy God. It is All Encompassing; No One is exempt. Every Man, Woman, Boy or Girl is included. It also has a Twin Sister in Romans 3:23: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.
But this begs the following questions; do YOU believe it’s true? For You? For Others? By what Standard? What are the Consequences? The Temple provides the Answers! It contained the 10 Commandments, THE Standard, and we have all failed! “The Soul that Sins shall Die” God said. It demanded Blood, so Animal Sacrifices were given instead of us. Until Jesus came! That is why John said “behold the Lamb of God that takes away the Sin of the World”! This is why the Gospel is so Important and why we do what we do!