While our lunchcasting boys are making their way through Romans I have been having a delve back into the old testament and into 1 Kings. The book starts by telling of the end of King David’s reign, the attempted coup by Adonijah and the start of King Solomon’s rule.

One thing struck me as I was reading through chapter 3 and that was Gods ability to show His power and glory through humans who are much less than perfect. Chapter 3 is probably more widely known because this is where Solomon asks for wisdom and the Lord gives it to him - and in abundance. However, it is interesting to me what is said just before in verses 2 and 3:

The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the LORD. Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

When the Israelites entered Canaan there was much idol worship going on - and much of this was being done on pagan altars built in high places. Now the Mosaic law commanded that pagan altars be destroyed and so using them for worship to the Lord was definitely not on. However, God chose to completely overlook this when Solomon made his request for wisdom and gave it to Him anyway.

I guess it always amazes me when God chooses to give great gifts to people that haven’t quite got things all sorted out. Verse 3 states that Solomon “showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the statutes of his father David” - and even though he had overlooked the altar business, God saw His heart and blessed him for it.

Now I am not saying that we don’t have to worry about anything because God will overlook it - not at all. I am merely encouraged that with hearts that chase after God alone, even though we may not get things right 100% of the time God is still able to show His glory and see His will done. God calls us to pursue a life of holiness, and we should do that persistently. However, mistakes along the way do not render us useless in Gods Kingdom.