A Thousand Burnt Offerings At Gibeon ♡♡♡

 

"Now Solomon loved the Lord, walking at first in the statutes of David his father, except [for the fact that] he sacrificed and burned incense in the high places [ignoring the law that required all sacrifices to be offered at the tabernacle]. The king went to Gibeon [near Jerusalem, where the tabernacle and the bronze altar stood] to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, "Ask [Me] what I shall give you." - 1 Kings 3:3-5

When I read this portion of scripture, I was taken aback by what was said of Solomon. Scripture says that he loved the Lord, but there was an exception. He went against the law of the Lord sacrificing and burning incense in high places. Infact he was ignoring the law. Meanwhile all sacrifices were to be offered at the tabernacle. --------. Solomon loved the Lord, but he was not a perfect man either. I could relate with this one liner for sure.

When I take a moment to reflect on my own life, there are areas in my walk with God, that I can sometimes get frustrated and hard on myself about. I could relate with the "inadequacy" and the inability to measure up, as described by scripture here. Solomon, loved the Lord, but he was found wanting in some areas too. What followed after was just as intriguing;

"The king went to Gibeon [near Jerusalem, where the tabernacle and the bronze altar stood] to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, "Ask [Me] what I shall give you" - 1 Kings 3: 5

God saw Solomon's inadequacies, yet he'd still be moved by Solomon's thousand burnt offerings at the high place at Gibeon ----> "ask me anything you want?" - why? - Ya question of the day...... because we know that God is not moved by burnt offerings as much as he is moved by our obedience. I mean he owns a cattle on a thousand hills.

"And Samuel said, "Hath the Lord great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams" - 1 Samuel 15:22

Indeed with God, Obedience is better than sacrifice. I also believe however, that there is so much more that God sees in a man, beyond what they do. That piece of information in scripture was just as important to us,  as the sharing of Solomon's inadequacies. "Now Solomon loved the Lord". I mean, we see Solomon's reverent heart, when he makes his request. He asks for wisdom to reign and live justly [1st Kings 3: 6-8]. That was very impressive to God, he gave him so much more.

Is this a post, that's set out to encourage disobedience? of course not. It's a post that's encouraging God lovers that they won't always be perfect, although the goal is for us to continue in our transformation of becoming more and more like Christ, one day at a time.

So here is an encouragement to you God lover who feels inadequate; unable to measure up, frustrated at your shortfalls and all that keeps you "excepting yourself" every now and again.. God can meet you right at that very place still. 

                           Don't shrink back. Don't give up.  Humble out and worship there still

Love

Shay!