Tuesday after Reminiscere Sunday

8:37 “When there is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is; 38 whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple: 39 then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men), 40 that they may fear You all the days that they live in the land which You gave to our fathers.

41 “Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for Your name’s sake 42 (for they will hear of Your great name and Your strong hand and Your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this temple, 43 hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.

Today’s reading is from the fourth and fifth petition of Solomon’s dedicatory prayer for the temple (2 Chron. 6:12-42). Solomon is teaching us what kind of God we have. We have a God who hears the prayers of the weak who call upon His name. Being an Israelite or a foreigner doesn’t matter, only faith. Through the designated Savior, Jesus Christ, believing sinners call upon God in the day of trouble. He forgives our sin and delivers us from evil of body and soul.

When the Old Testament describes a believer, it usually refers to him as a God-fearer. Though today we might say that a believer loves God, it is synonymous to say a believer fears God. Verse 43 says, “that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel.” When people fear and love God, they pray to God trusting in Him. God already knows the hearts of all men (vs. 39), but we need to be taught to know our sinful condition. Once we know that God welcomes those who have no strength, then we will reach out to God with our prayers, relying on His strength. God desires our prayers. Solomon assures us of that, saying “when each one knows the plague of his own heart…” (vs. 38) and prays, God will “hear in heaven…and forgive, and act.”

Prayer: O God, who seest that of ourselves we have no strength: Keep us both outwardly and inwardly; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.