The Maintained Cause

“Now as Solomon finished offering all this prayer and plea to the Lord, he arose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had knelt with hands outstretched toward heaven. And he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying,  ‘Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has failed of all his good promise, which he spoke by Moses his servant. The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us,  that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers. Let these words of mine, with which I have pleaded before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, and may he maintain the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as each day requires, that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other. Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the Lord our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.'” 1 Kings 8:54-61

The blessing of Solomon on God’s people followed and elaborate all-encompassing prayer of dedication of the new temple. Sacrifice and wide offering of petition and will had been made, and now Solomon would leave God’s people with a benediction. What they now saw and what they had been taught would be constant reminders of His greatness. Their cause was caught up in God’s good cause through history and now daily in temple and life service. It was vital they remain wholly true to their First Cause, the Almighty God. (1 Kings 8:22–53)

If the eternal God is First Cause, and maintains His divine, sovereign cause in earth and heaven, man need never worry. We may not know the future, but we can trace His fulfilled promises. We may find many aspects of life unsettled, but know His rest. We may struggle with unforgiveness or impossible relationships, but can believe in His redemption. All He has planned and caused He will continue to completion. We can align our lives with His word and character because they are trustworthy.

What do I daily offer of time, will, and desire to ensure I’m in line with God’s cause? Do I give reluctantly, chafe selfishly, or do my countenance and actions reflect joy and gladness in service? How has the Lord been able to further His cause in my family, neighborhood, church, and workplace through me? Adhering to His word and maintaining His cause is worth every effort and glorifies God. (1 Kings 8:62-66)

“How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in God’s excellent Word!
What more can be said than to you God hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.” ~R. Keen (1878)

Lord, keep me wholly true to You and do all I can to maintain and advance Your cause in my corner of the world.