“Something greater than Solomon is here!” (Jesus; Matt 12.42; NET Bible)

This past Sunday a brother was leading Sunday School through the book of 1Kings 8–Solomon’s prayer of dedication of the Temple. Our time was spent in breaking the prayer up into seven petitions Solomon prayed (all circling around the blessings and curses in Deuteronomy). The seven pieces are as follows:

1. Sin against neighbor (1Ki 8.31-32)
2. Defeat by an army–due to sin (33-34)
3. Heaven’s rain ceases–due to sin (v35-36)
4. Famine & siege by enemy–due to sin (37-40)
5. Welcoming a foreigner (41-43)
6. Victory against enemy (44-45)
7. Captivity–due to sin (46-51)

While we were going through the blessings and curses in Deuteronomy as the foil for this prayer of dedication for the Temple, I couldn’t help but think of Jesus’ own prayer of dedication of his own body (the True Temple). Solomon was well aware that God would not be encased in the Temple he constructed (albeit magnificent). Heaven itself did not set boundaries for the Almighty. “Heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house I have built” (v. 27). All of the hearing that Solomon requests from God is that done with reference to the Temple–the symbol of God’s presence on earth. Forgiveness is granted when someone comes under the stipulations. That is, when someone stops asserting how things ought to be and submits himself to the manner which God has ordained.

We do not come to God with a list of how we think the world should be. We do not come to him thinking that we have the authority to dictate who is right and wrong–justifying our sin and condemning the mis-intentions of others. Rather, we listen FIRST. We listen to the way he has ordained the world to be ordered. We listen to him and how he has revealed himself. How proud we are when we determine what is right and wrong. What we see in this narrative is the responsibility of each person to confess his own sin.

Further, Jesus confessed that his body was the True Temple (Jn 2.19). Our repentance must then be in reference to him–not some mere Higher Power. When we confess our sin without reference to Christ, we denigrate God’s means by which forgiveness is offered. Jesus teaches us that we can go to the Temple of Ba’al and offer sacrifice. We can go to Dionysius’ vineyard and inebriate ourselves with self-righteous religion. But there is no forgiveness there. If you want to receive forgiveness. If you want to be heard, you MUST GO TO JESUS. Like it or not, that is the means he has ordained. Disagree? You need to give an account as to why this is false.

In John 17, Jesus echoes Solomon’s prayer. He has given them the Father’s teaching (vv. 7-8)–namely, that they must come to him for eternal life. We will find no other well that will satisfy us (Jn 4).

HOWEVER, one key difference between Solomon’s prayer of consecration and Jesus’ prayer. The end goal is that God’s people would be with Jesus and the Father. We do not stand afar off from the Temple, but are invited to come in and eat the fellowship offering. We do not drop our sacrificial goat at the door to the Temple only for the Levites to eat. No, we enter into the Holy Place and fellowship with Jesus. It is not a mere forgiveness, but a deep abiding and fellowship that is offered to us…if we will but humble ourselves and enter through the One Door.

Lately there has been some buzz about a graphic that appears to magnify contradictions and inconsistencies in the Bible. Most people who have a proclivity to disregard the Bible will glance at it and wag their heads in approval. The challenge to be thoughtful and not drink the kool-aid comes in the actual looking at the facts that feed the inconsistency graphic.

Hermeneutics is the discipline of reading well. The person who put these verses together did not read well. He is missing the forest for the trees. When I was an atheist, I suffered from epistemological laziness. So does this fellow.

I would direct you to Matt Perman’s post on this issue that will help you in defending the veracity of the Bible. {With a helpful follow-up post on The Opposable Mind}

Also, here is a contrast of the two graphics. The first is the graphic that touts the inconsistencies in the Bible. The second is an answer to the Bible’s consistency.

I would go so far to say that the difference in the attitude of the artists can be contrasted by looking at the graphics. The one on the top is stark and monolithic. This corresponds to a flat reading of Scripture. The one on the bottom is colorful and full of wonder–recognizing the diference in genre and vivid imagery the Bible conveys. This is the way one ought to read the Bible.

First, realize that apparent contradictions are apparent. Augustine challenged his students to bend their minds before they break the Scriptures. When there is something difficult to understand, don’t be quick to assert your finite mind over the Scripture.

Second, recognize the multitude of authors that write. Moses doesn’t write like Paul–however, they complement each other. The gravity of the Law is contrasted with the freedom of the Gospel–complementary. The one Spirit that inspired does not contradict. He paints the same work with many colors on one canvas.

Third, don’t make a prophecy a poem. That is, appreciate the beauty of the Psalms and the poignancy of the Proverbs. Don’t make Revelation chronological like Exodus.

One on John Bunyan in Whitlinsville, MA:

“A John Bunyan Feast”

October 22-23. Joel Beeke and Derek Thomas are the speakers.

The other at Princeton Theological Seminary:

“These Speak of Me: The Glory of Christ in All of Scripture”

November 5-6. David Helm and Kent Hughes will be the speakers at this second conference.