Rainbows and Promises

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. 1 Kings 8:56 ESV

The Temple had been completed.  The Ark of the Covenant had been placed in the Holy of Holies, and Solomon’s generation had just witnessed the visible manifestation of the presence of the Lord as Scripture records that “the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD” (1 Kings 8:11).

This might well be considered the most blessed generation to this point in history.  The Children of Israel were living in the Promised Land.  It was theirs!  They were quite a few generations removed from the days of slavery in Egypt.  These folks had not wandered in the wilderness.  There may have been a few of the elderly remaining who had seen giants during the days of Saul and David, but by and large, these were people who were experiencing days of peace and abundance.

All that these men, women, and children knew of God was what they had been told.  They had not followed pillars of fire and cloud.  They had not gone to battle to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan to claim their inheritance.  It had been passed down to them through their fathers.

While they may not have been the generation that had done the hard work, they were the ones enjoying the benefits.  God had given them rest!

And on this day, at the dedication of the Temple, they saw the Lord.

As we continue to read through Kings and Chronicles, it will quickly become clear that these people did not understand or appreciate the opportunity that had been afforded them.  The people will reject God.  The leaders will reject God.  Ultimately, this beautiful temple will be torn down, and the people will be taken captive again.

Still, 1 Kings 8:56 gives us a beautiful snapshot of the ways of the Lord.  

• God speaks through His servants down through history.  Solomon never met Moses or heard him speak.  But Solomon had been told what God had said through Moses, and Solomon believed.
• God does not want His people to always have to strive and labor and fight.  He desires to give them rest and peace.
• God keeps His promises.  

This third point has been on my mind in particular these past few weeks.  

While the world around us has gone stark-raving-mad in celebrating particular sins, the culture’s choice of symbol is entirely different from what they would claim.

Initially, as I walked around places of business and scrolled the internet, I allowed myself to be annoyed and disgusted at the rainbows that seemed to be everywhere.  But the Lord spoke a simple reminder to my heart - the rainbow is His.  He created it.  He did it so that whenever we see it, we would remember His promise.  

God keeps His promises.

In a world where so much is changing and unstable, that is a sure thing.  He is unwavering and totally reliable.

And so, as we continue through this month that has been geared toward celebrating sin, let each rainbow point you back to the promises of God.  

God keeps His promises!  That’s something that really is worth celebrating, not just this month, but always.

…Just a thought…