Living in the Spirit
August 20, 2018
Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11), 22-30, 41-43
Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands to heaven. He said, ‘O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart, the covenant that you kept for your servant my father David as you declared to him; you promised with your mouth and have this day fulfilled with your hand. Therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, keep for your servant my father David that which you promised him, saying, “There shall never fail you a successor before me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children look to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.” Therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you promised to your servant my father David. –1 Kings 22-26
God is working his purpose out* is a 19th-century hymn that we do not sing much anymore if at all. I do not know if it is even in our current hymnal. It has a slow, plodding accompaniment that many today would find boring. Even the plodding music has a message. I have my own rendition of the title. I think it should read: God is working God’s purpose out whether we are a part of the process or not. Solomon’s prayer above stipulates God’s promise to God’s followers: “There shall never fail you a successor before me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children look to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.” (Emphasis Added)
God is working his purpose out,
as year succeeds to year,
God is working his purpose out,
and the time is drawing near;
nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea. (Verse 1)
We live in a world where we take far too much for granted because we perceive ourselves as privileged. God’s promise is made to all God’s children and we are called by God to assure that all God’s children experience God’s grace whether it relates to the necessities of life, security, or shalom.
What can we do to work God’s work,
to prosper and increase
the love of God in all mankind,
the reign of the Prince of peace?
What can we do to hasten the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea? (Verse 3)
Prayer: God, help us see past our privilege and see and enable the release of the untapped potential of all your children. Amen.
*First and Third verses of God is Working his Purpose out by Arthur Campbell Ainger, see at https://hymnary.org/text/god_is_working_his_purpose_out