Scripture: The word of the Lord came to Solomon: “As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, carry out my regulations and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father. And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel.” 1 Kings 6:11-13 NIV
Observation: God speaks clearly to Solomon about fulfilling the promise he gave to David, to always live among Israel.
Application: In reading this passage today I see a foreshadowing of what the Lord knew would come to pass, “…if you follow my decrees, carry out my regulations and keep all my commands and obey them…” I believe that the nation of Israel was destined to fail the Lord, once again, so that salvation could come to all people. Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” Romans 1:16 NIV I’m going to be selfish here; I’m glad that the Israelites made it possible for me to become one of God’s chosen people. It would be great if we had it within ourselves to honor God and never fail him, but we don’t so God sent Jesus for the sake of us all.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I’m sorry to be so selfish that I am happy for the failure of an entire nation, but Lord because of that failure I got to be grafted into your family. Thank you for sending Jesus to make that possible for me and all believers. Thank you in Jesus’ name. Amen
Doug
Instructions For Life According to Jesus Christ 
I also say thank you Father that you sent Jesus!!
And thank you Doug for the post and the prayer!
Jan
Just a quick thought without out too much thought…I do not believe that Israel had to fail in order for salvation to be offered to the gentiles. Just consider how the gospel spread through the Jews who did receive the gospel. How much greater it could have spread if they all would have received the Good News that Jesus was their Messiah. 🙂
Have a read of Ephesians 2:11-22 – this explains that it’s not a question of Gentiles replacing Israel in the plan of Salvation, but that Gentiles and Israel are joined together and in their place is made just one Israel. Israel has not failed or suffered, although it is true to say that many ethnic Jews rejected and still reject Jesus. Israel is the people of God, and you and I are both part of Israel, which is one body in Christ himself including both Jew and Gentile, that same Israel of the Old Testament.