Missions in the OT: 1 Kings 8:41-43

I love the Old Testament. I'm growing more and more fond of it by the day, it seems. Not that I ever hated it or anything, but as I've been pretty aggressively reading through the Scriptures again and outlining each book, the Spirit is awakening me to just how much we need the OT.

In 1 Kings 8, just after Solomon built the Temple and brought the Ark of the Covenant up to the Most Holy Place, he prays a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God. In the midst of the prayer, as he prays for the people of Israel, Solomon prays this:

Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for your name's sake (for they shall hear of your great name and your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house, hear in heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name.

In the OT, God had the same plan that He has now (we're in NT times, by the way). As the King and Creator of the earth, He chose Israel to be His ambassadors, proclaiming the message and kingdom of God to all nations. The goal of Yahweh was never to be a local deity; He was and is King of all the earth and as the nations saw what He did for a small, unlikely band of nomads, they saw that He is "a great God, and a great King above all gods" (Ps. 95:3). The Temple itself, among other things, represented the established kingdom and presence of God, and Solomon here prays for the foreigners who will come to worship, that they may know and fear Yahweh, the true God. We can pray the same thing...except that now, the Temple has been replaced by Christ Himself. The nations don't have to come to a specific location to worship (read John 4); now the ambassadors go to the ends of the earth. Pray that the nations may know and fear our God, the same God that Solomon prayed to, and pray also for His ambassadors who go to the nations.

Our Great High Priest

I'm writing a paper on the English Puritan John Owen and his view of indwelling sin in the lives of believers. In his great (and vast) commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews, I came across this quote from his comment on Hebrews 4:16.

“He is deeply concerned in all our infirmities, sorrows and sufferings. This is attended with an inclination and propensity to relieve us, according to the rule, measure, and tenor of the covenant; and herewithal, during the time of our trials, he hath a real motion of affections in his holy nature, which he received or took on him for that very end and purpose.”

Jesus, our Great High Priest, is concerned about us in our weaknesses and does not leave us alone, but has sent His Spirit to all of His own.