#2005-44
Title: Honor the Lord
Text: I Kings 5:1-7; 6:11-14; 7:51
Truth: People should take actions to honor the Lord (Lifeway).
Aim: to help you honor the Lord.
Life ?: How can we honor the Lord.
INTRODUCTION
It was David slaying the giant Goliath when a 42 year-old black woman on a Montgomery, Alabama city bus refused to give her seat to a white man. It’s been told that Rosa Parks was tired, her feet were swollen and she was sitting on the front seat. She says the truth is she was no more tired than any other day of work, her feet were not swollen and she was sitting on the fifth row of the bus. This was the first row of the “Colored Section.” The famous picture you have seen this week of her sitting at the front of a bus and a white man unperturbed sitting behind her was taken a year after her famous refusal.
In Montgomery blacks were required to pay their fare, a dime, then get off and reboard at the back of the bus. Sometimes the bus drove off before the person got to the back to board. If the white section was full and another white customer entered, blacks were required to give up their seat and move further back; a black person was not even allowed to sit across the aisle from a white person. What made this even more humiliating was that two-thirds of the bus drivers in Montgomery were black.
Most historians date the beginning of the modern civil rights movement in the U.S. as December 1, 1955. That was the day this unknown seamstress bravely and quietly refused to comply with an unjust law. She was arrested and bailed out of jail by Clifford Durr, the lawyer husband of the white lady who employed Rosa Parks as a seamstress. That was on a Thursday. After talking it over with her husband and mother, she agreed to challenge the constitutionality of Montgomery’s segregation laws.
In a midnight meeting of the Women’s Political Council, 35,000 handbills were mimeographed to be distributed to all of the black schools the next morning. The message was simple:
“We are…asking every Negro to stay off the buses Monday in protest of the arrest and trial…You can afford to stay out of school for one day. If you work, take a cab, or walk. But please, children and grownups, don’t ride the bus on Monday at all. Please stay off the buses Monday.”
The boycott lasted 382 days and brought Mrs. Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr. and their cause to the attention of the world. In November 1956 the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the ordinance under which Rosa Parks had been fined and outlawed racial segregation on public transportation.
Because of threats and hardships, Rosa Parks and her husband moved to Detroit. That’s where she was living when she died on Monday. The city buses in Detroit and Montgomery reserved the first seats on the buses as a tribute to her legacy of positively impacting millions of lives across the world. In 1996 President Clinton awarded her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest award a civilian can receive. In 1999 she received the Congressional Gold Medal. It is the highest award that Congress gives to citizens. It has to be cosponsored by two-thirds of the members of the House of Represenatives.
Time magazine nor the AP stories I found made any reference to her spiritual life. After some digging I found an interview about her book Quiet Strength. Rosa Parks’s belief in God and her religious convictions were the core of everything she did. It is the overriding theme in her book. Here is what she said she hoped to impart: “I’d like for [readers] to know that I had a very spiritual background and that I believe in church and my faith and that has helped to give me the strength and courage to live as I did.”
It is right for our nation to honor this woman.
Solomon took action to honor the Lord. He built a temple to expresses how highly he valued and respected the Lord. The word respect means “to look behind.” In other words, it involves looking back and seeing a person’s accomplishments, then treating him as very valuable and worthy. Maybe that’s why the Scriptures frequently admonish us to “remember the Lord.” If we’d give more thought to what He has done for us, maybe we’d treat Him with greater honor.
How can we honor the Lord?
I. DETERMINE TO HONOR THE LORD (I KINGS 5:1-7)
Solomon is in the fourth year of his reign when he begins his building project. He has experienced tremendous growth in wealth. He knows that this wealth is not just for his personal enjoyment. Solomon never forgot that he was raised up for the one supreme purpose—build the temple. According to the author of I Kings this is the most important act of Solomon’s reign. I Kings records the great building projects of Solomon. He built the Temple. He built his palace. It took twice as many years. And he rebuilt cities and built entire new cities to protect his nation and its trade routes. But the author gives nearly all the time to recording the building of the Temple.
Here is what is happening. Solomon had this great wealth pouring in but he lacked the skills to build the temple and he lacked the materials to build it. When Hiram, the king of Tyre, makes this friendly overture, Solomon recognizes that it is a divine opportunity to get on with accomplishing what God had put in David’s heart and in his heart.
This is another example of God giving Solomon wisdom. We saw his judicial wisdom with the two prostitutes fighting over the newborn baby (3:16-28). We see his administrative wisdom in dividing up the kingdom (4:1-28). His intellectual wisdom is seen in the amazing breadth and depth of subjects he was an expert on (4:29-34); and now, we see his political skills in dealing with Hiram (5:1-7).
The Sidonians were known for their skill with wood. They built their houses of wood. That was very unusual in that part of the world. They cut wood and floated it down the African coast in ships. They had a thriving business in lumber.
David had been determined to build a Temple for his God. But God told him not to build a temple. First, in 2 Samuel 7:1-16 God preferred to build David’s house or dynasty rather than have David build him a house. Second, he had shed too much blood to build God’s house. David’s primary work was war. He killed people. The temple is to be a symbol of a God who comes to make peace with sinners. His son Solomon is a man of peace. Solomon’s name is rooted in the word, shalom, peace. That’s an accurate portrayal of Israel’s God. Both men are determined to honor God by building him a Temple.
In 1519 Cortez landed at Vera Cruz, Mexico, with a small army of about 700 soldiers. When it turned night, he burned all eleven ships in the harbor. He did it at night so that everyone, including the formidable foes facing them, the Aztecs, could see it. His men watched their only means of retreat and their only hope of return to their homeland sink to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. If Cortez were alive today he’d be skinned alive by the media for not having an exit strategy! History records that his action resulted in a great victory.
A better example of a determination to honor God is Elisha. God called him to be the successor to Elijah. Elisha burned all his farm equipment, killed his 24 oxen, cooked the meat on the fire and served it to the people. He literally burned his bridges. He was determined to honor God with his life.
In the O.T. the word honor is some form of the word kabod that means “heavy” or “weighty.” It is sometimes translated glory. It suggests the magnitude or greatness of someone or something. You are impressed with someone.
All of us know what it means to be determined. If you are determined to get a degree at OU it means that this choice is greater than other choices. You choose to study, read books, write papers and go to class instead of sleeping late or perusing a career. If you are determined to lose weight then it means that choice to eat healthy carries more “weight” than eating chocolate cake and ice cream. Determination means some choices are more important than others and some choices are eliminated.
What would it look like in your life if you leave this building determined that God is going to carry a great deal of influence in your life? What would be different about your use of time if you leave determined that God will be revealed as great in your life? What would it look like if your attitude, your spirit, and your countenance reflected that you have been greatly impressed with God? Solomon spared no expense to build a Temple to display how much he honored God. What would be displayed in your life if you were determined to honor God?
How can we honor God? Determine to honor the Lord.
II. UNDERSTAND HOW TO HONOR THE LORD (I KINGS 6:11-13)
This is an insertion between an account of the building of the Temple and the account of its interior decoration. It underlines the basic condition upon which God established David’s house, namely obedience to God’s will.
God speaks to Solomon a second time. We don’t know how He speaks to Solomon. We’re just told that God’s Word clearly came to Solomon. You will note that God is more interested in Solomon’s walk with God than the construction of the temple. Obeying God ensured something far more important than having a temple in the midst of the people. It ensured that God would be in the land. If they failed to obey Him, He would abandon them.
The word “abandon” in the O.T. conveyed various meanings. In Exodus 2:20 it described the physical act of leaving, but in Jeremiah 1:16 it described the spiritual act of forsaking God. Isaiah 54:7 describes God abandoning the disobedient to the consequences of their sins for a time, but He refuses to abandon His people. The prophets marveled at God’s faithfulness to His people despite their repeated forsaking of Him. In the N.T. we have the promise of Jesus that He will never leave us nor forsake us. The blessings and protection of God can be lifted off of his people when they live in disobedience.
It’s one of the world’s famous paintings. Michelangelo painted it on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It’s a picture of God in a cloud stretching his arm, every muscle taunt, with his index finger extended straight forward. His hand is within a hairs breadth of Adam’s hand.
Adam has already been given physical life—and his eyes are open and he is conscious. What’s happening is that Adam is being offered life with God.
Adam, on the other hand, has his arm only partially extended. His body reclines in a lazy repose, leaning backward as if he is not interested in making the connection. Maybe he is indifferent or lacks the strength or assumes God will close the gap. But all he has to do is lift a finger. Nothing would honor God more than for Adam to want God. (Jn Ortberg)
It appears from God’s words to Solomon that the way to close the gap, to express how much we value God, is to fulfill our duties. You can’t miss it. He says, “follow my decrees, carry out my regulations, and keep all my commandments and obey them” (v.12). But the intent is more fundamental than obeying God. Fulfilling those duties is the way we reveal our desire to be in His presence.
You take your wife out on a date. She asks you, “Why?” Which answer most honors her: “Dear, it is my duty as your husband to treat you to a meal at your favorite restaurant” or “Sweetheart, I just want to be with you.”
How do we honor the Lord? Obey Him. Not for the purpose of fulfilling a religious duty but for the purpose of closing the distance. This is how we come to know His presence. Nothing honors God more.
I have one more suggestion why God put the emphasis on obedience as a way to honor Him. Life seems to be designed to distract us from what is truly important. We rush to meet deadlines, get the kids to their appointments or complete household chores. Almost everything is presented as urgent and important. It’s not hard to go through a day and not even be aware of God. But when I push aside some demand so I can read His Word or I lay out the kids’ clothes and socks Saturday night because we are going to church and I don’t want to be panicked in finding what I need to dress them; those acts of obedience remind me how important He is to me. Obeying His commands are His way of helping us not to be so distracted we forget Him.
Understand how to honor the Lord. Obey Him, obey Him to know His presence and obey Him to be reminded of his importance.
How can we honor the Lord?
III. ACT TO HONOR THE LORD (I KINGS 7:51)
The first twelve verses of chapter seven describe Solomon’s secular building program. Verses 13-51 describe the Temple furnishings. Solomon did not let his expansive secular building programs cause the construction of the temple to fall by the wayside. Solomon acted to complete the temple and honor the Lord.
By moving David’s collection of treasures into the temple, Solomon accomplished two objectives. First, he created an endowment of wealth to help defray future temple expenses. Second and more importantly, he honored his father’s commitment to the Lord and to building and furnishing a temple for God.
We can’t build a temple to honor the Lord but there are many ways to show our honor to Him. We could spend a quiet moment each day directing our thoughts toward God by reading our Bible and praying. We could fast for spiritual needs or make a special offering to the church. We could take up some ministry to a needy person or commit to a place of service at our church. We honor the Lord when we act on holy intentions He puts in our heart or in front of us as opportunities.
If my memory serves me right, my girls were at the Petete’s home watching this silly movie I’d never heard of, The Princess Bride. It was a huge success. I’ve yet to sit still long enough to watch this quirky movie. A grandfather is reading his grandson a story about true love and the hero rescuing the heroine. Her name is Buttercup!
As the movie opens Buttercup is going about chores on a farm. We meet a young man on the farm who answers to Farm Boy. Whenever Buttercup asks Farm Boy to do something for her; he always replies, “As you wish.” That’s all he ever says to her.
As time goes by, Buttercup develops a crush on Farm Boy. One day as he is about to leave the room, she asks him to fetch her a pitcher, which is within easy reach for her. Farm Boy walks over, then stares into her eyes, lifts the pitcher, and whispers: “As you wish.”
In that moment, returning his gaze, Buttercup realizes that every time Farm Boy has said, “As you wish,” he was really saying, “I love you.” (Jn. Ortberg)
For centuries, the wisest among us have known that greatest expression of love and respect is a freely submitted will. Our actions reveal to what degree we hold God in respect or importance.
I heard we Oklahomans are to receive a tax rebate from our state. It’s not much but I’ve been mulling over what would be the best use of that money. It occurred to me I could honor God with that rebate. But I have to say, “As You wish.”
My church is always in need of help. It may not be my first or second choice but “As You wish.” I go to work on Monday and coworkers who live their own lives surround me. But the thought comes to me that maybe I could be used of God to minister to a need. I look to God and say, “As you wish.”
Our actions reveal our how much we love and honor our Lord. It is the evidence of a submitted will.
CONCLUSION
I meet with a handful of pastors for the purpose of stimulating our spiritual growth. We’re reading a book together, and each week it has a choice of several assignments to follow through on the topic of the week. A few weeks back the assignment I chose was to select a phrase or verse and repeat it frequently throughout the day and week. I was to let its message sink into my life. I chose to memorize the chorus you have as an invitation in your bulletin (I Give You My Heart).
The first phrase captures my thoughts, “This is my desire, to honor You.” Was that truly my desire? I reflected on that in relation to my motivations for our church. After conviction and confession, I thought my motives for our church to grow were more purified. The next Sunday our Sunday School attendance was miserably low. Mentally, I could explain why many were not present, but still, my spirit sunk. That evening I felt like a failure.
The next morning I was spending some time with the Lord. I was complaining. Then the message came to my mind, “Are you disappointed in the church’s attendance because it dishonors Me or you?” It was a time of conviction and confession.
All of that is to say, every part of our life could be altered for what is best if we’d take seriously that our life is to be lived to honor God.
It’s right for our nation to honor the life and legacy of Rosa Parks. And it is right for every Christian to leave this place with a determination that he is going to act in a way that honors the God who put on skin and splashed a wooden cross with blood so we could be saved. This could change our lives. This could change our church forever. Honor the Lord.
PRAY
INVITATION
The most often visited internet site in the summer of 2001 was reported to be an interview with God. Some of you have sent me a copy of this. It’s an imaginary question-and-answer session with God. In June alone it had 2.4 million visitors log on, and all of this without advertising!
Human beings long for a conversation with God. We’re still looking for answers to the basic questions of life. The greatest longings in our heart are found in Jesus Christ. We want direction for our life. Jesus said, “I Am the Way.” We want to know what’s real. Jesus said, “I Am the Truth.” We constantly look for life. Jesus said, “I Am the Life.” How do I deal with my guilt? John said of Jesus that he was “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
The greatest act of honoring God is submitting your life to His Son, Jesus Christ.
Right now one of the ways that your actions will honor God is to obey His will for your life. Be baptized, join the church or ask your Christian family to support you in the determination to live in a Christ-honoring way.
