Revival... Or A Footnote Of History

Revival - Or a Footnote of History

On the Waterfront: In 1954 a movie called On the Waterfront came out. The movie starred Marlin Brando who played an up and coming boxer who was forced to deliberately a lose fight so a crime boss could make money by betting against him. He never became a boxing legend and ended up being a dock worker. Later in the movie, when talking to his on-screen brother, Marlin Brando made his famous line: "I coulda' been somebody. I coulda' been a contender Instead of a bum, which is what I am – let's face it." The movie was critically acclaimed and a box office success.

Could we have been somebody?: Many of us wonder if we could have been somebody. Movie star, music star, Janitor (ok a rich CEO of a janitorial supply company). Instead, as history shows, we are just us. I’m not sure that’s so bad, tho. Especially if you’re saved because you have a mansion waiting for you in heaven not to mention a God who loves you.

So many of us perhaps are just a footnote in history (if that).

But what would be worse? If you could have been a great man or woman of God and then didn’t follow thru.

Who could have been a contender?: Today we are going to talk about one such person. He was famous for being great! And he was great! But then something almost predictably happened that caused him to be a cautionary tale.

Is it better to be average? So perhaps it’s better to be average and remain average than to be great and then have a great fall? The bigger they are the harder they fall?

About Solomon: So who is this great person we will be talking about today who was great and then broke down at the end of the race? (besides ourselves) The Bible is full of such stories. Solomon. What? Solomon?

Temple Dedication: In 2 Chronicles chapter 6, we see Solomon dedicating the first temple. It had just been completed and was magnificent.

Solomon’s Prayer: Also in chapter 6, Solomon prays that whenever the people sin and then come back to God, that he requests God will forgive the people and heal the land. He makes such a supplication multiple times in various ways.

2 Chron 7:1-10

1 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2 The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it. 3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever.” 4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. 5 And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God. 6 The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the LORD’s musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the LORD and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, “His love endures forever.” Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing. 7 Solomon consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the LORD, and there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar he had made could not hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat portions. 8 So Solomon observed the festival at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him—a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. 9 On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days more. 10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their homes, joyful and glad in heart for the good things the LORD had done for David and Solomon and for his people Israel.

Quite the celebration for the dedication of the Temple. The additional offerings were given apparently after the fire came down and received their first offerings. So many offerings the bronze altar couldn’t do them all.

The celebration went on for days. 7 days of dedication and 7 days more of festival and then went to their homes.

2 Chron 7:11-16

11 When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, 12 the LORD appeared to him at night and said: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. 13 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.