2 Chronicles 3:1: “Now Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.”

September 20th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Solomon built the temple on Mount Moriah, the summit of the mountain where Abraham willingly went to sacrifice his son Isaac approximately 1000 years before (Genesis 22). And it is where God’s Son, the Messiah, was sacrificed approximately 1000 years later. From the New Testament we are told that all these things were planned out “before the foundation of the world.” We know God loves us and has a wonderful plan for our lives. And it’s easy to agree with this statement when we like the plan, but often God’s plan turns out to be different from what we were thinking it would be.

In Jeremiah 29, we read how in the year 597 BC, God judged the nation of Judah because of their unfaithfulness. The Babylonians attacked Jerusalem and took 3000 prisoners back to Babylon, including the king, the court officials, and the craftsmen. The Jews were saying, “This wasn’t supposed to happen to us! We’re the chosen people! We’re the apple of God’s eye! What is going on?” God spoke words of grace and peace to His people in their captivity, and they still ring true for us today: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer. 29:11).

God’s plan is always the best. Even if we don’t understand it at the time, and even if it’s something we never would have chosen for ourselves. So when the plan goes differently, when trials and difficulties come, how do we remain focused and steady? We must stay in God’s word. Nothing has changed about God since Abraham, Solomon, Jeremiah, or Jesus. God still wants to give you and me a future and a hope.

“LORD, help us to remain in the center of Your will and love this day.”