The Glorious God Who Hears

I was reflecting this morning on Paige Benton Brown's conference message from 1 Kings 8 and in rereading the passage, was struck by these words: 


"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, 'My name shall be there,' that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive... If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemy besieges them in the land at their gates, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart and stretching out his hands toward this house, then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways ( for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind), that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers." (1 Kings 8:27-30, 37-40)


God cannot be contained by even the highest heaven; He is all-glorious, all-holy, all-knowing. And yet, He has regard for the prayers of His people, not only to forgive (glorious truth!), but also to hear and act on the many and varying afflictions, however small, that His people lift up with humble hands toward Him, and all to the praise of His glorious grace! It reminded me of Hebrews 4:14-16:


"Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."


What an encouragement to pray! Through Christ then, let us come before this glorious and lofty God, who hears and forgives His people!