Not long after David, the King of Israel, died, his son, Solomon, began building the temple. Upon its completion, Solomon prayed a long, glorious prayer while dedicating the Temple to the Lord. During that prayer, Solomon boldly asked God to verify His Word.
Solomon hoped God would approve of the Temple and make it His dwelling place. But how could Solomon know for sure?
Solomon was “on the spot.”
Everyone was watching. What happened now could either solidify his position as king or humiliate him.
Listen to and watch this message in the below video or directly on Rumble.com or Brighteon.com (14:06).
In this public setting, you might understand why Solomon might doubt. Will God show up? What will happen at the end of the prayer?
Solomon knew the time had come to ask God,
Verify Thy Word!
You might wonder why Solomon felt this way. We’re supposed to trust God, right? Why question what God says? Why ask Him for proof?
If you ask God to prove Himself to you, some people may condemn you, even as Jesus seemed to condemn the disciples when they doubted.
If you’ll remember, Jesus asked them,
Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?
Matthew 8:26
You see…
Living by Faith
…sounds good in theory.
In real life, we sometimes discover we have less faith than we like to think.
Solomon had some good reasons to believe God.
He had a…
Family history.
Before dying, David most likely had told Solomon everything that God had promised.
If, however, Solomon forgot part of the story, he easily could have refreshed his memory.
You see, Solomon had access to…
Reliable records.
According to 1 Chronicles Chapter 29, Verse 29, plenty of records existed regarding David’s life:
The acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer…
1 Chronicles 29:29
If Solomon wanted to refresh his memory of God’s promises, he had three books to read.
I also want you to know that Solomon had a…
Personal Experience
…with God.
God had appeared to Solomon (2 Chronicles 1:8) and granted him his wish for wisdom. God made an impressive promise to him:
Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee…
2 Chronicles 1:12
Now, after going to great measures to build a glorious temple for the Lord God, the time for talking ended.
Now is…
The time for action
Did God really speak to King David? Was it really God’s will for Solomon to build this temple? Would God choose to inhabit this new building?
Solomon boldly trusted God, but he also boldly challenged God.
Solomon prayed:
O LORD God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David.
2 Chronicles 6:7
Solomon knew God. He knew what God said. At this moment, he needed God to affirm His words with action.
Now, listen to me:
I trust God.
I enjoy talking about God. I enjoy praying. I enjoy reading God’s Word. I believe in God’s promises, but, at some point, I need God to do what He says He’ll do.
I need God to verify His Word.
We should all rejoice knowing that God can save.
He can heal.
He can vindicate us.
God tells us we can live a Spirit-filled life.
I believe it. I hope you believe it.
At some point, however, we need God to do it. I want God to make His Word real in my life.
I need God to inhabit my body as His temple.
Although I’ve done my part, the best I know how, I sometimes feel that I need to ask God, “Verify thy Word in my life for all to see.”
Like Solomon, I need God to move, so…
I ask Him to verify His Word.
As during Solomon’s prayer, people are watching. They want to see whether God is really with me. They’re looking to see if God vindicates me. They want to find out if God will provide for me, defend me, and comfort me.
They’re also watching you. They want to see if God shows out in your life.
Right now, you might wonder,
What does it mean for God to
…verify His Word?
The word rendered, “verified” comes from a verb stem that, according to the lexicon, means:
To be established, be faithful, be carried, make firm.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H539&t=KJV
In that usage, “verify” speaks of
1. Nurturing.
Gesenius says it means…
To support, bear in the arms as children.
Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon
When Solomon says, “Let thy word be verified,” he asks God to support his word. He asks God to have patience while nurturing him.
If God is your father. He wants you to grow and thrive. To do that, He needs to encourage your trust.
When God verifies His Word, He’s going to…
2. Establish
…it.
For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
2 Corinthians 1:20
When God verifies His Word, he makes it, as Gesenius puts it,
To be of long continuance.
Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon
God establishes it.
The Psalmist says, in the one hundred nineteenth Psalm:
For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Psalm 119:89
Solomon was calling on God to prove the trustworthiness of His word..
Also, when Solomon asked God, “Verify thy Word!”, he wanted God to be…
3. Reliable.
In this case, the word means…
To be trustworthy, sure, such that anyone can lean upon [it].
Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon
Solomon had stepped out in faith. Building the temple was a massive undertaking. He and the people needed to know that you can depend on everything God says.
Solomon also wanted God’s Word to be…
4. Unmistakeable.
As Gesenius says, Solomon wanted
To be sure, certain.
Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon
…of what God said, and whether He will deliver.
In this…
Usage
…of the word, Solomon refers to a part of the whole. He knew the importance of everything God says.
But, at this moment, Solomon didn’t want God to verify all of His Word. He wanted God to verify the part that mattered right now.
Have you ever felt that way? I do. I believe the whole Bible. I believe that God inspired all of it.
At the moment of testing, however, I need God to verify a specific part of His Word.
- My God shall supply all your need.
- Give and it shall be given unto you.
- Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay.
- I will never leave you nor forsake you.
- Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you!
As I said, Solomon didn’t have all day. He needed God to affirm an important part of His word by the time he finished praying.
Sometimes,
Timing
…makes a big difference.
Do you remember what Joseph’s brothers said as they threw him into the pit? They said,
We shall see what will become of his dreams.
Genesis 37:20
They were mocking, saying that they will verify what Joseph had said.
Joseph was in a predicament. Many years would expire before God verified His Word in Joseph’s case.
Solomon couldn’t afford to wait for decades for God to verify His Word in this case. He needed God to verify His Word now. He needed God to move.
Fortunately,
God accepted the challenge.
Rather than rebuking Solomon for inferring a smidgeon of doubt, God came through.
God verified His Word for Solomon.
Second Chronicles, Chapter Seven tells us what happened.
The fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.
And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house.
2 Chronicles 7:1-2
Just imagine if you went to church on Sunday and nobody could go inside because the glory of the Lord had filled his house! That would be amazing.
I don’t know if any of the people, including the Pastor, could handle it.
I’m not sure what we’d do if God actually showed up.
Anyway, I want you to see what happened in 2 Chronicles Chapter Seven, Verse Three:
When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, [God verified His Word] and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD…
2 Chronicles 7:3
God won’t verify His Word for just anybody for just any reason. God wants to receive worship and praise. He verifies His Word to receive glory… and it’s not always “touchy-feely good stuff” either.
In Ezekiel Chapter 28, God says He will verify His Word, the result was unpleasant: He promised judgment, and judgment was coming…
Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall have executed judgments in her,
Ezekiel 28:22
God verifies His Word to different people, in different ways, individually and collectively.
If you’ll recall,
God verified His Word for Gideon.
God called Gideon to deliver His people. God called him a “mighty man of valor,” but Gideon didn’t feel courageous. He needed God to verify His Word.
Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once…
Judges 6:39
Asking God to verify His Word requires boldness, but it’s not a sign of weakness. In fact,
God invites us to prove Him.
Look at Malachi Chapter Three where God says,
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Malachi 3:10
So many people say, “I don’t give to receive.” That’s fine.
We should give out of obedience to God. We should give in worship to God.
Still, if you give, the time may come when you need to say to God, “Let thy Word be verified!” I need you to do what you promised. I need that blessing now. I need that provision now. Verify thy Word!
I want you to…
Respond
…by asking God to verify His Word in your life.
A little affirmation can go a long way to strengthening your faith. When God establishes His Word to you, He will receive glory.
God will demonstrate His power to the wicked world. He will inspire others to worship the Most High God.
It’s time to stop knowing what God can do. It’s time to..
Put God’s Word to the test
…in the real world, in real life situations. Just like Joshua did. Just like Gideon did.
You know His mercy endureth forever. If you need mercy, pray, “Let thy word be verified!”
You know that God will supply your needs. If you have a need, pray, “Let thy word be verified!”
If you need healing, vindication, promotion, strength, salvation, a renewed vision, hope, and purpose, pray to God. Boldly ask Him, “Let thy word be verified!”
I’m ready to see God move in my life. I’m ready for others to see God move in my life. What about you? Are you ready?
Together, let’s pray, “Lord, Verify thy Word!”