God’ Gracious Condescension

I will be posting several days’ comments today.

I’ll be away from my desk for a few days.

 2 Chronicles 6-7

            “Condescending” is not often a good term. It’s usually a criticism we use to describe people who think too much of themselves and deign to help the little people. But the Lord condescends to be with Israel. Solomon states that his little temple couldn’t possibly contain the Lord of the universe, but God chooses to be present there, and He chooses to be present there in order to be gracious. The temple will be the focal point of God’s gracious presence. There’s the whole sacrificial system, designed as it is to deliver the forgiveness of sins. Then there’s Solomon’s prayer and the Lord’s answer, namely, that when Israel is in trouble, when the seek the Lord in the temple, when they call out to Him from the temple, He will answer.

            Too often we modern Christians separate the practice of prayer from the Divine Service, and it’s important that we hold them together. We are able to pray because we know the One to whom we pray as our Father in heaven. We know Him as our heavenly Father because the Son is present in Word and Sacrament to deliver forgiveness, life, and salvation, to us. In Divine Service, the relationship with God that enables conversation with God is created and sustained. It's not that our God doesn’t hear prayers in other places; it’s rather that there is something special about those times when we are in the presence of our gracious God, when we pray based on His words and promises just announced.