How to gain a true picture of God’s character

In the first few years after coming to faith, my dominant emotion was fear that if I did the wrong thing God would punish me. Fearful by nature, my perceptions were not helped by a church setting that was strong on obedience and God’s discipline but, despite talking about His grace, somehow could not communicate His overflowing generosity. I had moments and encounters with God when I saw His care of me, His love and His ongoing faithfulness but it took a while to come to a better understanding of His character. For most of us, this is a process and how we see the Lord is influenced by our personality, our church context and its teaching, as well as our own experiences with the Lord and those of others we know. How then can we grow in having a true picture of God’s character? Our best option is to keep turning to God’s Word which testifies to who He is and ingraining its truths in our heart.

A God like no other

Solomon’s prayer, in fact, reflects much of what matters about God. He affirms that God is unique (1 Kings 8:23). Pagan gods were often fickle, capricious and unpredictable, an extension of sinful human nature, but Israel’s God was (and is) consistent in keeping His commitments (v.23). People will disappoint or fail us, but God will always be faithful. Solomon appeals to this when he asks the Lord to fulfil His promise to his dynasty (1 Kings 8:25). However, he also recognises the mutuality of such a relationship that involves walking with the Lord (v.25), though His commitment is not dependent on our obedience. Further, God is greater than any physical temple or creation itself (1 Kings 8:27), so that we cannot control or confine Him to one place. Israel will later come to think of the temple as an automatic guarantee of God on their side, but Solomon knows better. Yet, the king understands that we can appeal to Him for help because in some sense His genuine presence, expressed in His name being in the temple, is nevertheless with His people (1 Kings 8:29-30).[1] He is not too lofty to hear our cries.

Forgiveness

What follows this introduction are seven examples. The first appeals to God to vindicate the innocent (i.e. bring justice; 1 Kings 8:31-32), the fifth widens the scope to even the foreigner’s prayer, so that all nations may know who God truly is (1 Kings 8:41-43). The rest envisages covenant curses that come into effect because of Israel’s sin individually and as a whole (military defeat and agricultural disasters and eventually exile; 1 Kings 8:33, 35, 37-38, 46). This is God’s just response to Israel’s failure to keep the covenant (e.g. Deut 28:15, 20-26), yet astonishingly, Solomon prays that God may forgive them if the people ‘turn’ (e.g. 1 Kings 8:33-36, the technical term for repentance). The king’s understanding of God goes beyond a strict adherence to the terms of the covenant and he appeals to God’s mercy. Yet, this is no cheap grace, which can only breed complacency. Rather, it is a response to a genuine humbling of the heart, the acknowledgement of guilt and a turning – away from sin and wholeheartedly to the Lord.

His mercy is more

The picture that emerges from Solomon’s prayer is of a God whose covenant is not a cold business deal: you obey Me and I shall reward you, or else! Rather, it speaks of the loving heart of God who first introduced Himself as Israel’s Saviour and made them His inheritance, His people (1 Kings 8:51-53). Solomon understands that no one is without sin (1 Kings 8:46), so that we depend on the Lord even to incline our hearts to Him (1 Kings 8:58). No wonder that he and the people offer numerous sacrifices (1 Kings 8:62-64) as their hearts are brimming with joy at the Lord’s goodness (1 Kings 8:66). As we ask ourselves what stands out about God’s character in our heart, our actions may also indicate what matters to us about Him. Are we fearful, full of guilt, complacent or indifferent? Are we generous and overflowing with gratitude? As Christians, we have the ultimate proof of God’s selfless love when He gave Jesus Christ for our sin. Our perceptions may be skewed and our hearts so often wayward, but we look to the One who can renew us to walk with Him.

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[1] Deuteronomy, in particular, uses this phrase that the temple is built for ‘God’s name to dwell there’ (e.g. Deut 12:11). God’s name reveals His character and in a real sense His presence (note also the cloud that filled the temple, 1 Kings 8:10). His presence is not just symbolic but real. Nevertheless, the distinction between His ultimate presence in heaven and His name with His people helps safeguard against the idea of a small God who can be contained (and therefore perhaps controlled) in the temple.

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