This Week’s Theme
God’s Infinitude
1 Kings 8.22-27
(The Knowledge of the Holy [KOTH], Chapter 8)

The infinity of God is perhaps the single hardest concept to ponder when thinking about the nature of God. “Of all that can be thought or said about God, His infinitude is the most difficult to grasp. Even to try to conceive of it would appear to be self-contradictory, for such conceptualization requires us to undertake something which we know at the outset we can never accomplish. Yet we must try, for the Holy Scriptures teach that God is infinite and, if we accept His other attributes, we must of necessity accept this one too” (KOTH, pp. 43-44). To say that God is infinite is to say that he knows no bounds, that he is measureless in his being, and that he has no limitations in all his other attributes, e.g., his holiness, love, beauty, and glory. God cannot be contained, measured, limited, or bounded. He is, in all his matchless traits, the infinite God.

At Solomon’s dedication of the Temple listed in 1 Kings 8.22-27, Solomon stood before the LORD’s altar in the presence of the people with his hands stretched out towards heaven. He said, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart; you have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day” (1 Kings 8.22-24). Solomon then asked the LORD, God of Israel, to keep the promise he made to David to always have an heir on the throne of Israel, if they walked before him as David walked. He asked the LORD to confirm his word spoken to David his father.

Then Solomon asks a question of the LORD GOD. “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!” (1 Kings 8.27). Truly, Solomon comprehended that no earthly house, building, or temple could contain the LORD. Not even heaven and the highest heaven could do that, much less the temple he had just built. Our God’s nature – and wonderful love – is boundless, measureless, and without limit. Our God is the infinite God of all.

Preparing Our Hearts
Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation

Our Heavenly Father: let us see Thy glory, if it must be from the shelter of the cleft rock and from beneath the protection of Thy covering hand. Whatever the cost to us in loss of friends or goods or length of days let us know Thee as Thou art, that we may adore Thee as we should. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
~ KOTH, p. 43

Call to Worship
Blessed are you, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed is your Kingdom, both now and forever, amen.

Praising Our God
Te Deum Laudamus 

You are God: we praise you; you are the Lord; we acclaim you; you are the eternal Father: All creation worships you. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you; Father, of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father. When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin’s womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God’s right hand in glory. We believe that you will come and be our judge. Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.

Praise and Thanksgiving (songs and prayers)

Gloria Patri

Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.

Listening to His Voice
Chronological Reading for the Day

Thursday: Ezek. 37-39; 32.1-16

Lectionary Readings

Psalm: Ps. 105.1-11, 45b

OT: Gen. 29.15-28

Gospel: Matt. 13.31-33, 44-52

NT: Rom. 8.26-39

(Click here for all readings)

Reflection: Silence and/or Journaling

Responding in Faith
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

*In the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, the term catholic refers to the Church’s universality, through all ages and times, of all languages and peoples. It refers to no particular tradition or denominational expression (e.g., as in Roman Catholic).

Prayers of Confession
Let us now confess our sins to God and receive mercy and grace to help in our time of need.

Assurance of Pardon
Having faithfully confessed and renounced your sin, Christ also has been faithful to forgive your sins and to purify you from all unrighteousness. It is certain, that there is One who has spoken to the Father in your defense, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and for the sins of the whole world. His grace and peace are with you now. Amen.

Petitions and Supplications, Ending with The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

~ Matthew 6.9-13 (KJV)

Doxology (and/or closing song)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Departing to Serve
Benediction 

This, this is the God we adore,
Our faithful, unchangeable Friend,
Whose love is as great as His power,
And neither knows measure nor end.

‘Tis Jesus, the first and the last,
Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home;
We praise Him for all that is past,
And trust Him for all that’s to come.
~ Joseph Hart (KOTH, p. 48)

Affirmation for the Day
There are no degrees in God. “All that he is he is without growth or addition or development” (KOTH, p. 47).

Pray without Ceasing – Flash Prayer for the Day
Almighty infinite God, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you!

For Your Weekly Journey

Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus
The Divine Omniscience, Isaiah 40.28-31

Book Reading
Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy