How dreadful to pray a prayer of dedication over a house if you are not going to live a godly life for Jesus in that house. Teach(W) them the right way(X) to live, and send rain(Y) on the land you gave your people for an inheritance. He kneels as he prays and spreads out his hands to the heavens. Not one word has failed of all the good promises(BI) he gave through his servant Moses. But I think we all need to do a better job in personal evangelism as well. Jesus told his disciples: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Here Solomon acknowledges Gods work for their fathers in the past, and he seeks Gods continued presence and direction for his people in the present. All rights reserved worldwide. Israel did not have a Nile river which made the whole land fruitful. 16:7; 1 Chr. After placing the ark in its new home, a praise service broke out with instruments sounding out beautifully and voices raised . 1 Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.. 2 But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever.. 3 And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood.. 4 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who hath with his hands . How dreadful to pray a prayer of dedication for a new business if you are not going to run that business according to godly principles. But that Temple has been destroyed for over 1900 years. 41As for the foreigner(AJ) who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name 42for they will hear(AK) of your great name and your mighty hand(AL) and your outstretched armwhen they come and pray toward this temple, 43then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. You and the ark of Your strength. 13 Now he had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high, and had placed it in the center of the outer court. By Gods grace it has now been paid off in full as God has worked through his people to finish the work we started so long ago. a. which revealed itself in boils. 7:20; [Rom. (1 Kings 7:13) Only the best materials were used. Such an individual must then come to the altar of God. The old Puritan commentator John Trapp could not resist mentioning a fulfillment of this principle in his own day: Anne Averies, who, forswearing herself, a. D. 1575, February 11, at a shop of Wood Street in London, praying God she might sink where she stood if she had not paid for the wares she took, fell down presently speechless, and with horrible stink died., Or if Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and return and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this temple, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to them and their fathers.. 3:23; 1 John 1:8, 10], Lev. And in the midst of a phenomenal celebratory service; the King of Israel prays a dedicatory prayer like none have ever heard before. Otherwise the child dedication has no meaning. Thanks for visiting! Look at verses 59-60: And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each days need, 60 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. Its location, Mount Moriah, was where God appeared to David, and also where Abraham . David and Solomon were human instruments, but the work was Gods. The temple was one of the most beautiful structures of ancient times. Out of the land of Egypt: Solomon presses the remembrance of the Exodus. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. It's actually three prayers and what I find most interesting about them is the balance of what is said. Solomon mentions locust and caterpillar, grasshoppers and other creatures which denude the fields of all vegetation. If they in captivity come to a different insight and repent, if they acknowledge their sins before God and turn to Him with all their hearts and soul, if they then pray toward this land, toward this city and toward this house, may the Lord hear them and forgive, maintain their cause, and bring them back from captivity. 2 Chronicles 6:12-40 records the great prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem. Now, my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and let Your ears be attentive to the prayer made in this place. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. Solomon here prays for the faithfulness of all of his own posterity. 57May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake(BJ) us. The greatness of Israel's God is seen in the facts that He has made all things and that He keeps covenant! 1:6; Ps. Click on the different category headings to find out more. This type of praying produced some marvelous results. No greater indication of the need for a place of atonement and forgiveness could be given. (Selman). You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.Therefore, LORD God of Israel, now keep what You promised Your servant David my father, saying, You shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, only if your sons take heed to their way, that they walk in My law as you have walked before Me. And now, O LORD God of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David.. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. It was even worse when the defeat was because they had sinned against the LORD Himself. When was the last time? But, who is Solomon and what is it which he has built that he should think that Jehovah, the God of Israel, will dwell with men? It is worthy of remark concerning this prayer that it is as full and comprehensive as if it were meant to be the summary of all future prayers offered in the temple. (Spurgeon), ii. And so I ask them: How can you stand up in front of the church and promise to raise your child in the Lord when you arent following God yourself? It is a wonderful thing to want to dedicate your child to the Lord, but God wants you to dedicate yourself to him first. And when the priests withdrew from the Holy Place where they put the ark, the glory of the Lord filled the temple and all the people worshiped God. Standing there at the altar, he cried out for God to have mercy on His people . Verse Concepts. The heathen may think that their deities will be able to help them in certain situations, but their hopes are futile. Solomon's Temple is an example of how God used ancient Israel to point to greater realities. We dedicate this sanctuary to be a light in this community proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ to all who will hear. The temple is dedicated and let God now arise to His dwelling place! However, He has promised that His name would dwell there. When the Lord gave him a choice of various gifts he might have, he chose wisdom. Before we try and answer that question, it is helpful to get a little background on this temple that Solomon was dedicating. The temple was completed the 8 th month of 11 th year of reign. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! 22Then Solomon stood before (B)the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and (C)spread out his hands toward heaven; 23and he said: Lord God of Israel, (D)there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, (E)who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who (F)walk before You with all their hearts. This prayer helps prevent us from turning inwards and from making all our decisions based on what we think is best for us. King Solomon built a structure for God's presence to occupy in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), but Solomon's prayer points toward God's people's being the dwelling place of God. Do not turn away the face of Your Anointed: Solomon probably meant this in reference to himself because he was the anointed king of Israel. Solomon used the phrasing of that passage to emphasize that the ark of the covenant and the symbol of Gods presence would wander no more and had finally come to its final resting place. It confirms that Davids disqualification was not due to sin, but because the concept of Gods rest must be regarded as the unique and final stage in building the temple. (Selman), So the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke, and I have filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised; and I have built the temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel. Solomon does not attribute the lack of rain to mere natural phenomena, but to the sins of the people. a. 2 Chronicles 6 - Solomon's Prayer of Dedication A. Solomon blesses God. a. David prepared for the temple in every way he could short of actually building it, and he was happy for the credit and honor for building it to go to his son Solomon. Forgiveness of sins that had brought on drought (vv. From prior statements, such as his statement in 2 Chronicles 6:1-2, we might have thought that Solomon drifted towards a superstitious idea that God actually lived in the temple to the exclusion of other places. If God's people only repent! As king himself, Solomon remembered and spoke those truths at the dedication of the temple in his prayer and benediction. 41Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for Your names sake 42(for they will hear of Your great name and Your (Z)strong hand and Your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this temple, 43hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, (AA)that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and (AB)fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name. By 1994 we had outgrown the older sanctuary, and so we began plans for a new sanctuary. Now therefore, Otherwise they could not be defeated in this "theocracy"! Solomon prayed his prayer of dedication, and then the king and all the Israelites officially dedicated the temple to the Lord. They always respond because they want Gods blessing on their marriage. Website: https://www.rayfowler.org. Solomon faces the Temple raises his hands toward heaven and begins to pray his prayer of dedication. And I am always happy to do that. If anyone sins against his neighbor, and is forced to take an oath, and comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this temple, then hear from heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, bringing retribution on the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. Can one who is condemned by the state to the death penalty still be a "worthy partaker of the table of His Son"? Hanukkah, (Hebrew: "Dedication") also spelled anukka, Chanukah, or Chanukkah, also called Feast of Dedication, Festival of Lights, or Feast of the Maccabees, Jewish festival that begins on Kislev 25 (usually in December, according to the Gregorian calendar) and is celebrated for eight days. As Solomon comes before the Lord with a . When all the work for the temple was finished, the last step was bringing the Ark of the Covenant and placing it in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, putting it beneath the wings of the cherubim. God is the one who gave you the talents, the time, the opportunity and the strength to do whatever it is you have done. The priests could not enter into the house of the . Solomon extols the faithfulness of God and exhorts the people to continue in the path of covenant obedience. >> When you pray with others in corporate prayer, make sure your heart, mind, and soul are echoing the words that are spoken. And that is all part of this third portion of Solomons prayer here in 1 Kings 8: a prayer for Gods name to be known among the nations. May You hear the supplications of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place: Solomon asked God to incline His ear towards the king and the people when they prayed from the temple. When there is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is; whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows his own burden and his own grief, and spreads out his hands to this temple: then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men), that they may fear You, to walk in Your ways as long as they live in the land which You gave to our fathers.. This wisdom is soon revealed when a mother comes to him with another woman, each claiming the same child as her own. The king is here not referring to the stranger who makes his home in Israel, but to the foreigner who comes and goes. And that is where we are today. He stood on the platform and then knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out . They were defeated because they had sinned against God! Prayer for Gods people to remain fully committed to him (61-63). 31When anyone sins against his neighbor, and is forced to take (O)an oath, and comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this temple, 32then hear in heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, (P)condemning the wicked, bringing his way on his head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. Gods good response to our repentance comes from His grace, not from justice. Remember the kindness of David, Thy servant (2 Chron.6:42). The heavens, even the highest heaven,(H) cannot contain(I) you. 28:21, 22, 27, 38, 42, 52, [1 Sam. Now Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the City of David, which is Zion. When He came to the temple and found the outer courts the only place where the Gentile nations could come and pray more like a swap meet than a house of prayer, He drove out the moneychangers and the merchants (Matthew 21:13). Those who begin with the service of God, are likely to go on successfully in their own affairs. The temple was designed for the keeping up of the correspondence between God and his people; and . New King James Version (NKJV). After all, didnt they do the work? And so the fourth and final part of Solomons prayer is a prayer that Gods people would remain fully committed to him. b. Solomon intercedes. As we just read in verse 61: Your hearts must be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands.. Finally the king does not distinguish between the various evils which may come but sums them up by speaking of whatsoever plague or sickness there be. One land would often invade the other, besiege its cities and take the inhabitants captive. No place, now, under the gospel, can add to the prayers made in or towards it. Well, yes, of course Solomon and the people all played their parts in making the temple come together, but Solomon in his wisdom recognizes that it was only possible because of the Lord. His prayer contained nine requests: 1. So this was a long-term project. You can check these in your browser security settings. He wished the temple always to be to Israel the token that Gods memorial is that he hears prayer. (Spurgeon), Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for the sake of Your great name and Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm, when they come and pray in this temple; then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.. We should pray for Gods continued presence and direction. c. When they come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive: Solomon also asked God to hear Israels prayer from captivity in a foreign land. i. 35When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain(U) because your people have sinned(V) against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, 36then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. III. Outline Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple? This referred to interpersonal disputes. NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. How were the kingly and priestly offices kept separate? Didnt they make the plans, gather the materials, and oversee the building of the temple? True (True or False) Because he recognized that Solomon was given the kingdom by the Lord, Adonijah gave up his ambition to be king. Surely, he does not mean it as an excuse. The violation of this principle made Jesus angry. Solomon having kept the feasts of tabernacles and dedication, dismisses the people 12. Solomon declares that he's built a house for God. Many modern people close their eyes, bow their heads, and fold their hands as they pray, but the Old Testament tradition was to spread out the hands toward heaven in a gesture of surrender, openness, and ready reception. The overseer of all is Solomon! In this refrain he speaks of the riches of the experience of faith. All rights reserved. The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud. A few short years after Solomon's prayer, God destroyed Israel as a nation. And so we must always keep our outward focus as a church. 28:9; Jer. 2 Chronicles 7:12-22 . And we should pray for Gods people to remain fully committed to him. Solomon is praying to the creator of the universe, who already owns all and knows all. I have surely built You an exalted house, And a place for You to dwell in forever." a. The Temple stood as a testimony of the fulfilment of God's promise to his father David. O LORD God, do not turn away the face of Your Anointed; God will then judge the one who has committed the sin and the taint of sin which exists as long as the real sinner is not known will be removed from the whole people. God honors a praying people, because a praying people honors God! When was the last time you invited someone to go to church? 17:10]; Acts 1:24, 2 Chr. 1 Kings 8 - The Dedication of the Temple A. It was the Lord who provided all that they needed to complete the project. 32:11, 12; Deut. Paul's Reference He humbly suggests that the Temple is the . We dedicate this sanctuary to be a place of worship. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. II. (v. 6) The apex of joy is realized in the dedication sacrifices and celebratory feast associated with this climactic moment in Jewish history. King David himself gathered the raw materials to build the temple and, evidently, God provided the building plans for that holy structure. This king does priestly work without violating the office of the priest as Uzziah later did. Disobedience, Pride, Self-Deception, Rejection, The Sanctity of Human Life in the Womb - Psalm 139, Caring for Each Other in the Body of Christ, Determining the Dates for Easter and Passover, The Magic Dresser (A Poem for Mother's Day), The Fruit of the Spirit and 1 Corinthians 13, Click here for more messages from the book of. There are so many people who would love to come to church with you if you would just ask them. Will God dwell on the earth? (O), 31When anyone wrongs their neighbor and is required to take an oath and they come and swear the oath(P) before your altar in this temple, 32then hear from heaven and act. If this king will continue in this way, he may be sure that the Lord his God will remember His covenant and all the loving kindness which He had promised David. We cannot dedicate things to the Lord if we have not dedicated ourselves to the Lord first. God's House must ever be known as a place of prayer and His people as a people of prayer. The Bible contains the record of many wonderful prayers. 1 Kings 8. There will be seven distinct petitions in this prayer of Solomon. So that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. Solomons prayer has a global focus. Five Reasons to Read God's Word This Year, Involving People in Personal and Group Worship, Receiving People into Fellowship and Service, Sharing Gods Love in Broward County and Beyond, Teaching and Equipping People for Ministry, This Man Welcomes Sinners and Eats with Them, Five Candles at Christmas (Advent Wreath Sermons), Abraham (3): Unquestioning Obedience to Gods Commands, Creation: Understanding the Power of Gods Word, Faith: Being Certain of What You Do Not See, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph: Trusting God with the Future, Jericho and Rahab: Trusting in Gods Deliverance (2), Moses and His Parents: Fearing God Rather Than Man, Moses: Identifying with Christ and His People, New Testament Believers: Something Better for Us, Old Testament Believers (1): Triumphant in Victory, Old Testament Believers (2): Triumphant in Suffering, The Red Sea: Trusting in Gods Deliverance (1), Abortion: Caring for mothers and children in crisis pregnancy situations, Assisted suicide: Caring for the elderly and infirm, Divorce and Remarriage: Covenant, commitment, grace and forgiveness, Homosexuality: Caring for those who experience same-sex attraction, Living Together: Dishonoring those you love the most, Racism: A sin against God, humanity and the gospel, Transgender: Caring for those who experience issues with gender identity, The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast, The Parables of the Treasure and the Pearl, Turning Your Attitudes Upside Down - Part 1, Turning Your Attitudes Upside Down - Part 2, A Prayer to Be Pleasing to God (Sanctifying), Psalm 121 - Trusting in Gods Providential Care, Psalm 123 - Looking to the Lord for Mercy.
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