Was it God's desire for Israel to worship Him in a temple in Jerusalem He is famous for building the First Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Prayer for Gods continued presence and direction (57-58). So shall sin be done away and the righteous will not suffer for the unrighteous. Next Solomon prays for Gods name to be known among the nations. 1 Chronicles 29:16). (Selman). Please include the following statement on any distributed copies: I have surely built You an exalted house, Prayer and Propaganda: Solomon's Dedication of the Temple and the Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise, therefore, and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the Lord.". i. 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. We are glad that Solomon said this. Its the very first part of our purpose statement: The purpose of the Plantation Community Church is to make disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. We make disciples by winning people to Christ and then helping them to grow in him. Also when the whole people of Israel come to this place to offer their prayers, Lord hear them. 1 Kings 8 - Bible Study Tools The Dedication of the Temple | Religious Studies Center 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. Solomon's prayer of dedication of the Temple | JRB Publications Solomon's Prayer of Dedication | Words of Hope The heavens, even the highest heaven,(H) cannot contain(I) you. Many times people want their pastor to come and pray a prayer of dedication for their new home or their place of business. 1 Kings 8 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (concise) - Christianity Keep prayer at he center of all you do! 9:5, [2 Chr. 1 Kings 8:22-61 Wednesday, 17 March 2021 "And now, O God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David my father come true." -1 Kings 8:26 Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the Temple at Jerusalem is at the centre of our reading today. Give them victory! Solomon's Prayer of Dedication | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org God cannot be confined to a particular space, but He does meet with His people in particular spaces. When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin): This is a succinct Old Testament statement of the principle most clearly stated in Romans 3:23: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. He is here following an example clearly taught us by our Lord Jesus Christ in the perfect prayer. 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). It's praying until we know we have laid hold of God. Forgive(AF) and act; deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know(AG) their hearts (for you alone know every human heart), 40so that they will fear(AH) you all the time they live in the land(AI) you gave our ancestors. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. 54When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the Lord, he rose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven. Now is introduced the refrain which we will hear throughout this prayer: hear Thou in heaven Thy dwelling place; and when Thou hearest, forgive. And comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this temple: The temple grounds were used as a place to verify and authorize oaths. 2 Chronicles 7:14 Sermon - Join Us In Prayer From the study of Solomon's prayer after the completion of the temple, the students will discover that God keeps all His promises. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. If His people go to battle against their enemies, whether at home or in other countries, when they pray toward this place, may God hear them and maintain their cause. In this refrain he speaks of the riches of the experience of faith. Solomon has no basis upon which to request anything except God's beloved mercy. a. After many particulars, Solomon concludes with the general request, that God would hearken to his praying people. 28 And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of . The Bible contains the record of many wonderful prayers. 3:23; 1 John 1:8, 10], Lev. We should always begin with thanksgiving and praise for what God has done. Christianity is essentially and fundamentally a sinners religion. 1 Kings 8:54-63 (Dedication of the temple), INTRODUCTION: This morning we are going to look at King Solomons prayer of dedication when the temple was built in Jerusalem and see what principles of this prayer apply to us today as we dedicate our new sanctuary to God and his glory. 44When Your people go out to battle against their enemy, wherever You send them, and when they pray to the Lord toward the city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name, 45then hear in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their [c]cause. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. 10. on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month --This was the last day of the feast of tabernacles. ), 2Ch 2:6; Ps 139:7-16; Isa 66:1; Jer 23:24, ver 52; 2Ki 19:16; 2Ch 7:15; Ne 1:6; Ps 5:1; 31:2; 102:17; 130:2; Isa 37:17, ver 47; Lev 26:40; Ne 1:6; Jer 29:12; Da 9:4, Ps 5:8; 27:11; 107:7; Pr 11:5; Isa 45:13; Jer 6:16; 7:23; 31:21, ver 35; 1Ki 17:1; 18:1, 45; Jer 5:24; 10:3; 14:22; Zec 10:1, S Jos 22:22; S Ps 44:21; Jn 2:24; S Rev 2:23, Lev 26:33-39; S Dt 4:27; S 21:10; S 28:64; 2Ki 25:21, S ver 30; S Lev 5:5; Ezr 9:15; Ne 1:6; Jer 14:20, 1Ki 9:4; 11:4; 15:3, 14; 22:43; 2Ki 20:3; 1Ch 28:9; 29:19; 2Ch 16:9; 17:6; 25:2; Ps 119:80; Isa 38:3, NIV, Beautiful Word Bible Journal, Galatians, Paperback, Comfort Print, NIV, The Woman's Study Bible, Full-Color, Red Letter: Receiving God's Truth for Balance, Hope, and Transformation, NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture, NIV, The Story, Hardcover, Comfort Print: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible, Comfort Print: Follow Gods Redemptive Plan as It Unfolds throughout Scripture, NIV, Story of Jesus: Experience the Life of Jesus as One Seamless Story. 130:3; Prov. It is necessary to add these words because Israel may well be over-confident at the time when it is the strongest notion in that part of the world. How much less this temple which I have built! 3. We should look beyond ourselves and pray for Gods name to be known among the nations. No other God ever makes a covenant with the people whom he rules. As Solomon was involved in doing God's work, he could expect God's blessing on his efforts. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God. i. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive. It was the Lord who gave Israel rest from their enemies so they could focus on the building of the temple at that time. How were the kingly and priestly offices kept separate? First we ask for Gods presence to be among us. Commentary I Kings 8:22-I Kings 8:40 Family-Times.net Forgiveness of sins that had brought on drought (vv. i. The Temple was incomparable - just like the God who it was built for. a. And so finally after all the years of preparation and giving and building, the temple was complete. get to know the Bible better! And this applies to all dedications. It was even worse when the defeat was because they had sinned against the LORD Himself. When such a person prays toward this place, may God hear him too. Didnt they make the plans, gather the materials, and oversee the building of the temple? It is not therefore to be wondered at that, when Solomon dedicated to the Lord the temple which he had built, his great petition was that God would hear every prayer that should be uttered in that place or toward that place. Those who begin with the service of God, are likely to go on successfully in their own affairs. You can also change some of your preferences. Daily Devotion: Praying in the True Temple (2 Chron 6:12-40) And so this fourth part of Solomons prayer is so important when it comes to dedicating anything to God and his glory. (BE) 53For you singled them out from all the nations of the world to be your own inheritance,(BF) just as you declared through your servant Moses when you, Sovereign Lord, brought our ancestors out of Egypt.. Solomon declares that he's built a house for God. And so this message suddenly got real hard for some of us because Solomons prayer suddenly got real hard. 28:9; Jer. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. (If you're a human, don't change the following field), Solomons Prayer at the Dedication of the Temple. Famine came upon the land of Canaan several times during the course of sacred history despite the fact that this land was to be the land "flowing with milk and honey." A few short years after Solomon's prayer, God destroyed Israel as a nation. a. I have filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised: Solomon recognized that his succession of David on the throne of Israel was a significant thing. This "fear of God" is a concept which we find frequently in the Old Testament. He keeps His promises and shows lovingkindness. This Sunday's lectionary reading from the Old Testament contains a portion of King Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:22-53). If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. How then shall this house which Solomon has built house Him? You have kept what You promised: Solomon first thanked and praised God for His past fulfillment of promises. And so now we are finally in a position officially to dedicate this sanctuary to God and his glory. At the dedication ceremony, Solomon acknowledged the feebleness of his efforts compared to an infinite God: "Will God really dwell on earth with humans? God is the one who made it possible, and we give him all the glory. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Construction of the Temple was begun in the _____ year following the Exodus., In return for cedar and fir from Lebanon, Solomon gave Hiram, king of Tyre:, The Temple required _____ years for construction. (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. a. V. 22b Verse 54 tells us that he knelt on his knees: "when Solomon had finished praying all 30 Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they God is the one who gave you the talents, the time, the opportunity and the strength to do whatever it is you have done. Now keep what You promised Your servant David. let Your word come true: Solomon called upon God to keep the promises that He made. The Ark has been brought in. b. 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.. By 1994 we had outgrown the older sanctuary, and so we began plans for a new sanctuary. Sunday School Lesson (January 19, 2020) Solomon's Dedication Prayer The "man after God's own heart" had left the scene. Dedication of the Temple - Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would dwell in thick darkness. Last year through some generous estate gifts and through the sacrificial giving of Gods people, we were able to pay off the mortgage twelve years early. If we dont appropriate in faith, Gods promise is left unclaimed. In this way he would be visible to all the people and they would all be able to hear him. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. We may request cookies to be set on your device. And let Your saints rejoice in goodness. 27But will God really dwell(G) on earth? The Temple stood as a testimony of the fulfilment of God's promise to his father David. Thats the first part of Solomons prayer: thanksgiving and praise for what God has done. The ruler is on his knees before One who is the great Ruler of the universe (2 Chronicles 6:13)! God honors a praying people, because a praying people honors God! 35-36). 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. 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. 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. God wanted the court of the Gentiles to be a place where the nations could come and pray. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. The temple is dedicated and let God now arise to His dwelling place! This recognized that the God of the temple could answer prayers made away from the temple. 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. Known as an ambitious builder of public works, Solomon's crowning achievement was the building of the Temple. (v. 4) Solomon reiterates that God has never asked for a city or a house or a ruler until now. The ruler of the people is going to lead the whole nation in prayer! Copyright 2019 by Zondervan. In the early years of the Israelite kingdom, the Ark of the Covenant was periodically moved about among several sanctuaries, especially those of Shechem and Shiloh. Such an individual must then come to the altar of God. However, if they pray "toward," not at this place or in this place, but in their homes with their faces toward Jerusalem, may the Lord forgive the sins of the king and of the people and send rain so that they may again be able to live in the land the Lord has given them. Solomon The Dedication Of The Temple - LESSONS IN GOD'S WORD 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. The king is here not referring to the stranger who makes his home in Israel, but to the foreigner who comes and goes. Jesus promised his disciples: For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. (Matthew 18:20) And so when we gather to worship God in Jesus name, we can be assured that Christ is with us, that he is present with us and brings us into Gods glorious presence as we lift up the name of Jesus and worship God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Because Solomon also prayed here: May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers. (1 Kings 8:58) Notice this is primarily a prayer for God to turn you. True (True or False) Because he recognized that Solomon was given the kingdom by the Lord, Adonijah gave up his ambition to be king. The Purpose Of Prayer - Executable Outlines So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the temple of the Lord. It is a beautiful prayer which relates more specifically to the temple itself and its unique place in the history of Israel and the world. Stood before the altar of the LORD: Solomon did not dedicate the temple from within the temple. Seeing God always forgives upon His people's repentance, can this forgiveness become rather common place to us? There will be seven distinct petitions in this prayer of Solomon. b. The work on this sanctuary is long completed. In the second petition the king pleads with his God concerning his people when they are defeated by enemies. "If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our . 28:21, 22, 27, 38, 42, 52, [1 Sam. Read 1 Kings 8:22-53, 2 Chronicles 6:12-42. 8:1-66 The account of the Temple's dedication ceremony is organized concentrically: Solomon gathers the assembly (), blesses it (vv. Surely, he does not mean it as an excuse. (BC), 52May your eyes be open(BD) to your servants plea and to the plea of your people Israel, and may you listen to them whenever they cry out to you. - Solomon acknowledges that God cannot be contained in any temple. (v. 6) The first prayer is a longer prayer which is recorded for us in verses 1 Kings 8:22-53. It's actually three prayers and what I find most interesting about them is the balance of what is said. It is a beautiful prayer which relates more specifically to the temple itself and its unique place in the history of Israel and the world. Are there more ecumenical passages in the Old Testament? 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. You can check these in your browser security settings. Old Testament Survey Unit 6 Quiz 2 Flashcards | Quizlet 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. 35, 46-49). Let us then stand in awe, and sin not. Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits . The Lord had promised David that his would be a dynasty, i.e., his children should sit on the throne of Israel through generations if they would fear Him and keep His commandments. a. Arise, O LORD God, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength: This conclusion of prayer has Numbers 10:35-36 in mind, when Israel moved the ark of the covenant, the tabernacle, and the whole camp of Israel from place to place through the wilderness during the exodus. Its location, Mount Moriah, was where God appeared to David, and also where Abraham . b. This beautiful prayer must be applied to his heart as well as to the hearts of all who read this prayer. 22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven; 23 and he said: "Lord God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. The pretended gods of the nations could not compare to Him in any way. Blasting refers to the singeing of the grain by the dry hot wind blowing from the desert. 2 Chronicles 6:12-40 records the great prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem. Otherwise they could not be defeated in this "theocracy"! Whenever a people is defeated, great suffering comes upon them. Solomon pleads with the Lord that the temple would be a place of prayer and that all prayers directed toward it would be heard of the Lord and answered. When they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them, then hear in heaven: Solomon doesnt take it for granted that God would forgive and hear His repentant people. Even though men cannot prove the sin which has been committed by this "someone," God does know. Nehemiah Chapter 12. The Characterization of Solomon in Solomon's Prayer (1 Kings 8) Though only Jesus is God incarnate, the temple was a clear sign that God in all his being was committed to living among his people. (Selman), Then the king turned around and blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.. 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. Sermon for Building Dedication: A Place with Purpose - Preaching Just because God promises does not mean that we possess.