(True or False) Graciously, Solomon first allowed Adonijah to go free. God's House must ever be known as a place of prayer and His people as a people of prayer. 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. The heavens, even the highest heaven,(H) cannot contain(I) you. 53For You separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be Your inheritance, (AM)as You spoke by Your servant Moses, when You brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God.. 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. It is an immense undertaking for that day to build such a building as the temple. b. How then shall this house which Solomon has built house Him? 54-61), and dismisses it (vv. 22Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands(B) toward heaven 23and said: Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like(C) you in heaven above or on earth belowyou who keep your covenant of love(D) with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. (READ VERSES 23-24) SOLOMON IS PRAISING BECAUSE GOD IS FAITHFUL They built a larger sanctuary than they needed at the time because they trusted God would help them grow. SOLOMON BEGINS HIS PRAYER WITH PRAISE. I have built thee an exalted house, a place for thee to dwell in for ever." Then the king faced . As Solomon was involved in doing God's work, he could expect God's blessing on his efforts. Although we gather as a church to worship Christ, we must always be thinking of those outside the church who still need Christ. 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. a. Teach(W) them the right way(X) to live, and send rain(Y) on the land you gave your people for an inheritance. King Solomon ( "Shlomo Hamelech" in Hebrew) was the third king of Israel. 50And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their captors to show them mercy;(BA) 51for they are your people and your inheritance,(BB) whom you brought out of Egypt, out of that iron-smelting furnace. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. 25-30). The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud. This was made of either brass or copper and Solomon took his position on this platform. 28:36, 64; 2 Kin. How would this be possible? The Temple was incomparable - just like the God who it was built for. We may request cookies to be set on your device. 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. Hello and welcome to RayFowler.org. Praying in the True Temple. Jesus taught: Matthew 6:9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name." Solomon's God was no dud. God's presence and protection (vv. When a dispute came down to one word against another, Solomon asked that the temple would be a place to properly swear by. No greater indication of the need for a place of atonement and forgiveness could be given. (Selman). Solomon's prayer acknowledged the greatness of the LORD, and that there was none other God like Him. Solomon's prayer. 106:6; Dan. a. a. Ray Fowler. True (True or False) Because he recognized that Solomon was given the kingdom by the Lord, Adonijah gave up his ambition to be king. b. He will then not lack a son to sit upon his throne. 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 is such an important prayer because it reminds us that we do not exist for ourselves but rather for Gods glory and the spreading of Gods name throughout our community and throughout the nations. Christianity is essentially and fundamentally a sinners religion. It was Solomon's praise, that what he undertook, he went through with; it was by the grace of God that he prospered in it. (If you're a human, don't change the following field), Solomons Prayer at the Dedication of the Temple. Israel's God does make covenant. The mention of Gods hands (lit. 27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps. Why Do You Look for the Living Among the Dead? Arise, O LORD God, to Your resting place, And a place for You to dwell in forever.. Im so glad that our church has such a strong commitment to missions and to the spread of the gospel to all the nations. IV. This is the second part of Solomons prayer: a prayer for Gods continued presence and direction. 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. 1 Chronicles 22:19. Verse Concepts. 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. Now therefore, I ask them: Why do you want Gods blessing on your marriage, but you dont want Gods blessing on your present relationship? Its not consistent. All of the most skilled craftsmen in Israel are required for the construction. When David died the people of Israel could look for a big change in the government of the land. The many difficulties which arise out of this state of affairs are, of course, well known. Religion Past & Present XII (2012) 141. a. 57May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake(BJ) us. 24 You have kept >> When you pray with others in corporate prayer, make sure your heart, mind, and soul are echoing the words that are spoken. Return and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this temple, then hear from heaven: Solomon asked God to hear the prayers of a defeated, yet humble and penitent Israel. When was the last time? this temple for God, so did His represented presence in the form of the Ark of the Covenant (see 2 Chronicles 5:2-10). The good news is that God not only forgives sins but also delights in dwelling with His people (v. 50). If there are, why are they so few? 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 . What a sight! The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. 1 Kings 8 - The Dedication of the Temple A. 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. And I am always happy to do that. This lesson was prepared for older elementary students and can be adapted for . God wanted the court of the Gentiles to be a place where the nations could come and pray. with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, and the people . Known as an ambitious builder of public works, Solomon's crowning achievement was the building of the Temple. After placing the ark in its new home, a praise service broke out with instruments sounding out beautifully and voices raised . 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. 58May he turn our hearts(BK) to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors. (v. 5) God has chose Jerusalem and David. 35(T)When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them, 36then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may (U)teach them (V)the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance. In this article: The ruler of the people is going to lead the whole nation in prayer! You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. One is struck, moreover, with the fact that the language is far from new, and is full of quotations from the Pentateuch, some of which are almost word for word, while the sense of the whole may be found in those memorable passages in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. (Spurgeon). 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. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. We dedicate this sanctuary to be a place where Gods word is honored and proclaimed. 28 And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of . 29May your eyes be open(J) toward(K) this temple night and day, this place of which you said, My Name(L) shall be there, so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 32-33) shows that he realized that Israel was to reach out and share the knowledge and blessings of God with Gentiles. Thanks for visiting! Solomon is praying to the creator of the universe, who already owns all and knows all. Then he prays. His concern for foreigners (vv. Love C.S. Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:34 9.4MB) King Solomon . There is room for petitions, but first we are to realize to Whom we come and we must also realize our own limitations. He kneels as he prays and spreads out his hands to the heavens. 106:46; Acts 7:10, Ex. The hearts determine their actions. Outline Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple? Does the temple in Jerusalem have more significance than our church buildings? Whenever a people is defeated, great suffering comes upon them. For less than $5/mo. Solomon faces the Temple raises his hands toward heaven and begins to pray his prayer of dedication. This is a Bible study on prayer, focusing specifically on the prayer at the dedication of the temple (1 Kings 8:22-53; 2 Chronicles 6:12-42). The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the Lord's musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the Lord and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, "His love endures forever." 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. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. Was that a major accomplishment? Dedication of the Temple - Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would dwell in thick darkness. 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. He referred to God's name Yahweh 14 times, showing his concern for the reputation of Israel's God. I sometimes run into this with baby dedications. The second part of his prayer was for Gods continued presence and direction. What is especially notable is that foreigners could know and fear God like your people Israel. This hope of equality in worship was rarely expressed in the Old Testament (e.g. But the LORD said to my father David, Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well in that it was in your heart. 3. He was the first king to follow his father as a hereditary monarch. Only if they are faithful will they rule. How can we dedicate something to Gods glory if we are not seeking to glorify him with our lives? The substance is Christ; whatever we ask in his name, it shall be given us. (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. We should look beyond ourselves and pray for Gods name to be known among the nations. How were the kingly and priestly offices kept separate? He stood on the platform and then knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out . If there was no rain, there was no food. (BM) 61And may your hearts(BN) be fully committed(BO) to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.. - Solomon acknowledges that God cannot be contained in any temple. That is his privilege and his duty. When the building is now finished there is a great celebration of dedication and Solomon utters a prayer which has become a classic. This is a God who enters into communion with His people. 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. Solomon here prays for the faithfulness of all of his own posterity. 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. Surely, he does not mean it as an excuse. Here are 3 key lessons from Solomon's prayer for wisdom that can give us spiritual wisdom, as well: 1. THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 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. i. Solomon then prayed two prayers of dedication. 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.. 12. the Lord appeared to Solomon by The dedication of the temple must have been an occasion of intense national interest to Solomon and his subjects. Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. The building and furniture of the temple were very glorious, but the dedication of it exceeds in glory as much as prayer and praise, the work of saints, exceed the casting of metal and the graving of stones, the work of the craftsman. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. b. Crafts: Draw or paint self-portraits and write out 1 Corinthians 3:16 on the picture. Click on the different category headings to find out more. Sign up for daily inspiration today!>. This king does priestly work without violating the office of the priest as Uzziah later did. For this reason, the only way they can receive forgiveness of sins is through the physical Temple. 37When famine(Z) or plague(AA) comes to the land, or blight(AB) or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers,(AC) or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, 38and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israelbeing aware of the afflictions of their own hearts, and spreading out their hands(AD) toward this temple 39then hear(AE) from heaven, your dwelling place. 33When your people Israel have been defeated(R) by an enemy because they have sinned(S) against you, and when they turn back to you and give praise to your name, praying and making supplication to you in this temple,(T) 34then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to their ancestors. It was the Lord who fulfilled all the good promises he had given through his servant Moses. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. If God's people only repent! The temple was a beautiful place that God instructed Solomon to build to represent the holiness of his presence. He humbly suggests that the Temple is the . (Read 1 Kings 8:54-63 and pray.). Can a murderer, if he repents, be saved? Click here for more messages from the book of 1 Kings. This was the early part of the reign of Solomon - his wise period . Genesis 12:3; Isaiah 19:24-25; Zechariah 8:20-22), and even Jesus closest disciples found its fulfillment hard to take (Acts 10:1-11:18). (Selman), When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name, then hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause. Prayer for Gods continued presence and direction (57-58). Finally, Solomon prayed and anticipated the final judgment' war and national collapse.' War within is the ultimate destroyer of life, property and freedom. Footnotes. And so we pray for God to turn our hearts that we may walk in all his ways and be obedient to his commands. Solomon II. Solomon's Prayer of Dedication. 8:1-66 The account of the Temple's dedication ceremony is organized concentrically: Solomon gathers the assembly (), blesses it (vv. God honors a praying people, because a praying people honors God! Does the enormity of the sin have anything to do with the possibility of forgiveness? When the Old Testament speaks of the "foreigner" it does not always refer to the same kind of people. b. As king himself, Solomon remembered and spoke those truths at the dedication of the temple in his prayer and benediction. This is a more general prayer of dedication and well-suited to the dedication of any home, building or business to the Lord. Oh, let God now hear the prayer of His servant! But I think we all need to do a better job in personal evangelism as well. It was the Lord who gave Israel rest from their enemies so they could focus on the building of the temple at that time. 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. If they are taken out of their land because of their sin! 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 - "Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. He is here following an example clearly taught us by our Lord Jesus Christ in the perfect prayer. Now, 11 months later, Solomon stands before the people, spread Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. Used by permission. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. Behold, heaven and the (J)heaven of heavens cannot contain You. When the Lord gave him a choice of various gifts he might have, he chose wisdom. Standing there at the altar, he cried out for God to have mercy on His people . You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. Yet I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name may be there; and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel. Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel. For this reason, many observant Jews still pray facing the direction of the site of the temple in Jerusalem. 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). This is Solomon's prayer. 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. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God. This was not a blanket request for blessing on every military adventure. All rights reserved. And then we not only pray for Gods continued presence but also for his direction. By Ray Fowler. ii. No place, now, under the gospel, can add to the prayers made in or towards it. 17:6, 18; 25:21, Ezra 9:6, 7; Neh. Eight years ago this sanctuary was completed and we began worshiping here but we never had a dedication service, because we didnt actually own the building yet. Prayer for Gods name to be known among the nations (59-60). a. Want the Verse of the Day sent to your inbox? Read 1 Kings 8:22-53, 2 Chronicles 6:12-42. And then the fourth and final part of Solomons prayer is a prayer for Gods people to remain fully committed to him. 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. There is no other God. Prayer for Gods people to remain fully committed to him (61-63). This was to be a beautiful temple built for Gods glory. 2.F orgiveness of trespasses (vv. II. 2 Chronicles 2:1. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20). Solomon then prayed two prayers of dedication. You can also check out the Top Posts page to get a feel for the site. 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. The ruler is on his knees before One who is the great Ruler of the universe (2 Chronicles 6:13)! How much less this temple which I have built! When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain: Drought was a constant threat for the agriculturally based economy of Israel. You and the ark of Your strength. King Solomon's Prayer Of Dedication Outlines The Importance Of The Temple The Jewish people do not believe in the spiritual Temple which is Jesus Christ. 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. The first prayer is a longer prayer which is recorded for us in verses 1 Kings 8:22-53. Hear from heaven, and act, and judge Your servants: Solomon asked the God who can see what man cant who knows the hidden heart of man to enforce from heaven the oaths made at the temple. Their attitude was: Nothing will happen to us because we have the temple! But God said, No! We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them, then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance. Now we come to the seven petitions which Solomon speaks. After all, didnt they do the work? Judge between your servants, condemning the guilty by bringing down on their heads what they have done, and vindicating the innocent by treating them in accordance with their innocence.(Q). Solomon made supplication at dedication of the temple - 1 Kin 8:28-29; Jesus made supplication as He was crucified; Stephen also, as he was being stoned - Lk 23:34; Ac 7:59-60; CONCLUSION. Let God now hear Solomon. a. When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, wherever You send them: Solomon prayed with the idea that God should answer the prayers for victory made in foreign lands towards the temple, but only when they battle as God sent them. Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.. 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. Israel had prospered and had been victorious under the reign of David. If we dont appropriate in faith, Gods promise is left unclaimed. I. Thanksgiving and praise for what God has done (54-56). We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. (AQ), 46When they sin against youfor there is no one who does not sin(AR)and you become angry with them and give them over to their enemies, who take them captive(AS) to their own lands, far away or near; 47and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead(AT) with you in the land of their captors and say, We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly;(AU) 48and if they turn back(AV) to you with all their heart(AW) and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray(AX) to you toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and the temple(AY) I have built for your Name;(AZ) 49then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. 31-32). (1 Kings 7:13) Only the best materials were used. Because really, what good does it do to commit a temple or a sanctuary or really anything to the Lord if you are not personally committed to the Lord yourself? 130:3; Prov. At the dedication ceremony, Solomon acknowledged the feebleness of his efforts compared to an infinite God: "Will God really dwell on earth with humans? He does not say what manner of sin it is because that is immaterial to what he has in mind. From the study of Solomon's prayer after the completion of the temple, the students will discover that God keeps all His promises. 35, 46-49). For less than $5/mo. Let God now hear Solomon. All rights reserved worldwide. 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. The work on this sanctuary is long completed. Recalls God's dynastic promises to David through the prophet Nathan. And let Your saints rejoice in goodness. DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE 231 devaluation of the temple.9 The Deuteronomist, writing after the temple's destruction, purportedly recasts the temple's significance, "For him the temple is little more than a place towards which one turns in prayer."10 Similarly, Weinfeld sees Solomon's prayer as evincing the deuteronomic demythologization of . New International Version (NIV). He sent the Babylonians and they came and ransacked the temple and burned it to the ground. 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. 58 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. And in the midst of a phenomenal celebratory service; the King of Israel prays a dedicatory prayer like none have ever heard before. It was important to recognize that though God had a special presence in the temple, He was far too great to be restricted to the temple. The overseer of all is Solomon! Online 2013. 37(W)When there is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemy besieges them in the land of their [b]cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is; 38whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple: 39then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone (X)know the hearts of all the sons of men), 40(Y)that they may fear You all the days that they live in the land which You gave to our fathers.