3:23; 1 John 1:8, 10], Lev. In this article: And this applies to all dedications. 1. This was the early part of the reign of Solomon - his wise period . 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. 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. 106:46; Acts 7:10, Ex. Will God dwell on the earth? Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. The priests could not enter into the house of the . 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. For this occasion Solomon has had a platform built which was five cubits wide and five cubits long and three cubits high. It's praying until we know we have laid hold of God. (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.. 9:2629; Neh. What a wonderful prayer to pray! Jerusalem: The End of the Road or Just the Beginning? We may request cookies to be set on your device. 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. 55He stood and blessed(BG) the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying: 56Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest(BH) to his people Israel just as he promised. By 1994 we had outgrown the older sanctuary, and so we began plans for a new sanctuary. When the Lord gave him a choice of various gifts he might have, he chose wisdom. King Solomon mentions several of them. 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. 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.. New King James Version (NKJV). c. When You hear, forgive: Solomon knew that the most important thing Israel needed was forgiveness. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. I sometimes run into this with baby dedications. When a couple comes and asks me to marry them in the church, I always ask them why they want to get married by a pastor in the church rather than, say, a judge at the courthouse. 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 was the Lord who fulfilled all the good promises he had given through his servant Moses. 3. Solomon urges God to enter into an agreement with Israel that when the people pray to God, whether to relieve a famine, or to give them victory in combat against an approaching enemy, or to grant them forgiveness from their sins against God and against one another, that God would grant their request. 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). get to know the Bible better! Read 1 Kings 8:22-53, 2 Chronicles 6:12-42. 27But will God really dwell(G) on earth? 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. Solomon then prayed two prayers of dedication. 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. Though it happened 500 years before, it was just as important and real for Israel as the day it happened. A strong church was planted here in Plantation that has been faithful in preaching Gods word and has given millions of dollars to missions around the world. This sentence has been explained in various ways. 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. Lewis? Look at verse 61: But your hearts must be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time. (1 Kings 8:61). 63 Solomon offered a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to the Lord: twenty-two thousand cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. (1 Kings 8:59-60). a. This is a more general prayer of dedication and well-suited to the dedication of any home, building or business to the Lord. Are there more ecumenical passages in the Old Testament? After placing the ark in its new home, a praise service broke out with instruments sounding out beautifully and voices raised . Dedication of the Temple of God in the city of Nauvoo. Im so glad that we are committed to missions right here at home in Broward County and beyond. Here are 3 key lessons from Solomon's prayer for wisdom that can give us spiritual wisdom, as well: 1. And so your first thought should always be thanksgiving and praise to God for what he has done. Give them victory! How many people have you told about Jesus lately? This is instructive to us. Now therefore, But then Solomon goes on to pray this second prayer of dedication in verses 54-63. Let us pray. Solomon has no basis upon which to request anything except God's beloved mercy. Hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and when You hear, forgive.. 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. God's House must ever be known as a place of prayer and His people as a people of prayer. >> When you pray with others in corporate prayer, make sure your heart, mind, and soul are echoing the words that are spoken. Amen. But, when a segment of the people then turn to the temple and seek the name of God and ask forgiveness, may He bring each one back to the land he has received in his family inheritance. (v. 4) Solomon reiterates that God has never asked for a city or a house or a ruler until now. This type of praying produced some marvelous results. In this prayer, there is plenty of evidence that Solomon understood God's purpose for Israel. 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.. Solomon took time to contemplate the God he was praying to. Living together outside of marriage is direct disobedience to Gods commands, and God cannot bless disobedience. 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. 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. 4. In an age when this is frequently misunderstood, it provides a valuable resource. If you are going in one direction, and God wants you to go in a different direction, then you need God to turn you around. We cannot dedicate things to the Lord if we have not dedicated ourselves to the Lord first. Nevertheless, it also reminds us of the principle in prayer of praying in the name of Jesus, the ultimate Anointed One. 30(N)And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Nor was the interest merely temporary or local. Footnotes. 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. IV. Now, my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and let Your ears be attentive to the prayer made in this place. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. 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. How much less this temple which I have built! However, He has promised that His name would dwell there. c. Nevertheless you shall not build the temple: Though Solomon built the temple and not David, we are reminded of the extensive preparations David made for the temple. 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. Solomon felt his own inadequacy. Click on the different category headings to find out more. Rather than information alone, Solomon . PASTOR: Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; our Father which art in heaven: PASTOR: Son of God, the only begotten of the Father, head of the body which is the church; head over all things to the church; Prophet, Priest and King; whose glorious appearing shall be to all people: PASTOR: Holy Spirit, our Comforter, Counselor, guide and friend: PASTOR: For comfort to those who mourn; for strength to those who are tempted; for the instruction and training of children and youth; for the sending forth of the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth: CONGREGATION: To you we dedicate this house. The Bible contains the record of many wonderful prayers. Forgiveness of sins that had caused defeat in battle (vv. When Solomon's construction was completed, the temple was dedicated. 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 . This is the great secret to power in prayer to take Gods promises to heart in faith, and then boldly and reverently call upon Him to fulfill the promises. b. I. Thanksgiving and praise for what God has done (54-56). 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. Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.. It would be inappropriate for him to do so because he was a king and not a priest. How much less this temple I have built! Used by permission. 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. Not one word has failed of all the good promises(BI) he gave through his servant Moses. b. The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud: The cloud of Gods glory has a long association with His presence. There is suffering in every part of life. 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. (v. 6) 14-21), utters a long dedicatory prayer (vv. "Solomon's Prayer of Dedication" . So what does it mean to dedicate something to the Lord? 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. November 2020 Series on Thanksgiving - for more information and an outline see here.. When the temple was complete Solomon praised God before His people reminding them of His promises. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. When we gather to worship, this is what we seek first and foremost. This king does priestly work without violating the office of the priest as Uzziah later did. Copyright 2019 by Zondervan. Does the temple in Jerusalem have more significance than our church buildings? Solomon intercedes. i. This lesson was prepared for older elementary students and can be adapted for . Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. fulfilled with his hands) really means that Gods actions have confirmed his words it is as if Gods unseen hands were active in all the human hands who contributed to the construction work (cf. We should always begin with thanksgiving and praise for what God has done. In their fasting and prayer, the people of Judah claimed the promises God had made in his covenant with Solomon at the dedication of the temple in 1 Kings 8. We also notice why Solomon is praising God. He does not say what manner of sin it is because that is immaterial to what he has in mind. A. Solomon's prayer place. The we come to Solomon's prayer of dedication of the temple. The temple was one of the most beautiful structures of ancient times. 46When they sin against You (AC)(for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive (AD)to the land of the enemy, far or near; 47(AE)yet when they [d]come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of those who took them captive, (AF)saying, We have sinned and done wrong, we have committed wickedness; 48and when they (AG)return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who led them away captive, and (AH)pray to You toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name: 49then hear in heaven Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their [e]cause, 50and forgive Your people who have sinned against You, and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You; and (AI)grant them compassion before those who took them captive, that they may have compassion on them 51(for (AJ)they are Your people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out of Egypt, (AK)out of the iron furnace), 52(AL)that Your eyes may be open to the supplication of Your servant and the supplication of Your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they call to You. 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. 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. Solomon intercedes. 30:9]; Ezra 7:6; Ps. This kind of prayer lays hold of Gods promise. 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. 59And 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, 60so that all the peoples(BL) of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. Oh, let God now hear the prayer of His servant! When the building is now finished there is a great celebration of dedication and Solomon utters a prayer which has become a classic. b. Solomon's prayer of dedication of the Temple. And so now we are finally in a position officially to dedicate this sanctuary to God and his glory. Here they are about to dedicate this beautiful temple to the Lord and Solomon says: But may your hearts be fully committed to God. I dont know if youre familiar with the rest of the history of the Israelites and the temple, but when Gods people eventually turned away from the Lord, God took the temple away from them. Create a "special and holy" place in your classroom where children can pray and talk about how holy and special God is. This wisdom is soon revealed when a mother comes to him with another woman, each claiming the same child as her own. When the Old Testament speaks of the "foreigner" it does not always refer to the same kind of people. The substance is Christ; whatever we ask in his name, it shall be given us. They built a larger sanctuary than they needed at the time because they trusted God would help them grow. Solomon faces the Temple raises his hands toward heaven and begins to pray his prayer of dedication. Prayer for Gods name to be known among the nations (59-60). There are so many people who would love to come to church with you if you would just ask them. Behold, heaven and the (J)heaven of heavens cannot contain You. Now is introduced the refrain which we will hear throughout this prayer: hear Thou in heaven Thy dwelling place; and when Thou hearest, forgive. If Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy: Many times in their history, Israel suffered defeat and could only cry out to God. We dedicate this sanctuary to be a place of worship. From the study of Solomon's prayer after the completion of the temple, the students will discover that God keeps all His promises. So shall sin be done away and the righteous will not suffer for the unrighteous. Only if they are faithful will they rule. Skilled workers were employed. Christianity is essentially and fundamentally a sinners religion. Sign up for daily inspiration today!>. As long as this did not slip into a superstitious misunderstanding, it was good to recognize a special place to come and meet with God. Thanks for visiting! 28:9; Jer. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. Solomon extols the faithfulness of God and exhorts the people to continue in the path of covenant obedience. 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. This glorious Temple built under the direction of King Solomon had as one of it's purposes to be a witness to the world in that day. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. After sacrificing a seemingly endless number of animals ( 1 Kings 8:5 ), Solomon blessed the Lord for His covenantal faithfulness (vv.12-21). And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD's house. Out of the land of Egypt: Solomon presses the remembrance of the Exodus. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. (1-2) All of Israel assembles at Jerusalem. It took seven years for King Solomon to actually build the temple. And he said: Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His hands what He spoke with His mouth to my father David, saying, Since the day that I brought My people out of the land of Egypt, I have chosen no city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house, that My name might be there, nor did I choose any man to be a ruler over My people Israel. When a dispute came down to one word against another, Solomon asked that the temple would be a place to properly swear by. Original German (Salomo II): Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart 7 (2004) 803-804. 17:6, 18; 25:21, Ezra 9:6, 7; Neh. 33-34). All these prayers were offered at a time of challenge for the person praying, where the only one who could provide . They were defeated because they had sinned against God! 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. 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. 29 May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, 'My Name shall be there,' so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. I cant think of two more important requests of God for us as a church as we seek to fulfill Gods purposes in this community. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! But oh my friend, do try and use Gods promises; nothing pleases God better than to see his promises put in circulation; he loves to see his children bring them up to him, and say, LORD, do as thou hast said. And let me tell you that it glorifies God to use his promises. (Spurgeon). No! Solomons final request is that Gods people would remain fully committed to him at all times. 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. But understand that such a prayer of dedication only has meaning if you yourself are personally committed to the Lord. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the temple of the Lord. Ray Fowler. Solomon's prayer is covers important points for the people and the nation. His concern for foreigners (vv. 1 Kings 8 - The Dedication of the Temple A. And we do also give ourselves individually and unreservedly to you. It collapses economies and replaces peace with terror. A couple will come to me and want me to dedicate their child to the Lord, and yet they are not living for the Lord themselves. 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. 54-61), and dismisses it (vv. 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. True this temple for God, so did His represented presence in the form of the Ark of the Covenant (see 2 Chronicles 5:2-10). Acknowledges that God is bigger than the temple. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. 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.