5. The prayers of Hannah (1 Samuel 1), Hezekiah (Isaiah 37), Daniel (Daniel 9) and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1) spring readily to mind. 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. b. For this reason, many observant Jews still pray facing the direction of the site of the temple in Jerusalem. Praying in the True Temple. Thanks for visiting! Solomon's prayer of dedication of the Temple. If there be famine, often the result of drought, or if there be pestilence, blasting or mildew, locust or caterpillar, siege by an enemy or any other plague or sickness if they repent and ask for forgiveness, may the Lord hear them. Let God now hear Solomon. They built a larger sanctuary than they needed at the time because they trusted God would help them grow. 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). 22-53), blesses the assembly again (vv. In the second petition the king pleads with his God concerning his people when they are defeated by enemies. 2 CHRONICLES 6:12-42 -- SOLOMON'S PRAYER OF DEDICATION Biblical Background: Temple construction began 2 nd month of the 4 th year of reign, 480 years after Israel came out of Egypt. V.22a ""Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel." This was a public prayer. The speaker speaks of each experiencing the plague of his own heart his 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. Click here for more messages from the book of 1 Kings. If you are new here, be sure to subscribe by email or feed reader so that you don't miss any future posts. 1 Kings 8. We dedicate this sanctuary to be a place where Gods word is honored and proclaimed. The heavens, even the . This was to be a beautiful temple built for Gods glory. In his prayer do not reject your anointed one, the king now meant himself, though in subsequent usage it would express Israels hope in the coming Messiah. (Payne), (c) 2021 TheEnduring WordBible Commentary by David Guzik ewm@enduringword.com. 2 Chronicles 6:12-40 records the great prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem. b. 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. 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. (v. 3) Solomon declares that God has kept the promise that David's son would build a temple. But, perhaps his wisdom is nowhere shown more clearly than in the building and dedication of the temple of God. The Prayer of Solomon is a prayer by King Solomon described in 1 Kings 8:22-53 and 2 Chronicles 6:12-42.This prayer is said to have occurred at the dedication of the temple of Solomon, which also became known as the First Temple.The wording and thinking of the prayer have much in common with the language of Deuteronomy.. A shorter prayer of Solomon is also found in some Latin Bibles at the end . It contains an important discussion of the nature of genuine repentance. 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. 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. 25-30). 62-66).To this account is appended an appearance of the Lord to Solomon that balances the divine word to Solomon in the . a. When the temple was complete Solomon praised God before His people reminding them of His promises. Solomon felt his own inadequacy. 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. Please include the following statement on any distributed copies: Behold, heaven and the (J)heaven of heavens cannot contain You. Though the temple was a house for Jehovah, Solomon realized that "the heavens, yes, the heaven of the heavens, themselves" could not contain Him. Let God now hear Solomon. And so this message suddenly got real hard for some of us because Solomons prayer suddenly got real hard. 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. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. 32-33) shows that he realized that Israel was to reach out and share the knowledge and blessings of God with Gentiles. 57May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake(BJ) us. Nor was the interest merely temporary or local. and more. 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. We may request cookies to be set on your device. Solomon intercedes. And then we not only pray for Gods continued presence but also for his direction. 1:6; Ps. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. Let us pray. B. V. 20-21 A Place For Cares - As Solomon prays, he asks the Lord to here the supplications of God's people. In an age when this is frequently misunderstood, it provides a valuable resource. That is a wonderful response, and I would affirm anyone who is seeking Gods blessing on their marriage. GOD APPEARS TO HIM. Who has fulfilled with His hands what He spoke with His mouth to my father David: Solomon recognized that the temple was the fulfillment of Gods plan, not Davids or Solomons. And so now we are finally in a position officially to dedicate this sanctuary to God and his glory. I have surely built You an exalted house, 27But (I)will God indeed dwell on the earth? He will then not lack a son to sit upon his throne. Give them victory! They were defeated because they had sinned against God! Solomon's dedicatory prayer makes repeated mention of praying "toward this place," a clear intimation that the temple was to become the center of a world religionthat is, the true religion God gave was to become worldwide. When a dispute came down to one word against another, Solomon asked that the temple would be a place to properly swear by. It was a prayer of such detail and texture that it offered a good match for the stunning architecture and ornamentation of the temple itself. Solomon then prayed two prayers of dedication. There is no other God. This was made of either brass or copper and Solomon took his position on this platform. Hello and welcome to RayFowler.org. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God. That is part of the outward focus that we are to maintain as the church of Jesus Christ. God's presence and protection (vv. 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. 24 You have kept But then as we talk further, and I learn that they are living together before marriage, I get confused. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. Alas, Solomon didn't stay on this height of commitment to God. 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. Solomon: Begins by praising the God who keeps his promises. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. God answered this prayer of Solomon, and He forgave and restored His defeated people when they came in humble repentance. He knows exactly who he is praying to. How much less this temple I have built! 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. (READ VERSES 23-24) SOLOMON IS PRAISING BECAUSE GOD IS FAITHFUL Only if they are faithful will they rule. The temple was designed for the keeping up of the correspondence between God and his people; and . I sometimes run into this with baby dedications. The two records of this prayer are too long to do them justice but the beauty of the prayer and the evidence of the deep spirituality of the one who is praying will become clear. The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud: The cloud of Gods glory has a long association with His presence. The services of the dedication will continue for three days in succession, commencing on each day at 11:00 o'clock a.m. Tickets may be had at the watch house near the . i. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. (If you're a human, don't change the following field), Solomons Prayer at the Dedication of the Temple. (1 Kings 8:62-63). That is his privilege and his duty. This is the second part of Solomons prayer: a prayer for Gods continued presence and direction. (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. CONCLUSION: Solomons fourfold prayer is a wonderful model to us as we dedicate anything to the Lord whether a child, a marriage, a business, a church or a home. When Solomon's construction was completed, the temple was dedicated. 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.. Will God dwell on the earth? ii. As king himself, Solomon remembered and spoke those truths at the dedication of the temple in his prayer and benediction. b. Solomon's prayer at the time of the dedication of the Jewish Temple is a remarkable piece of literature. In this prayer, there is plenty of evidence that Solomon understood God's purpose for Israel. 26:16, 25, 26; Deut. 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. Teach(W) them the right way(X) to live, and send rain(Y) on the land you gave your people for an inheritance. 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. b. And may You hear the supplications of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. 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. For any web postings, please link to the sermon directly at this website. The temple is dedicated and let God now arise to His dwelling place! King David himself gathered the raw materials to build the temple and, evidently, God provided the building plans for that holy structure. How much less this temple which I have built! He sent the Babylonians and they came and ransacked the temple and burned it to the ground. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. And so Solomon begins with thanksgiving and praise for what God has done. Just because God promises does not mean that we possess. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. The apex of joy is realized in the dedication sacrifices and celebratory feast associated with this climactic moment in Jewish history. How were the kingly and priestly offices kept separate? Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. (1-2) All of Israel assembles at Jerusalem. So yes, we want the gospel to go to all the nations, but we also want the gospel to go to our friends and neighbors. He humbly suggests that the Temple is the . 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. He does not say what manner of sin it is because that is immaterial to what he has in mind. 1. The heavens, even the highest heaven,(H) cannot contain(I) you. This is Solomon's prayer. 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." Lev. b. Lewis? And so the fourth and final part of Solomons prayer is a prayer that Gods people would remain fully committed to him. 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. He knew that when God mercifully answered the prayers of foreigners, it drew those from other nations to the God of all nations. You and the ark of Your strength. 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? Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know(AM) your name and fear(AN) you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name. 11:28, 29], NKJV, Chronological Study Bible: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture, NKJV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, NKJV, Lucado Encouraging Word Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV, Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Third Edition, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Kingdom Equipping Through the Power of the Word, NKJV, Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, 2nd Edition, Comfort Print: Growing in Knowledge and Understanding of God Through His Word. His prayer contained nine requests: 1. This splendid edifice is now completed, and will be dedicated to the Most High God on Friday, the 1st. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. 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. b. You have kept what You promised: Solomon first thanked and praised God for His past fulfillment of promises. 35, 46-49). He is too great to be limited to any created place. (1 Kings 8:59-60). Want the Verse of the Day sent to your inbox? Solomon took time to contemplate the God he was praying to. 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. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. After seven years the Temple is completed and the magnificence of it is stunning. 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. Before we try and answer that question, it is helpful to get a little background on this temple that Solomon was dedicating. True (True or False) Because he recognized that Solomon was given the kingdom by the Lord, Adonijah gave up his ambition to be king. You can also change some of your preferences. Ray Fowler. a. c. When You hear, forgive: Solomon knew that the most important thing Israel needed was forgiveness. Even though men cannot prove the sin which has been committed by this "someone," God does know. We dedicate this sanctuary to be a place of worship. The first petition which Solomon utters is rather difficult to understand. It is an immense undertaking for that day to build such a building as the temple. We should pray for Gods continued presence and direction. 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: Solomon asked God to hear the prayer of the foreigner out of a missionary impulse. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. I have surely built You an exalted house, And a place for You to dwell in forever." a. It is again clearly shown when the queen of Sheba comes and asks him all manner of difficult questions and he has ready answers. The work on this sanctuary is long completed. 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. Hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and when You hear, forgive.. 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. a. It took seven years for King Solomon to actually build the temple. b. 130:3; Prov. 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. If God's people only repent! Solomon prosperously effected all he designed, for adorning both God's house and his own. Finally, Solomon prayed and anticipated the final judgment' war and national collapse.' War within is the ultimate destroyer of life, property and freedom. Solomon is praying to the creator of the universe, who already owns all and knows all. 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. Then Solomon spoke: "The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. 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. THE ARK BROUGHT TO THE TEMPLE (1 Kings 8:1-11) The Assembling of the Men of Israel (1 Kings 8:1-2) Those assembled by Solomon (1 Kings 8:1) The good news is that God not only forgives sins but also delights in dwelling with His people (v. 50). 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. On that platform King Solomon stood and then knelt, as the description of this very impressive occasion tells us in the preamble to Solomon's prayer, in 2 Chronicles 6:12-17: Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands. Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You: that Your eyes may be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place where You said You would put Your name, that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place. The substance is Christ; whatever we ask in his name, it shall be given us. And they took away all those beautiful items that adorned the temple. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. And so finally after all the years of preparation and giving and building, the temple was complete. Religion Past & Present XII (2012) 141. Do we take the credit for it? 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). It would be inappropriate for him to do so because he was a king and not a priest. 35-36). The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud. Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands (for Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and he stood on it, knelt down on his knees before all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven); and he said: LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven or on earth like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. 24You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled itas it is today. 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. 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. 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. Does the enormity of the sin have anything to do with the possibility of forgiveness? Many times people want their pastor to come and pray a prayer of dedication for their new home or their place of business. i. God appearing to Solomon, gives him promises upon condition Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 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. A church that loses its outward focus has lost its way. It was the Lord who fulfilled all the good promises he had given through his servant Moses. 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. i. He stood on the platform and then knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out . Oh, let God now hear the prayer of His servant! There are four parts to this prayer, and all four are easily applicable to the dedication of our sanctuary to God and his glory today. God having given testimony to Solomon's prayer by fire from heaven, 2. and glory in the temple, the people worship him 4.
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