Or lets talk about marriage for a moment. Solomon's prayer of dedication of the Temple. 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). 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. 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. PASTOR: Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity; three Persons and one God: CONGREGATION: To you we dedicate this house. We also notice why Solomon is praising God. 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. God wanted the court of the Gentiles to be a place where the nations could come and pray. (If you're a human, don't change the following field), Solomons Prayer at the Dedication of the Temple. Do not turn away the face of Your Anointed: Solomon probably meant this in reference to himself because he was the anointed king of Israel. There is suffering in every part of life. So shall sin be done away and the righteous will not suffer for the unrighteous. Solomon here prays for Gods daily provision and sustenance, but he does so for a very specific purpose. 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. 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). You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. The Dedication of the Temple | Learn The Bible | LearnTheBible.org Solomon's solemn sacrifice 8. II. 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." i. It was the Lord who gave Israel rest from their enemies so they could focus on the building of the temple at that time. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. So this was a long-term project. And a place for You to dwell in forever.. Click here to return to the Sermons page. If Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy: Many times in their history, Israel suffered defeat and could only cry out to God. c. When You hear, forgive: Solomon knew that the most important thing Israel needed was forgiveness. There is no other God. 22-53), blesses the assembly again (vv. Although we gather as a church to worship Christ, we must always be thinking of those outside the church who still need Christ. From the study of Solomon's prayer after the completion of the temple, the students will discover that God keeps all His promises. And so Solomon begins with thanksgiving and praise for what God has done. Jerusalem: The End of the Road or Just the Beginning? The mention of Gods hands (lit. Are there more ecumenical passages in the Old Testament? (v. 6) Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. Crafts: Draw or paint self-portraits and write out 1 Corinthians 3:16 on the picture. How much less this temple I have built! It collapses economies and replaces peace with terror. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. Nor was the interest merely temporary or local. (v. 5) God has chose Jerusalem and David. Solomon's Prayer of Dedication - Ligonier Ministries Solomon's prayer of dedication of the Temple | JRB Publications Solomon extols the faithfulness of God and exhorts the people to continue in the path of covenant obedience. Let's pray that in whatever we do, that the Lord always gets the glory and ask that it will always shine through. Arise, O LORD God, to Your resting place, EVERYONE: 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. Give them victory! Our church began back in 1948 when a small group of people had a vision for a church in the newly developing community of Plantation, Florida. Solomon's Dedicatory Prayer for the Temple (2 Chronicles 6) If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. In this refrain he speaks of the riches of the experience of faith. Otherwise the child dedication has no meaning. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. We can only truly dedicate things to God when we have first dedicated ourselves. Forgiveness of sins that had brought on drought (vv. Online 2013. After all, didnt they do the work? He was the first king to follow his father as a hereditary monarch. But that Temple has been destroyed for over 1900 years. We dedicate this sanctuary to be a light in this community proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ to all who will hear. He prays for God to meet the daily needs of the people not for their own sake but so that Gods name may be known among the nations. God sent the promise on purpose to be used. 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. (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.. 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. Prayer for Gods continued presence and direction (57-58). Where Was Solomon's Temple in the Bible - 7 Interesting Facts Oh, let God now hear the prayer of His servant! If there was no rain, there was no food. Solomon's Preparation, Construction, and Dedication of the Temple We are glad that Solomon said this. This referred to interpersonal disputes. No! 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. Solomon The Dedication Of The Temple - LESSONS IN GOD'S WORD How does Solomon overcome the difficulty of doing priestly work and not sinning by doing so? Since God will not live in temples made by hands but only in temples that He constructs Himself, we that are saved have this same purpose, to be a witness of the glory of God to this world we live in! Can one who is condemned by the state to the death penalty still be a "worthy partaker of the table of His Son"? 19 Bible verses about Solomon's Temple - Knowing Jesus Then Solomon spoke: "The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud. The first petition which Solomon utters is rather difficult to understand. With Him hearing is forgiving and forgiving is hearing. 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. The apex of joy is realized in the dedication sacrifices and celebratory feast associated with this climactic moment in Jewish history. Amen. 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. Want the Verse of the Day sent to your inbox? 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.. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. All these prayers were offered at a time of challenge for the person praying, where the only one who could provide . 24You 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. - Solomon acknowledges that God cannot be contained in any temple. He kneels as he prays and spreads out his hands to the heavens. 2 Chronicles 7:1 When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from Outline Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple? and more. Even though men cannot prove the sin which has been committed by this "someone," God does know. 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. The Bible contains the record of many wonderful prayers. Does the enormity of the sin have anything to do with the possibility of forgiveness? This beautiful prayer must be applied to his heart as well as to the hearts of all who read this prayer. Sunday School Lesson (January 19, 2020) Solomon's Dedication Prayer For less than $5/mo. And spread out his hands: This was the most common posture of prayer in the Old Testament. Hear(N) from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive. New King James Version (NKJV). Remember the kindness of David, Thy servant (2 Chron.6:42). This "fear of God" is a concept which we find frequently in the Old Testament. Though it happened 500 years before, it was just as important and real for Israel as the day it happened. 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." If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. That is a wonderful response, and I would affirm anyone who is seeking Gods blessing on their marriage. 62-66).To this account is appended an appearance of the Lord to Solomon that balances the divine word to Solomon in the . Bible Outline - 1 Kings 8:1-66 - Dedication of the Temple Next Solomon prays for Gods name to be known among the nations. 33(Q)When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and (R)when they turn back to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication to You in this temple, 34then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to their (S)fathers. Dedicated to God and His Glory | Ray Fowler .org "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 . Stood before the altar of the LORD: Solomon did not dedicate the temple from within the temple. 1 Kings 8:22-66: Solomon's Prayer of Dedication | Bible Stories This type of praying produced some marvelous results. 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. New International Version (NIV). When the Lord gave him a choice of various gifts he might have, he chose wisdom. 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. 1 Kings 8 - The Dedication of the Temple A. Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. 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. The Ark has been brought in. King Solomon: The Story of His Reign and Kingdom - Chabad 28:36, 64; 2 Kin. ), 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. 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. He referred to God's name Yahweh 14 times, showing his concern for the reputation of Israel's God. 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. Though the temple was a house for Jehovah, Solomon realized that "the heavens, yes, the heaven of the heavens, themselves" could not contain Him. 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. Behold, heaven and the (J)heaven of heavens cannot contain You. 20:9; Eccl. i. King Solomon mentions several of them. b. a. Finally, Solomon prayed and anticipated the final judgment' war and national collapse.' War within is the ultimate destroyer of life, property and freedom. At the end of the prayer, we begin chapter 7, and it states, "As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2 Chronicles 6:12-40 records the great prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem. Well, yes, of course Solomon and the people all played their parts in making the temple come together, but Solomon in his wisdom recognizes that it was only possible because of the Lord. Living together outside of marriage is direct disobedience to Gods commands, and God cannot bless disobedience. We cannot dedicate things to the Lord if we have not dedicated ourselves to the Lord first. What kind of a son will now succeed him to rule over this great people? b. How ecumenical! How much less this temple which I have built! 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. And that is where we are today. 1 Kings 8 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (concise) - Christianity Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. 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. 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. This is the second part of Solomons prayer: a prayer for Gods continued presence and direction. (1 Kings 8:62-63). You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.. 57May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake(BJ) us. The importance of wisdom goes beyond just knowledge. Enduring Word Bible Commentary 2 Chronicles Chapter 6 You can also change some of your preferences. Wasnt it the donations of the people that made the building possible? And let Your saints rejoice in goodness. (1 Kings 8:59-60). Solomon prayed his prayer of dedication, and then the king and all the Israelites officially dedicated the temple to the Lord. That is his privilege and his duty. We gather to worship God in the beauty of his presence. And then we not only pray for Gods continued presence but also for his direction. 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. That all the peoples of the earth may know Thy name! b. When the king mentions pestilence he is referring to a very contagious disease of that day (such as the black plague of the middle ages?) Let God now hear Solomon. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. 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. a. They dont attend church; they dont spend regular time with God in the Bible and prayer; they dont seek Gods will in all their decisions. 4. Keep prayer at he center of all you do! 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. A church that loses its outward focus has lost its way. 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. 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. Im so glad that our church has such a strong commitment to missions and to the spread of the gospel to all the nations. 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. Recalls God's dynastic promises to David through the prophet Nathan. 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). Solomon's prayer is covers important points for the people and the nation. 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. Solomon has no basis upon which to request anything except God's beloved mercy. He adds, "for there is no man that sinneth not.". Through believing prayer like this, God promises and we appropriate. 2 Chronicles Chapter 6. It confirms that Davids disqualification was not due to sin, but because the concept of Gods rest must be regarded as the unique and final stage in building the temple. (Selman), So the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke, and I have filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised; and I have built the temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel. Solomon having kept the feasts of tabernacles and dedication, dismisses the people 12. He knew that when God mercifully answered the prayers of foreigners, it drew those from other nations to the God of all nations. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. When was the last time you invited someone to go to church? We dedicate this sanctuary to be a house of prayer. In summary: - Solomon describes the reason for the Temple, that it was in David's heart to build it, but God decided that his son should build it instead. The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud. 2 Chronicles 6:12-42 Solomon's Temple Dedication Prayer Now, 11 months later, Solomon stands before the people, spread The violation of this principle made Jesus angry. 16:7; 1 Chr. First we ask for Gods presence to be among us. This was the early part of the reign of Solomon - his wise period . When Solomon's construction was completed, the temple was dedicated. Mildew was another disease of the grains. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20). In Solomon's prayer at the temple inauguration he referred to Jehovah as the God above all, a God of loving-kindness and loyalty, the Fulfiller of his promises. Fasting and Prayer: 2 Stories - Renew We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. He will then not lack a son to sit upon his throne. 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. He knows exactly who he is praying to. 26:34, 44; Deut. So yes, we pray for our needs as a church, and we ask God to meet those daily needs. 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. (1 Kings 8:54-56). Read the Scripture: 2 Chronicles 6:12-40. When was the last time? Here are 3 key lessons from Solomon's prayer for wisdom that can give us spiritual wisdom, as well: 1. 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. All rights reserved. The hearts determine their actions. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. Paul's Reference Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. Many times people want their pastor to come and pray a prayer of dedication for their new home or their place of business. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. 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. 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. And we should pray for Gods people to remain fully committed to him. 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. 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 . 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. 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. And so now we are finally in a position officially to dedicate this sanctuary to God and his glory. The ruler of the people is going to lead the whole nation in prayer! God answered this prayer of Solomon, and He forgave and restored His defeated people when they came in humble repentance. 7:20; [Rom. a. God is the one who gave you the talents, the time, the opportunity and the strength to do whatever it is you have done. If the rains do not come because the people have sinned the livelihood of the majority of the people will be affected at once. The second part of his prayer was for Gods continued presence and direction. (v. 3) Solomon declares that God has kept the promise that David's son would build a temple. Didnt they make the plans, gather the materials, and oversee the building of the temple? 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. It contains an important discussion of the nature of genuine repentance. c. There is no God in heaven or on earth like You: Solomon recognized that God was completely unique. So what does it mean to dedicate something to the Lord? He had kept covenant with His people, and promised mercy to those who would walk in obedience ( 6:14 ). And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD's house.