You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. 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. When we gather for worship, the Lord meets with us, and we 16:7; 1 Chr. True Solomon II. He is here following an example clearly taught us by our Lord Jesus Christ in the perfect prayer. Surely, he does not mean it as an excuse. 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. Here are 3 key lessons from Solomon's prayer for wisdom that can give us spiritual wisdom, as well: 1. Lev. All rights reserved. Didnt they make the plans, gather the materials, and oversee the building of the temple? Nehemiah Chapter 12. His story is told primarily in 1 Kings (1-11). If His people go to battle against their enemies, whether at home or in other countries, when they pray toward this place, may God hear them and maintain their cause. Before we try and answer that question, it is helpful to get a little background on this temple that Solomon was dedicating. 1 Kings 8. Disobedience, Pride, Self-Deception, Rejection, The Sanctity of Human Life in the Womb - Psalm 139, Caring for Each Other in the Body of Christ, Determining the Dates for Easter and Passover, The Magic Dresser (A Poem for Mother's Day), The Fruit of the Spirit and 1 Corinthians 13, Click here for more messages from the book of. There will be seven distinct petitions in this prayer of Solomon. (v. 4) Solomon reiterates that God has never asked for a city or a house or a ruler until now. When was the last time? SOLOMON BEGINS HIS PRAYER WITH PRAISE. Christianity is essentially and fundamentally a sinners religion. Prayer for Gods name to be known among the nations (59-60). 106:46; Acts 7:10, Ex. In this prayer, there is plenty of evidence that Solomon understood God's purpose for Israel. 20:9; Eccl. 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. And this applies to all dedications. Jerusalem: The End of the Road or Just the Beginning? By Ray Fowler. That is his privilege and his duty. Even though men cannot prove the sin which has been committed by this "someone," God does know. If the rains do not come because the people have sinned the livelihood of the majority of the people will be affected at once. Now therefore, If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. 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. 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. We ask that he would be with us as he was with our fathers, and we pray that he may never leave nor forsake us. 9:5, [2 Chr. What a wonderful prayer to pray! After seven years the Temple is completed and the magnificence of it is stunning. And we should pray for Gods people to remain fully committed to him. Solomon then prayed two prayers of dedication. It's praying until we know we have laid hold of God. There are so many people who would love to come to church with you if you would just ask them. 25-30). b. I have surely built You an exalted house, and a place for You to dwell in forever: Solomon rightly sensed that the presence of the cloud meant that God dwelt in the temple in a special way. You can also check out the Top Posts page to get a feel for the site. However, before one petition is uttered he extols the greatness of the God to Whom he is praying. This is a more general prayer of dedication and well-suited to the dedication of any home, building or business to the Lord. You can check these in your browser security settings. 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. b. How much less this temple I have built! After many particulars, Solomon concludes with the general request, that God would hearken to his praying people. Standing there at the altar, he cried out for God to have mercy on His people . 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. The sense that sin is all-pervading dominates, epitomised in one of the clearest biblical statements about sins universality (there is no one who does not sin, 2 Chronicles 6:36). The violation of this principle made Jesus angry. 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. How then shall this house which Solomon has built house Him? 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. EVERYONE: We dedicate this sanctuary now to the glory of God the Father, to the honor of Jesus Christ his Son, and to the praise of the Holy Spirit. 1:10; [Rom. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. And so I ask them: How can you stand up in front of the church and promise to raise your child in the Lord when you arent following God yourself? It is a wonderful thing to want to dedicate your child to the Lord, but God wants you to dedicate yourself to him first. He referred to God's name Yahweh 14 times, showing his concern for the reputation of Israel's God. ), 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. Solomon here prays for Gods daily provision and sustenance, but he does so for a very specific purpose. Dedication of the Temple of God in the city of Nauvoo. Traffic and Tears on the Road to Jerusalem. Blasting refers to the singeing of the grain by the dry hot wind blowing from the desert. Online 2013. 22-53), blesses the assembly again (vv. With Him hearing is forgiving and forgiving is hearing. Solomon's Prayer of Dedication. This is a God who enters into communion with His people. And, at this point in the history of Israel, he prays that all the promises made to David may go into effect. 3:23; 1 John 1:8, 10], Lev. This is the second part of Solomons prayer: a prayer for Gods continued presence and direction. 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. 1 Kings 8 - The Dedication of the Temple A. 106:6; Dan. 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. From prior statements, such as his statement in 2 Chronicles 6:1-2, we might have thought that Solomon drifted towards a superstitious idea that God actually lived in the temple to the exclusion of other places. Recalls God's dynastic promises to David through the prophet Nathan. Hello and welcome to RayFowler.org. This referred to interpersonal disputes. 57May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake(BJ) us. get to know the Bible better! Look at verses 57-58: May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us. 2.F orgiveness of trespasses (vv. 1. For this reason, many observant Jews still pray facing the direction of the site of the temple in Jerusalem. 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. 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. The temple will be a delight to the children of Israel for many years and the impressive ceremony at its dedication will linger with them as long as they live. 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. 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. The Temple was incomparable - just like the God who it was built for. 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. Otherwise the child dedication has no meaning. 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. His prayer contained nine requests: 1. 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. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. 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. This was the early part of the reign of Solomon - his wise period . He had kept covenant with His people, and promised mercy to those who would walk in obedience ( 6:14 ). God sent the promise on purpose to be used. The greatness of Israel's God is seen in the facts that He has made all things and that He keeps covenant! How ecumenical! 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. 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. b. David and Solomon were human instruments, but the work was Gods. 6:36; Ps. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. i. He was the son of King David and Bathsheba. 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. 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. (Read 1 Kings 8:54-63 and pray.). 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. How much less this temple which I have built! 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). God's House must ever be known as a place of prayer and His people as a people of prayer. IV. He ruled Israel for forty years, ushering in an era of peace and prosperity for his people. Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. King David himself gathered the raw materials to build the temple and, evidently, God provided the building plans for that holy structure. Was that a major accomplishment? that they may fear Thee all the days that they live in the land which Thou gayest unto our fathers. Now is introduced the refrain which we will hear throughout this prayer: hear Thou in heaven Thy dwelling place; and when Thou hearest, forgive. Not one word has failed of all the good promises(BI) he gave through his servant Moses. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. So yes, we pray for our needs as a church, and we ask God to meet those daily needs. The we come to Solomon's prayer of dedication of the temple. 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. (True or False) Graciously, Solomon first allowed Adonijah to go free. V. 22b Verse 54 tells us that he knelt on his knees: "when Solomon had finished praying all EVERYONE: 2 Chronicles 7:12-22 . The pretended gods of the nations could not compare to Him in any way. If they in captivity come to a different insight and repent, if they acknowledge their sins before God and turn to Him with all their hearts and soul, if they then pray toward this land, toward this city and toward this house, may the Lord hear them and forgive, maintain their cause, and bring them back from captivity. 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. It would have been easy for Solomon and the people to take the credit for the work that had just been accomplished. To God be the glory forever! Does the enormity of the sin have anything to do with the possibility of forgiveness? We dedicate this sanctuary to be a house of prayer. He knows exactly who he is praying to. 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. He prays best in public who prays most in private. b. Solomon declares that he's built a house for God. 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. 3. Let God now hear Solomon. A church that loses its outward focus has lost its way. 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. 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. False (True or False) Solomon carried out David's instructions concerning his enemies, establishing his kingdom in his hand. You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this message provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and that you do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. When the temple was complete Solomon praised God before His people reminding them of His promises. 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. 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. Used by permission. In the second petition the king pleads with his God concerning his people when they are defeated by enemies. Israel did not have a Nile river which made the whole land fruitful. ACT OF DEDICATION (Adapted from the Dedicatory Service at The Moody Church November 8, 1925). He kneels as he prays and spreads out his hands to the heavens. 28Yet give attention to your servants prayer and his plea for mercy, Lord my God. Solomon does not attribute the lack of rain to mere natural phenomena, but to the sins of the people. The work on this sanctuary is long completed. B. Solomon's prayer posture. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the temple of the Lord. It's actually three prayers and what I find most interesting about them is the balance of what is said. Lord, render to every man according to all his ways. 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. And when the priests withdrew from the Holy Place where they put the ark, the glory of the Lord filled the temple and all the people worshiped God. day of May, 1846. Otherwise they could not be defeated in this "theocracy"! 28:21, 22, 27, 38, 42, 52, [1 Sam. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. 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. Im so glad that our church has such a strong commitment to missions and to the spread of the gospel to all the nations. 10. on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month --This was the last day of the feast of tabernacles. 12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 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 . (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.. And let Your saints rejoice in goodness. 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. 2 Chronicles 2:1. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. When David died the people of Israel could look for a big change in the government of the land. But then Solomon goes on to pray this second prayer of dedication in verses 54-63. The importance of wisdom goes beyond just knowledge. 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. The "man after God's own heart" had left the scene. 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. Create a "special and holy" place in your classroom where children can pray and talk about how holy and special God is. Solomon felt his own inadequacy. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. Hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and when You hear, forgive.. 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. Now, my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and let Your ears be attentive to the prayer made in this place. If there are, why are they so few? If God's people only repent! He is famous for building the First Holy Temple in Jerusalem. 1st Kings 8:22-53: Solomon's prayer at the dedication of God's people-temple. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. There is suffering in every part of life. Want the Verse of the Day sent to your inbox? The first prayer is a longer prayer which is recorded for us in verses 1 Kings 8:22-53. And God did help them! 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. God is able to send rain and He is able to withhold it. i. Many times people want their pastor to come and pray a prayer of dedication for their new home or their place of business. God answered this prayer of Solomon, and He forgave and restored His defeated people when they came in humble repentance. For this reason, the only way they can receive forgiveness of sins is through the physical Temple. But, perhaps his wisdom is nowhere shown more clearly than in the building and dedication of the temple of God. 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). c. There is no God in heaven or on earth like You: Solomon recognized that God was completely unique. I have built thee an exalted house, a place for thee to dwell in for ever." Then the king faced . If this king will continue in this way, he may be sure that the Lord his God will remember His covenant and all the loving kindness which He had promised David. It is an immense undertaking for that day to build such a building as the temple. They were defeated because they had sinned against God! Whenever a people is defeated, great suffering comes upon them. The heavens, even the . Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. God is the one who made it possible, and we give him all the glory. 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. New International Version (NIV). Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. Behold, heaven and the (J)heaven of heavens cannot contain You. 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. 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. Copyright 2019 by Zondervan. He sent the Babylonians and they came and ransacked the temple and burned it to the ground. We dedicate this sanctuary to be a place where Gods word is honored and proclaimed. 28:36, 64; 2 Kin. Alas, Solomon didn't stay on this height of commitment to God. That all the peoples of the earth may know Thy name! This king does priestly work without violating the office of the priest as Uzziah later did.