So what does it mean to dedicate something to the Lord? When was the last time you invited someone to go to church? 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. And so Solomon begins with thanksgiving and praise for what God has done. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God. Only if they are faithful will they rule. The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud. 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. Paul's Reference 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. Besides war and drought, there are various other calamities which may come upon a land. The greatness of Israel's God is seen in the facts that He has made all things and that He keeps covenant! Yes! 28:36, 64; 2 Kin. It was even worse when the defeat was because they had sinned against the LORD Himself. Now keep what You promised Your servant David. let Your word come true: Solomon called upon God to keep the promises that He made. Solomon's prayer is covers important points for the people and the nation. (v. 1-2) Solomon blesses all of Israel. b. i. 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. How does Solomon overcome the difficulty of doing priestly work and not sinning by doing so? i. Mildew was another disease of the grains. 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. Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. He is here following an example clearly taught us by our Lord Jesus Christ in the perfect prayer. Known as an ambitious builder of public works, Solomon's crowning achievement was the building of the Temple. 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. And so we must always keep our outward focus as a church. 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. 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. NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. 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. Surely, he does not mean it as an excuse. 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. Look at verses 54-56: When 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. By Ray Fowler. ACT OF DEDICATION (Adapted from the Dedicatory Service at The Moody Church November 8, 1925). Before we try and answer that question, it is helpful to get a little background on this temple that Solomon was dedicating. The ruler is on his knees before One who is the great Ruler of the universe (2 Chronicles 6:13)! 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. Solomon then prayed two prayers of dedication. I have surely built You an exalted house, And a place for You to dwell in forever." a. This wisdom is soon revealed when a mother comes to him with another woman, each claiming the same child as her own. What is especially notable is that foreigners could know and fear God like your people Israel. This hope of equality in worship was rarely expressed in the Old Testament (e.g. i. Click on the different category headings to find out more. 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. Hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and when You hear, forgive.. He was the son of King David and Bathsheba. There are so many people who would love to come to church with you if you would just ask them. 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. 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. 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. His concern for foreigners (vv. To God be the glory forever! For any web postings, please link to the sermon directly at this website. a. How much less this temple which I have built! True (True or False) Because he recognized that Solomon was given the kingdom by the Lord, Adonijah gave up his ambition to be king. He speaks of a situation in which a man has sinned but the sin cannot be proved. 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. 9:5, [2 Chr. But we must always remember why we exist as a church. DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE 231 devaluation of the temple.9 The Deuteronomist, writing after the temple's destruction, purportedly recasts the temple's significance, "For him the temple is little more than a place towards which one turns in prayer."10 Similarly, Weinfeld sees Solomon's prayer as evincing the deuteronomic demythologization of . (v. 4) Solomon reiterates that God has never asked for a city or a house or a ruler until now. He asks God to provide for each days need why? 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. This type of praying produced some marvelous results. 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. Solomon then prayed two prayers of dedication. So shall sin be done away and the righteous will not suffer for the unrighteous. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. The mention of Gods hands (lit. 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. The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud: The cloud of Gods glory has a long association with His presence. 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. As Solomon was involved in doing God's work, he could expect God's blessing on his efforts. The violation of this principle made Jesus angry. Give them victory! God's House must ever be known as a place of prayer and His people as a people of prayer. The overseer of all is Solomon! How much less this temple which I have built! The heavens, even the . Israel's God does make covenant. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive. 30(N)And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. God is the one who made it possible, and we give him all the glory. (1 Kings 8:57-58). 25Now Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises(E) you made to him when you said, You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me faithfully as you have done. 26And now, God of Israel, let your word that you promised(F) your servant David my father come true. New International Version (NIV). You can also check out the Top Posts page to get a feel for the site. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. The old Puritan commentator John Trapp could not resist mentioning a fulfillment of this principle in his own day: Anne Averies, who, forswearing herself, a. D. 1575, February 11, at a shop of Wood Street in London, praying God she might sink where she stood if she had not paid for the wares she took, fell down presently speechless, and with horrible stink died., Or if Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and return and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this temple, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to them and their fathers.. 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. After sacrificing a seemingly endless number of animals ( 1 Kings 8:5 ), Solomon blessed the Lord for His covenantal faithfulness (vv.12-21). Otherwise the child dedication has no meaning. 1:10; [Rom. This kind of prayer lays hold of Gods promise. Dedication of the Temple - Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would dwell in thick darkness. And this applies to all dedications. 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. 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) And in the midst of a phenomenal celebratory service; the King of Israel prays a dedicatory prayer like none have ever heard before. It collapses economies and replaces peace with terror. SOLOMON BEGINS HIS PRAYER WITH PRAISE. b. After many particulars, Solomon concludes with the general request, that God would hearken to his praying people. with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, and the people . Solomon II. That all the peoples of the earth may know Thy name! We dedicate this sanctuary to be a house of prayer. The heathen may think that their deities will be able to help them in certain situations, but their hopes are futile. In this prayer, there is plenty of evidence that Solomon understood God's purpose for Israel. 2.F orgiveness of trespasses (vv. Crafts: Draw or paint self-portraits and write out 1 Corinthians 3:16 on the picture. 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. You can check these in your browser security settings. Standing there at the altar, he cried out for God to have mercy on His people . When King Solomon dedicated the temple in Jerusalem in all its glorious splendor, he stood before the altar of the Lord and prayed a very long prayer. 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 good news is that God not only forgives sins but also delights in dwelling with His people (v. 50). 1 Kings 8:54-63 (Dedication of the temple), INTRODUCTION: This morning we are going to look at King Solomons prayer of dedication when the temple was built in Jerusalem and see what principles of this prayer apply to us today as we dedicate our new sanctuary to God and his glory. Im so glad that we are committed to missions right here at home in Broward County and beyond. 10. on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month --This was the last day of the feast of tabernacles. He stood on the platform and then knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out . Jesus told his disciples: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. From the study of Solomon's prayer after the completion of the temple, the students will discover that God keeps all His promises. And they took away all those beautiful items that adorned the temple. Im so glad that our church has such a strong commitment to missions and to the spread of the gospel to all the nations. Amen. a. I have filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised: Solomon recognized that his succession of David on the throne of Israel was a significant thing. Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise, therefore, and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the Lord.". 1st Kings 8:22-53: Solomon's prayer at the dedication of God's people-temple. If they are taken out of their land because of their sin! Solomon begins his prayer with thanksgiving and praise for what God has done. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! This is a God who enters into communion with His people. (1 Kings 8:62-63). Also when the whole people of Israel come to this place to offer their prayers, Lord hear them. And a place for You to dwell in forever.. I. Thanksgiving and praise for what God has done (54-56). 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.. Do we take the credit for it? God knows what is in their hearts. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. 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. (BC), 52May your eyes be open(BD) to your servants plea and to the plea of your people Israel, and may you listen to them whenever they cry out to you. This is a unique prayer from the Old Testament. We dedicate this sanctuary to be a light in this community proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ to all who will hear. And there I have put the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD which He made with the children of Israel.. We are glad that Solomon said this. As king himself, Solomon remembered and spoke those truths at the dedication of the temple in his prayer and benediction. When the temple was complete Solomon praised God before His people reminding them of His promises. He kneels as he prays and spreads out his hands to the heavens. In this way he would be visible to all the people and they would all be able to hear him. 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 becomes acquainted with the ways of the Israelites and with their history and he also finds out about the greatness of Israel's God. (1 Kings 8:59-60). 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. Let God now hear Solomon. How many people have you told about Jesus lately? Does the enormity of the sin have anything to do with the possibility of forgiveness? Changes will take effect once you reload the page. There is suffering in every part of life. And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD's house. 31-32). He had kept covenant with His people, and promised mercy to those who would walk in obedience ( 6:14 ). The people had taken confidence in the temple. If we dont appropriate in faith, Gods promise is left unclaimed. When was the last time? God honors a praying people, because a praying people honors God! He must there confess his sin so that the sin does not rest on the whole people! Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. 26:16, 25, 26; Deut. The importance of wisdom goes beyond just knowledge. Prayer for Gods name to be known among the nations (59-60). Nor was the interest merely temporary or local. 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. 1 Kings 8 - The Dedication of the Temple A. He humbly suggests that the Temple is the . We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. As the opening section of Solomon s prayer (14-20) is summarized in the closing words of the prayer, we will quote these in order to grasp its general outline: Jehovah, God, Thou must not turn back the face of Thine anointed. Why, or, why not? 28Yet give attention to your servants prayer and his plea for mercy, Lord my God. 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. 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. The temple was a beautiful place that God instructed Solomon to build to represent the holiness of his presence. If I see a Bank of England note, it is a promise for a certain amount of money, and I take it and use it. Israel had prospered and had been victorious under the reign of David. Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. First we ask for Gods presence to be among us. Solomon's Prayer of Dedication | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org God cannot be confined to a particular space, but He does meet with His people in particular spaces. 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. The "man after God's own heart" had left the scene. Whenever you accomplish something, you are still to give God the glory for what he has done. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. But I think we all need to do a better job in personal evangelism as well. 17:10]; Acts 1:24, 2 Chr. King David himself gathered the raw materials to build the temple and, evidently, God provided the building plans for that holy structure. Can a murderer, if he repents, be saved? For this reason, the only way they can receive forgiveness of sins is through the physical Temple. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. 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. It was the Lord who provided all that they needed to complete the project. The pretended gods of the nations could not compare to Him in any way. He knew that when God mercifully answered the prayers of foreigners, it drew those from other nations to the God of all nations. Does the temple in Jerusalem have more significance than our church buildings? 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. Skilled workers were employed. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. (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.. What a wonderful prayer to pray! This sentence has been explained in various ways. 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. (1 Kings 7:13) Only the best materials were used. 17:6, 18; 25:21, Ezra 9:6, 7; Neh. III. Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 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. But then Solomon goes on to pray this second prayer of dedication in verses 54-63. What a sight! 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. You have kept what You promised: Solomon first thanked and praised God for His past fulfillment of promises. The first petition which Solomon utters is rather difficult to understand. When they sin against You (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 to a land far or near; yet when they come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done wrong, and have committed wickedness; and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been carried captive, and pray toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and toward the temple which I have built for Your name: then hear from heaven Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive Your people who have sinned against You.. But, if anyone or if the whole people turn to God in repentance, may He forgive. Nehemiah Chapter 12. Although we gather as a church to worship Christ, we must always be thinking of those outside the church who still need Christ. Solomon's prayer at the time of the dedication of the Jewish Temple is a remarkable piece of literature. Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word | . EVERYONE: The substance is Christ; whatever we ask in his name, it shall be given us. As Solomon comes before the Lord with a . O LORD God, do not turn away the face of Your Anointed; 58 May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers. And let Your saints rejoice in goodness. Solomon took time to contemplate the God he was praying to. True It is necessary to add these words because Israel may well be over-confident at the time when it is the strongest notion in that part of the world. He 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. Lev. You and the ark of Your strength. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. a. Living together outside of marriage is direct disobedience to Gods commands, and God cannot bless disobedience. 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. 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). 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. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. 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. All rights reserved worldwide. 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. Remember the kindness of David, Thy servant (2 Chron.6:42).
Barbie Signature Queen Elizabeth Ii Platinum Jubilee Doll,
Barstool Sportsbook Forgot Username,
Tax Products Pr1 Stimulus,
Articles O