This lesson was prepared for older elementary students and can be adapted for . Israel had prospered and had been victorious under the reign of David. And so finally after all the years of preparation and giving and building, the temple was complete. Can a murderer, if he repents, be saved? b. 17:6, 18; 25:21, Ezra 9:6, 7; Neh. The work on this sanctuary is long completed. 41As for the foreigner(AJ) who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name 42for they will hear(AK) of your great name and your mighty hand(AL) and your outstretched armwhen they come and pray toward this temple, 43then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. But, if anyone or if the whole people turn to God in repentance, may He forgive. (1-2) All of Israel assembles at Jerusalem. B. Solomon's prayer posture. 29 May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, 'My Name shall be there,' so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. The first prayer is a longer prayer which is recorded for us in verses 1 Kings 8:22-53. This sentence has been explained in various ways. When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain: Drought was a constant threat for the agriculturally based economy of Israel. Solomon having kept the feasts of tabernacles and dedication, dismisses the people 12. For this occasion Solomon has had a platform built which was five cubits wide and five cubits long and three cubits high. So what does it mean to dedicate something to the Lord? Temple of Jerusalem, either of two temples that were the centre of worship and national identity in ancient Israel. Acknowledges that God is bigger than the temple. This is Solomon's prayer. 33-34). 2 Chronicles 7:12-22 . He does not say what manner of sin it is because that is immaterial to what he has in mind. His concern for foreigners (vv. V. 22b Verse 54 tells us that he knelt on his knees: "when Solomon had finished praying all Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the Lord. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud. For less than $5/mo. Solomon prosperously effected all he designed, for adorning both God's house and his own. As we just read in verse 61: Your hearts must be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands.. Arise, O LORD God, to Your resting place, 28:36, 64; 2 Kin. Solomon then prayed two prayers of dedication. 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. Does the temple in Jerusalem have more significance than our church buildings? The Ark of the Covenant is brought to the temple. That is his privilege and his duty. 27But will God really dwell(G) on earth? Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. 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. 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." i. All these prayers were offered at a time of challenge for the person praying, where the only one who could provide . 24 You have kept 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. Suddenly this great and beautiful temple becomes very small and insignificant in comparison with the One for Whom it is built. Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits . After many particulars, Solomon concludes with the general request, that God would hearken to his praying people. I have surely built You an exalted house, How were the kingly and priestly offices kept separate? He had kept covenant with His people, and promised mercy to those who would walk in obedience ( 6:14 ). (v. 6) Original German (Salomo II): Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart 7 (2004) 803-804. And so now we are finally in a position officially to dedicate this sanctuary to God and his glory. (1-2) Acknowledgement of God's presence in the cloud. Nor was the interest merely temporary or local. And so your first thought should always be thanksgiving and praise to God for what he has done. III. First we ask for Gods presence to be among us. Whenever you accomplish something, you are still to give God the glory for what he has done. Seeing God always forgives upon His people's repentance, can this forgiveness become rather common place to us? And so the fourth and final part of Solomons prayer is a prayer that Gods people would remain fully committed to him. b. To God be the glory forever! This wisdom is soon revealed when a mother comes to him with another woman, each claiming the same child as her own. Then he prays. Online 2013. If we dont appropriate in faith, Gods promise is left unclaimed. And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD's house. PASTOR: Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity; three Persons and one God: CONGREGATION: To you we dedicate this house. 16:7; 1 Chr. THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 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. 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. 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. Paul's Reference The temple was one of the most beautiful structures of ancient times. Out of the land of Egypt: Solomon presses the remembrance of the Exodus. Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. If they are taken out of their land because of their sin! Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. 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. Then Solomon spoke: "The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud. In the second petition the king pleads with his God concerning his people when they are defeated by enemies. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. He asks God to provide for each days need why? Why Do You Look for the Living Among the Dead? November 2020 Series on Thanksgiving - for more information and an outline see here.. b. 22Then Solomon stood before (B)the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and (C)spread out his hands toward heaven; 23and he said: Lord God of Israel, (D)there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, (E)who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who (F)walk before You with all their hearts. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. Remember the kindness of David, Thy servant (2 Chron.6:42). i. That is part of the outward focus that we are to maintain as the church of Jesus Christ. Used by permission. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. Lev. Skilled workers were employed. a. 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. "Solomon's Prayer of Dedication" . Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. Before we try and answer that question, it is helpful to get a little background on this temple that Solomon was dedicating. c. When You hear, forgive: Solomon knew that the most important thing Israel needed was forgiveness. If you are new here, be sure to subscribe by email or feed reader so that you don't miss any future posts. How would this be possible? (O), 31When anyone wrongs their neighbor and is required to take an oath and they come and swear the oath(P) before your altar in this temple, 32then hear from heaven and act. And so Solomon begins with thanksgiving and praise for what God has done. Now keep what You promised Your servant David. let Your word come true: Solomon called upon God to keep the promises that He made. 5. Solomon pleads with the Lord that the temple would be a place of prayer and that all prayers directed toward it would be heard of the Lord and answered. Prayer for Gods name to be known among the nations (59-60). Solomon's prayer acknowledged the greatness of the LORD, and that there was none other God like Him. i. a. Solomon here prays for the faithfulness of all of his own posterity. If God's people only repent! The temple was a beautiful place that God instructed Solomon to build to represent the holiness of his presence. After placing the ark in its new home, a praise service broke out with instruments sounding out beautifully and voices raised . This is the second part of Solomons prayer: a prayer for Gods continued presence and direction. Solomon's prayer at the time of the dedication of the Jewish Temple is a remarkable piece of literature. 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. Why, or, why not? 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. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. 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. The people had taken confidence in the temple. And we do also give ourselves individually and unreservedly to you. But, who is Solomon and what is it which he has built that he should think that Jehovah, the God of Israel, will dwell with men? 106:6; Dan. One land would often invade the other, besiege its cities and take the inhabitants captive. How dreadful to pray a prayer of dedication for a new business if you are not going to run that business according to godly principles. 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. 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) 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? King Solomon mentions several of them. a. Create a "special and holy" place in your classroom where children can pray and talk about how holy and special God is. - Solomon acknowledges that God cannot be contained in any temple. Now therefore, 26:34, 44; Deut. What a sight! Solomon's Prayer of Dedication. God answered this prayer of Solomon, and He forgave and restored His defeated people when they came in humble repentance. this temple for God, so did His represented presence in the form of the Ark of the Covenant (see 2 Chronicles 5:2-10). 28Yet give attention to your servants prayer and his plea for mercy, Lord my God. We may request cookies to be set on your device. They always respond because they want Gods blessing on their marriage. Jesus taught: Matthew 6:9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name." Solomon's God was no dud. That is his privilege and his duty. In this article: 32:11, 12; Deut. It was the Lord who fulfilled all the good promises he had given through his servant Moses. 28Yet 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 today: 29that Your eyes may be open toward this [a]temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, (K)My name shall be (L)there, that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes (M)toward this place. After all, didnt they do the work? Not one word has failed of all the good promises(BI) he gave through his servant Moses. 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). This king does priestly work without violating the office of the priest as Uzziah later did. Thats the first part of Solomons prayer: thanksgiving and praise for what God has done. The substance is Christ; whatever we ask in his name, it shall be given us. 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. A few short years after Solomon's prayer, God destroyed Israel as a nation. And there I have put the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD which He made with the children of Israel.. 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 king himself, Solomon remembered and spoke those truths at the dedication of the temple in his prayer and benediction. ii. He is too great to be limited to any created place. A church that loses its outward focus has lost its way. We dedicate this sanctuary to be a house of prayer. 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. 17:10]; Acts 1:24, 2 Chr. New International Version (NIV). 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. 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. No! Stood before the altar of the LORD: Solomon did not dedicate the temple from within the temple. a. If there are, why are they so few? 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. Alas, Solomon didn't stay on this height of commitment to God. And so we must always keep our outward focus as a church. 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.". This is Solomon's prayer. b. 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. 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. If there was no rain, there was no food. Here Solomon acknowledges Gods work for their fathers in the past, and he seeks Gods continued presence and direction for his people in the present. What kind of a son will now succeed him to rule over this great people? I. Thanksgiving and praise for what God has done (54-56). As Solomon comes before the Lord with a . In this refrain he speaks of the riches of the experience of faith. It is again clearly shown when the queen of Sheba comes and asks him all manner of difficult questions and he has ready answers. In this prayer, there is plenty of evidence that Solomon understood God's purpose for Israel. The we come to Solomon's prayer of dedication of the temple. Though it happened 500 years before, it was just as important and real for Israel as the day it happened. 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. When we gather to worship, this is what we seek first and foremost. 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. The temple is dedicated and let God now arise to His dwelling place! 2.F orgiveness of trespasses (vv. Whenever a people is defeated, great suffering comes upon them. Solomons final request is that Gods people would remain fully committed to him at all times. 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. It collapses economies and replaces peace with terror. God sent the promise on purpose to be used. Recalls God's dynastic promises to David through the prophet Nathan. You can also check out the Top Posts page to get a feel for the site. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Construction of the Temple was begun in the _____ year following the Exodus., In return for cedar and fir from Lebanon, Solomon gave Hiram, king of Tyre:, The Temple required _____ years for construction. When the Old Testament speaks of the "foreigner" it does not always refer to the same kind of people. (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.. 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. 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. Let's pray that in whatever we do, that the Lord always gets the glory and ask that it will always shine through. 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. Prayer for Gods continued presence and direction (57-58). 30 Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they 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. (AO), 44When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray(AP) to the Lord toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, 45then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. This is a more general prayer of dedication and well-suited to the dedication of any home, building or business to the Lord. Solomon declares that he's built a house for God. 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. 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.. EVERYONE: a. 8:1-66 The account of the Temple's dedication ceremony is organized concentrically: Solomon gathers the assembly (), blesses it (vv. 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. All rights reserved worldwide. Please include the following statement on any distributed copies: Now, 11 months later, Solomon stands before the people, spread His prayer contained nine requests: 1. In the last petition Solomon deals with the worst situation which can befall a people. 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. Your hearts must be fully committed to the Lord or the dedication means nothing.. But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? 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. 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. (True or False) Graciously, Solomon first allowed Adonijah to go free. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. 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). 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. The holy place and Most Holy Place were only for chosen descendants of the High Priest. This is instructive to us. Are there more ecumenical passages in the Old Testament?