Book of First Kings I Kings 8:22-66

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1 Book of First Kings I Kings 8:22-66 Dedication of God s Temple and Celebration of God s People The magnificent temple built by Solomon was a place of redemption where sacrifices were offered for sin and priests made intercession to God on behalf of the people. The temple was also a place of worship where the people praised God and showed reverence for Him. It was also a place of prayer. When God s presence entered the Temple the priests were forced to leave. And then Solomon offered a prayer of dedication to God, thanking Him for His goodness and asking for His continued blessings upon the nation. Solomon understood that God s presence and blessing were far more important than the temple itself. Solomon s Dedication Prayer (vs ) This is one of the most impressive prayers in the whole Bible. 1. The place of his prayer (vs. 22) Solomon was before the altar, the place of sacrifice. Only through an atoning blood sacrifice do we have access to God in prayer. 2. The posture of his prayer (vs. 22) Solomon stood with his hands spread out toward heaven. This was the common Jewish way to pray. At some point in the prayer Solomon knelt down (vs. 54), probably because he was so overwhelmed by what was taking place. He was truly humbled by it all. The most important thing in prayer is the posture of our heart. 3. The praise of his prayer (vs ) Solomon began his prayer with praise for God. All prayer is based on our view of God. Solomon understood that God is perfectly holy. He is the only true God, unlike all other false gods. Solomon prayed God s promise back to Him along with the conditions for its fulfillment. He is faithful to keep His covenant and give mercy (Heb., chesed, loyal covenant love ) and bless His people when they obey His commandments. He keeps His promises to His people. The phrase in verse 24 is similar to verse 15. What God had spoken with His mouth He fulfilled with His hand. Solomon confessed that the earthly temple or even heaven itself could not contain God s presence (vs. 27). Theologians speak of God s eternity (with respect to time) and God s immensity (with respect to space). Solomon prayed to a big God. How big is your God? A few years ago an atheist named Christopher Hitchens wrote a book entitled, God Is Not Great. Many considered Hitchens to be an intelligent man, but the Bible says he was a fool. Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Everything about God is great. He can t be controlled or contained. He cannot be managed, manipulated, marginalized, or minimized. 4. The petitions of his prayer (vs ) Solomon asked God to be aware of his prayer and to hear the many prayers that would be made in the temple or toward the temple (vs. 29). Solomon asked God to hear from His dwelling place in heaven (vs. 30, 32, 34, 36, 39, 43, 45, 49). Jews directed their prayers toward the temple, God s earthly dwelling. The temple was a place of prayer and the focal point of prayer even when God s people were far away from it (Ps. 138:2). Daniel prayed toward Jerusalem while in captivity (Dan.6:10), and Jonah prayed toward Jerusalem from the fish s belly (Jon. 2:4). The main theme in Solomon s prayer is asking God to forgive and bless His people when they repent and turn to Him. Solomon realized that the people would not always serve God. He knew

2 they would need God s mercy and forgiveness (vs. 46). Worship and prayer are not for perfect people, but for people who need forgiveness. Sin shouldn t keep us from God s house; it should drive us to God s house. The temple was a place for confession and cleansing. Solomon mentioned seven possible situations that would need God s attention in prayer: A. Lord, judge between the wicked and the righteous (vs ) There would be conflicts and cases that only God could resolve by His wisdom. B. Lord, forgive when sin has caused defeat in battle (vs ) C. Lord, forgive when sin has caused drought (vs ) D. Lord, forgive when sin has caused disasters (vs ) E. Lord, answer the prayers of foreign (Gentile) worshipers (vs ) F. Lord, give your people victory in battle (vs ) G. Lord, restore your people after captivity (vs ) More is said about this since the original readers of First Kings found themselves in this very situation. Solomon s Dedication Blessing (vs ) 1. Solomon blessed the people and the Lord (vs ) 2. Solomon thanked God for His rest (peace) and faithfulness (vs. 56) The people had a land of their own and peace within it. Solomon s words are much like Joshua s words in Joshua 23: Solomon asked God to remain with them (vs. 57) God s presence is what set apart Israel from all other people (see Ex. 33:13-16). A. W. Tozer commented, If God were to take the Holy Spirit out of this world, much of what the church is doing would go right on, and nobody would know the difference. 4. Solomon asked God to give them an obedient heart (vs. 58) No one will obey God unless God inclines His heart to do so (Phil. 2:13). Solomon understood the importance of the heart (see Prov. 4:23). He refered to the plague of each person s heart (vs. 38), the fact that God alone knows the heart (vs. 39), the necessity for God s people to return to Him with all their heart (vs. 48), the power of God to incline their hearts in obedience (vs. 58), and the need to have a heart faithful to God and His will (vs. 61). 5. Solomon asked God to remember future needs (vs. 59) 6. Solomon wanted all people on earth to know the one true God (vs. 60) God s temple and God s people were to be a witness to the world. It was a shame that Israel didn t fulfill its mission to be God s light to the Gentiles. 7. Solomon challenged the people to obey God (vs. 61) Solomon basically said, God has been faithful to you, so be faithful to Him. It was more important to dedicate the people than the building. Sadly, Solomon did not remain faithful to God in his own life.

3 Solomon s Dedication Celebration (vs ) 1. Solomon and the people offered 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep (vs. 63) Solomon had already offered sacrifices when the ark was brought into the temple. This large number of animals was appropriate to honor God s greatness and this once-in-a-lifetime event. God sent fire from heaven to consume the sacrifices (2 Chr. 7:1). Compare these sacrifices to the much smaller offering at the dedication of the rebuilt temple in Ezra s time (Ezra 6:17). 2. Solomon consecrated the entire courtyard for all the offerings (vs. 64) Even the massive bronze altar (30 ft. long, 30 ft. wide, and 15 ft. high) was not big enough to handle all the sacrifices. God was honored since their offerings were more than the altar could contain. For a similar story of generous giving, see Exodus 36: Solomon and the people shared a 14-day feast (vs ) On the 8 th day the people went to their homes to celebrate God s goodness. When people left this time of worship and celebration they were glad. When people leave the house of worship today, they will either be mad, sad, or glad. They could be mad because they don t like what God says. They could be sad because they won t do what God says. Or they could be glad because they hear what God says, receive it, give thanks for it, and do it. Once again in verse 66, King David is linked to this great celebration. The temple was first in David s heart, and then it was built, furnished, and dedicated. God deserved all the praise for everything He had done. God is not surprised by our sin. He knows that we can and will sin, but He cautions us about the consequences, counsels us to humble ourselves in repentance, and comforts us with His promise of mercy and forgiveness. A parallel account of this temple dedication is found in 2 Chronicles 6-7. In that passage God gives a powerful promise of hope and restoration, 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

4 Book of First Kings I Kings 8:22-66 Dedication of God s Temple and Celebration of God s People The magnificent temple built by Solomon was a place of redemption where sacrifices were offered for sin and priests made intercession to God on behalf of the people. The temple was also a place of worship where the people praised God and showed reverence for Him. It was also a place of prayer. When God s presence entered the Temple and the priests were forced to leave Solomon offered a prayer of dedication to God, thanking Him for His goodness and asking for His continued blessings upon the nation. Solomon understood that God s presence and blessing were far more important than the temple itself. Solomon s Dedication Prayer (vs ) 1. of his prayer (vs. 22) 2. of his prayer (vs. 22) 3. of his prayer (vs ) 4. of his prayer (vs ) A. Lord, judge between (vs ) B. Lord, forgive when sin has caused (vs ) C. Lord, forgive when sin has caused (vs ) D. Lord, forgive when sin has caused (vs ) E. Lord, answer the prayers of (vs ) F. Lord, give your people (vs ) G. Lord, restore your people (vs ) Solomon s Dedication Blessing (vs ) 1. Solomon blessed (vs ) 2. Solomon thanked God for (vs. 56) 3. Solomon asked God to (vs. 57) If God were to take the Holy Spirit out of this world, much of what the church is doing would go right on, and nobody would know the difference. - A. W. Tozer

5 4. Solomon asked God to give them (vs. 58) 5. Solomon asked God to (vs. 59) 6. Solomon wanted all people on earth to (vs. 60) 7. Solomon challenged the people to (vs. 61) Solomon s Dedication Celebration (vs ) 1. Solomon and the people offered (vs. 63) God sent fire from heaven to consume the sacrifices (2 Chr. 7:1). Compare these sacrifices to the much smaller offering at the dedication of the rebuilt temple in Ezra s time (Ezra 6:17). 2. Solomon consecrated for all the offerings (vs. 64) God was honored since their offerings were more than the altar could contain. For a similar story of generous giving see Exodus 36: Solomon and the people shared (vs ) God is not surprised by our sin. He knows that we can and will sin, but He cautions us about the consequences, counsels us to humble ourselves in repentance, and comforts us with His promise of mercy and forgiveness. A parallel account of this temple dedication is found in 2 Chronicles 6-7. In that passage God gives a powerful promise of hope and restoration: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14