As king himself, Solomon remembered and spoke those truths at the dedication of the temple in his prayer and benediction. Paul's Reference This is Solomon's prayer. Please include the following statement on any distributed copies: 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. i. Israel did not have a Nile river which made the whole land fruitful. If we dont appropriate in faith, Gods promise is left unclaimed. (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. God is the one who made it possible, and we give him all the glory. How much less this temple which I have built! And a place for You to dwell in forever.. The overseer of all is Solomon! God honors a praying people, because a praying people honors 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. 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. As Solomon was involved in doing God's work, he could expect God's blessing on his efforts. 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. b. Hanukkah, (Hebrew: "Dedication") also spelled anukka, Chanukah, or Chanukkah, also called Feast of Dedication, Festival of Lights, or Feast of the Maccabees, Jewish festival that begins on Kislev 25 (usually in December, according to the Gregorian calendar) and is celebrated for eight days. 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). This is a more general prayer of dedication and well-suited to the dedication of any home, building or business to the Lord. 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. 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. You can also check out the Top Posts page to get a feel for the site. a. The temple was completed the 8 th month of 11 th year of reign. >> When you pray with others in corporate prayer, make sure your heart, mind, and soul are echoing the words that are spoken. 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 . Otherwise they could not be defeated in this "theocracy"! Through believing prayer like this, God promises and we appropriate. A. Solomon's prayer place. He keeps His promises and shows lovingkindness. 1. 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. This lesson is an adaptation from the Gospel Project lesson on this Scripture passage. Solomon intercedes. ACT OF DEDICATION (Adapted from the Dedicatory Service at The Moody Church November 8, 1925). 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. Your hearts must be fully committed to the Lord or the dedication means nothing.. (If you're a human, don't change the following field), Solomons Prayer at the Dedication of the Temple. Solomon then prayed two prayers of dedication. (READ VERSES 23-24) SOLOMON IS PRAISING BECAUSE GOD IS FAITHFUL But understand that such a prayer of dedication only has meaning if you yourself are personally committed to the Lord. a. Solomon's prayer at the time of the dedication of the Jewish Temple is a remarkable piece of literature. (1-2) All of Israel assembles at Jerusalem. Remember the mercies of Your servant David.. Living together outside of marriage is direct disobedience to Gods commands, and God cannot bless disobedience. (v. 5) God has chose Jerusalem and David. No place, now, under the gospel, can add to the prayers made in or towards it. 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. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive. You have kept what You promised: Solomon first thanked and praised God for His past fulfillment of promises. He stood on the platform and then knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out . It was even worse when the defeat was because they had sinned against the LORD Himself. And so this fourth part of Solomons prayer is so important when it comes to dedicating anything to God and his glory. c. When they come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive: Solomon also asked God to hear Israels prayer from captivity in a foreign land. By Ray Fowler. In the second petition the king pleads with his God concerning his people when they are defeated by enemies. His story is told primarily in 1 Kings (1-11). The we come to Solomon's prayer of dedication of the temple. And so your first thought should always be thanksgiving and praise to God for what he has done. True A church that loses its outward focus has lost its way. Only if they are faithful will they rule. Judge between your servants, condemning the guilty by bringing down on their heads what they have done, and vindicating the innocent by treating them in accordance with their innocence.(Q). He had kept covenant with His people, and promised mercy to those who would walk in obedience ( 6:14 ). 25Therefore, Lord God of Israel, now keep what You promised Your servant David my father, saying, (G)You shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, only if your sons take heed to their way, that they walk before Me as you have walked before Me. 26(H)And now I pray, O God of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David my father. Though it happened 500 years before, it was just as important and real for Israel as the day it happened. We cannot dedicate things to the Lord if we have not dedicated ourselves to the Lord first. 1 Kings 8 - The Dedication of the Temple A. a. 27But will God really dwell(G) on earth? 8:1-66 The account of the Temple's dedication ceremony is organized concentrically: Solomon gathers the assembly (), blesses it (vv. To God be the glory forever! 50And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their captors to show them mercy;(BA) 51for they are your people and your inheritance,(BB) whom you brought out of Egypt, out of that iron-smelting furnace. For this reason, the only way they can receive forgiveness of sins is through the physical Temple. 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. 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. Solomon's prayer acknowledged the greatness of the LORD, and that there was none other God like Him. b. 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. 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. He is here following an example clearly taught us by our Lord Jesus Christ in the perfect prayer. Does the temple in Jerusalem have more significance than our church buildings? This beautiful prayer must be applied to his heart as well as to the hearts of all who read this prayer. Solomon prayed his prayer of dedication, and then the king and all the Israelites officially dedicated the temple to the Lord. Can one who is condemned by the state to the death penalty still be a "worthy partaker of the table of His Son"? Now, 11 months later, Solomon stands before the people, spread After all, didnt they do the work? 55He stood and blessed(BG) the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying: 56Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest(BH) to his people Israel just as he promised. a. Arise, O LORD God, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength: This conclusion of prayer has Numbers 10:35-36 in mind, when Israel moved the ark of the covenant, the tabernacle, and the whole camp of Israel from place to place through the wilderness during the exodus. On that platform King Solomon stood and then knelt, as the description of this very impressive occasion tells us in the preamble to Solomon's prayer, in 2 Chronicles 6:12-17: Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands. When such a person prays toward this place, may God hear him too. 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. 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. This was not a blanket request for blessing on every military adventure. V. 22b Verse 54 tells us that he knelt on his knees: "when Solomon had finished praying all Here are 3 key lessons from Solomon's prayer for wisdom that can give us spiritual wisdom, as well: 1. You and the ark of Your strength. a. 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. And we do also give ourselves individually and unreservedly to you. He ruled Israel for forty years, ushering in an era of peace and prosperity for his people. The first petition which Solomon utters is rather difficult to understand. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. PASTOR: Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity; three Persons and one God: CONGREGATION: To you we dedicate this house. This was made of either brass or copper and Solomon took his position on this platform. And in the midst of a phenomenal celebratory service; the King of Israel prays a dedicatory prayer like none have ever heard before. For this reason, many observant Jews still pray facing the direction of the site of the temple in Jerusalem. Adoration; Confession; Thanksgiving; Supplication But I think we all need to do a better job in personal evangelism as well. 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. Didnt they make the plans, gather the materials, and oversee the building of the temple? In this refrain he speaks of the riches of the experience of faith. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. David and Solomon were human instruments, but the work was Gods. Then he prays. 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. (v. 4) Solomon reiterates that God has never asked for a city or a house or a ruler until now. Prayer for Gods continued presence and direction (57-58). 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. 28:36, 64; 2 Kin. Standing there at the altar, he cried out for God to have mercy on His people . 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. What does it mean to dedicate a building, or a child or a home? 30:9]; Ezra 7:6; Ps. 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. God sent the promise on purpose to be used. 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. 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) Teach(W) them the right way(X) to live, and send rain(Y) on the land you gave your people for an inheritance. After placing the ark in its new home, a praise service broke out with instruments sounding out beautifully and voices raised . 57May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake(BJ) us. 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. Can a murderer, if he repents, be saved? Solomon intercedes. Click here for more messages from the book of 1 Kings. Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. If the rains do not come because the people have sinned the livelihood of the majority of the people will be affected at once. (v. 6) Though the temple was a house for Jehovah, Solomon realized that "the heavens, yes, the heaven of the heavens, themselves" could not contain Him. Solomon's prayer reminded his people that all of them had sinned against God (vv. 31When anyone sins against his neighbor, and is forced to take (O)an oath, and comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this temple, 32then hear in heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, (P)condemning the wicked, bringing his way on his head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.