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. a. 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). 28:36, 64; 2 Kin. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. This is Solomon's prayer. Many times people want their pastor to come and pray a prayer of dedication for their new home or their place of business. 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. 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. 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. Out of the land of Egypt: Solomon presses the remembrance of the Exodus. 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. The prayers of Hannah (1 Samuel 1), Hezekiah (Isaiah 37), Daniel (Daniel 9) and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1) spring readily to mind. Jerusalem: The End of the Road or Just the Beginning? Arise, O LORD God, to Your resting place, Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the Lord. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. 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. b. So this was a long-term project. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. We should pray for Gods continued presence and direction. King Solomon mentions several of them. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. It was the Lord who fulfilled all the good promises he had given through his servant Moses. (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.. 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. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. 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. 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. 22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven; 23 and he said: "Lord God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. 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. Ray Fowler. a. The apex of joy is realized in the dedication sacrifices and celebratory feast associated with this climactic moment in Jewish history. And then we not only pray for Gods continued presence but also for his direction. Solomon intercedes. 26:16, 25, 26; Deut. This was the greatest answer to prayer Israel could expect from God. 32:11, 12; Deut. Let the penitent be spared. 20:9; Eccl. - Solomon acknowledges that God cannot be contained in any temple. 27But (I)will God indeed dwell on the earth? And so this fourth part of Solomons prayer is so important when it comes to dedicating anything to God and his glory. What a wonderful prayer to pray! I ask them: Why do you want Gods blessing on your marriage, but you dont want Gods blessing on your present relationship? Its not consistent. Israel's God does make covenant. Solomon then prayed two prayers of dedication. Living together outside of marriage is direct disobedience to Gods commands, and God cannot bless disobedience. 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. But understand that such a prayer of dedication only has meaning if you yourself are personally committed to the Lord. Otherwise the child dedication has no meaning. But then as we talk further, and I learn that they are living together before marriage, I get confused. The pretended gods of the nations could not compare to Him in any way. 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. Used by permission. He is here following an example clearly taught us by our Lord Jesus Christ in the perfect prayer. 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. Solomon: Begins by praising the God who keeps his promises. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God. He knew that when God mercifully answered the prayers of foreigners, it drew those from other nations to the God of all nations. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. This king does priestly work without violating the office of the priest as Uzziah later did. Are there more ecumenical passages in the Old Testament? 1:6; Ps. We gather to worship God in the beauty of his presence. And so we must always keep our outward focus as a church. 1 Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.. 2 But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever.. 3 And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood.. 4 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who hath with his hands . And we do also give ourselves individually and unreservedly to you. get to know the Bible better! But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. When the Old Testament speaks of the "foreigner" it does not always refer to the same kind of people. 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. November 2020 Series on Thanksgiving - for more information and an outline see here.. And we should pray for Gods people to remain fully committed to him. 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. 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.. Acknowledges that God is bigger than the temple. 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. This recognized that the God of the temple could answer prayers made away from the temple. 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. First we ask for Gods presence to be among us. Lord, render to every man according to all his ways. (1 Kings 8:54-56). The overseer of all is Solomon! Footnotes. 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. And this is really the heart of what all dedications to God are all about. The first prayer is a longer prayer which is recorded for us in verses 1 Kings 8:22-53. That is a wonderful response, and I would affirm anyone who is seeking Gods blessing on their marriage. Please include the following statement on any distributed copies: At the dedication ceremony, Solomon acknowledged the feebleness of his efforts compared to an infinite God: "Will God really dwell on earth with humans? Five Reasons to Read God's Word This Year, Involving People in Personal and Group Worship, Receiving People into Fellowship and Service, Sharing Gods Love in Broward County and Beyond, Teaching and Equipping People for Ministry, This Man Welcomes Sinners and Eats with Them, Five Candles at Christmas (Advent Wreath Sermons), Abraham (3): Unquestioning Obedience to Gods Commands, Creation: Understanding the Power of Gods Word, Faith: Being Certain of What You Do Not See, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph: Trusting God with the Future, Jericho and Rahab: Trusting in Gods Deliverance (2), Moses and His Parents: Fearing God Rather Than Man, Moses: Identifying with Christ and His People, New Testament Believers: Something Better for Us, Old Testament Believers (1): Triumphant in Victory, Old Testament Believers (2): Triumphant in Suffering, The Red Sea: Trusting in Gods Deliverance (1), Abortion: Caring for mothers and children in crisis pregnancy situations, Assisted suicide: Caring for the elderly and infirm, Divorce and Remarriage: Covenant, commitment, grace and forgiveness, Homosexuality: Caring for those who experience same-sex attraction, Living Together: Dishonoring those you love the most, Racism: A sin against God, humanity and the gospel, Transgender: Caring for those who experience issues with gender identity, The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast, The Parables of the Treasure and the Pearl, Turning Your Attitudes Upside Down - Part 1, Turning Your Attitudes Upside Down - Part 2, A Prayer to Be Pleasing to God (Sanctifying), Psalm 121 - Trusting in Gods Providential Care, Psalm 123 - Looking to the Lord for Mercy. This is the great secret to power in prayer to take Gods promises to heart in faith, and then boldly and reverently call upon Him to fulfill the promises. Solomon here prays for Gods daily provision and sustenance, but he does so for a very specific purpose. Solomon then prayed two prayers of dedication. 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. Solomon is praying to the creator of the universe, who already owns all and knows all. (1-2) Acknowledgement of God's presence in the cloud. What a sight! 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. Also when the whole people of Israel come to this place to offer their prayers, Lord hear them. God is the one who made it possible, and we give him all the glory. 30(N)And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. SOLOMON BEGINS HIS PRAYER WITH PRAISE. He stood on the platform and then knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out . Solomon's prayer. Mildew was another disease of the grains. 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." The temple was one of the most beautiful structures of ancient times. Solomon's prayer acknowledged the greatness of the LORD, and that there was none other God like Him. God is able to send rain and He is able to withhold it. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. But the LORD said to my father David, Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well in that it was in your heart. Solomon's prayer reminded his people that all of them had sinned against God (vv. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. 106:46; Acts 7:10, Ex. Then Solomon spoke: "The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud. 29May your eyes be open(J) toward(K) this temple night and day, this place of which you said, My Name(L) shall be there, so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 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. The greatness of Israel's God is seen in the facts that He has made all things and that He keeps covenant! You can check these in your browser security settings. Solomon's prayer is covers important points for the people and the nation. Click on the different category headings to find out more. 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. Nevertheless, it also reminds us of the principle in prayer of praying in the name of Jesus, the ultimate Anointed One. But that Temple has been destroyed for over 1900 years. 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. Whenever a people is defeated, great suffering comes upon them. 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? By 1994 we had outgrown the older sanctuary, and so we began plans for a new sanctuary. This is a Bible study on prayer, focusing specifically on the prayer at the dedication of the temple (1 Kings 8:22-53; 2 Chronicles 6:12-42). His story is told primarily in 1 Kings (1-11). 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. 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. that they may fear Thee all the days that they live in the land which Thou gayest unto our fathers. In this way he would be visible to all the people and they would all be able to hear him. Traffic and Tears on the Road to Jerusalem. PASTOR: Having been prospered by the good hand of our God, and enabled by his grace and power to complete this house of worship to be used for the glory of his name, we will now in his holy presence dedicate this sanctuary to him. 1. Those who begin with the service of God, are likely to go on successfully in their own affairs. This prayer helps prevent us from turning inwards and from making all our decisions based on what we think is best for us. 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. God knows what is in their hearts. How much less this temple which I have built! 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. 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.". 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. 2 Chron 6:12. 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. When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, wherever You send them: Solomon prayed with the idea that God should answer the prayers for victory made in foreign lands towards the temple, but only when they battle as God sent them. 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. He asks God to provide for each days need why? Behold, heaven and the (J)heaven of heavens cannot contain You. It was the Lord who provided all that they needed to complete the project. Teach(W) them the right way(X) to live, and send rain(Y) on the land you gave your people for an inheritance. (AQ), 46When they sin against youfor there is no one who does not sin(AR)and you become angry with them and give them over to their enemies, who take them captive(AS) to their own lands, far away or near; 47and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead(AT) with you in the land of their captors and say, We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly;(AU) 48and if they turn back(AV) to you with all their heart(AW) and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray(AX) to you toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and the temple(AY) I have built for your Name;(AZ) 49then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. 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. It is an immense undertaking for that day to build such a building as the temple. Famine came upon the land of Canaan several times during the course of sacred history despite the fact that this land was to be the land "flowing with milk and honey." Now keep what You promised Your servant David. let Your word come true: Solomon called upon God to keep the promises that He made. Lev. When Solomon's construction was completed, the temple was dedicated. The Temple was incomparable - just like the God who it was built for. 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. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. fulfilled with his hands) really means that Gods actions have confirmed his words it is as if Gods unseen hands were active in all the human hands who contributed to the construction work (cf. One is struck, moreover, with the fact that the language is far from new, and is full of quotations from the Pentateuch, some of which are almost word for word, while the sense of the whole may be found in those memorable passages in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. (Spurgeon). In summary: - Solomon describes the reason for the Temple, that it was in David's heart to build it, but God decided that his son should build it instead. The ruler is on his knees before One who is the great Ruler of the universe (2 Chronicles 6:13)! King David himself gathered the raw materials to build the temple and, evidently, God provided the building plans for that holy structure. Create a "special and holy" place in your classroom where children can pray and talk about how holy and special God is. Solomon II. A. Solomon's prayer place. 12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. The two records of this prayer are too long to do them justice but the beauty of the prayer and the evidence of the deep spirituality of the one who is praying will become clear. There is suffering in every part of life. Hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and when You hear, forgive.. And so we pray for God to turn our hearts that we may walk in all his ways and be obedient to his commands. All these prayers were offered at a time of challenge for the person praying, where the only one who could provide . Bible Stories - 1 Kings 8:22-66: Solomon's Prayer of DedicationThen Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spre. Thats the first part of Solomons prayer: thanksgiving and praise for what God has done. No place, now, under the gospel, can add to the prayers made in or towards it. The Bible contains the record of many wonderful prayers. 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. His concern for foreigners (vv. Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. 28Yet give attention to your servants prayer and his plea for mercy, Lord my God. 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. So what does it mean to dedicate something to the Lord? The king is here not referring to the stranger who makes his home in Israel, but to the foreigner who comes and goes. I. Solomon's Prayer of _____ of God (1 Kings 8:22-29) 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. God wanted the court of the Gentiles to be a place where the nations could come and pray. He ruled Israel for forty years, ushering in an era of peace and prosperity for his people. They were defeated because they had sinned against God! The priests could not enter into the house of the . He will then not lack a son to sit upon his throne. After seven years the Temple is completed and the magnificence of it is stunning. 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. In the early years of the Israelite kingdom, the Ark of the Covenant was periodically moved about among several sanctuaries, especially those of Shechem and Shiloh. b. Oh, let God now hear the prayer of His servant! Prayer for Gods name to be known among the nations (59-60). Wasnt it the donations of the people that made the building possible? And may You hear the supplications of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, and the people . 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. I. Thanksgiving and praise for what God has done (54-56). 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. It was the Lord who gave Israel rest from their enemies so they could focus on the building of the temple at that time. 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. 1:10; [Rom. Does the temple in Jerusalem have more significance than our church buildings? 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. God honors a praying people, because a praying people honors God! Keep prayer at he center of all you do! God's presence and protection (vv. The heathen may think that their deities will be able to help them in certain situations, but their hopes are futile. When the king mentions pestilence he is referring to a very contagious disease of that day (such as the black plague of the middle ages?) 2 Chronicles 2:1. And a place for You to dwell in forever.. The holy place and Most Holy Place were only for chosen descendants of the High Priest. This kind of prayer lays hold of Gods promise. 35, 46-49). You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. 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. Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.. 22-53), blesses the assembly again (vv. Such an individual must then come to the altar of God. 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..

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