Solomon Seeks God’s Blessing

January 19, 2020 Background Scripture: 1 Kings 8:22 – 53; 2 Chronicles 6:12 – 42 Lesson Passage: 1 Kings 8:22 – 30, 52, 53 This is the third lesson in a series that detail King Solomon’s actions at the conclusion of the construction of the first temple in Israel. Solomon led the procession that brought the ark from the tabernacle to the temple. He had witnessed the cloud and the glory of God filling the most holy place after the ark was in place. He addressed the people of Israel concerning the cloud as evidence of God’s physical presence in the midst of His people. Solomon also reminded them of the faithfulness of God in keeping His promises throughout the generations of Israel. In today’s lesson, Solomon knelt down and offered a public prayer of dedication. That prayer has everything that a child of God should do and say at such a time. As king, Solomon showed great humility as he humbled himself in the presence of God and the people of God. It was not a short prayer but neither was it just repetitive or meaningless words that made it long. In his prayer, Solomon continuously acknowledged Israel as God’s very own people whom He had chosen and led out of Egypt through His servant, Moses. Solomon acknowledged that there is no other God in earth or the heavens above. God, alone, is God and Israel had not made themselves His people but God had chosen Israel to be His special people. The completion of the temple was more evidence of God’s faithfulness in that He had promised David that his son would build a temple. Although God in His omnipresence is not limited to a single physical location, yet He would make His glory known in the cloud in the most holy place of the temple—just as He had in the most holy place of the tabernacle during the wilderness years of Israel. Therefore, the temple was dedicated as a holy place. Solomon asked God to be attentive to the prayers that were made or offered in the temple. Not only did he want God to hear the prayers, but Solomon asked God to answer the prayers of those who petition Him in the temple. Solomon specifically included gentile worshipers in the list of those who he wanted God to listen to their prayers and answer them when they prayed from the temple. Solomon anticipated gentiles coming to the temple in witness of the God of Israel as the one and only true God. If God were to answer the prayers of gentiles when they sought Him in the temple, it would serve as confirmation of their faith. Solomon prayed concerning the falling away from the faith of the children of Israel and their forsaking of God. He said once they came to themselves and repented, he wanted God to again restore them and answer their prayers. Further, if God became angry at His people and allowed their enemies to carry them to a foreign land, Solomon asked God to hear their prayers if they turned in the direction of the temple even from a foreign land. And if God allowed natural misfortune to befall His people, such as drought, pestilence, or famine, if the people repented of their sin and returned to God, Solomon asked God to hear and answer their prayer and restore them. In fact, no matter what misfortune might befall Israel, whether it was their fault or not, if they repented and returned to following God and prayed with the temple as a central part of their prayer, Solomon was asking God to hear and answer their prayer. As long as Israel prayed earnestly to God, either in the temple or in the direction of it, Solomon asked God to bless them by honoring their petition. These were the blessings of God that Solomon sought through prayer. Robert C. Hudson January 2, 2020