Solomon Speaks to the People

January 12, 2020 Background Scripture: 1 Kings 8:14 – 21; 2 Chronicles 6 Lesson Passage: 1 Kings 8:14 – 21 The title of this week’s lesson seems quite plain in terms of the message it would likely convey without the benefit of the text to explain it. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to title this lesson: Solomon Addresses the Nation of Israel. That is the message within the text. Speaking to the people certainly seems sublime compared to the fanfare and elaborate worship that accompanied the relocation of the ark of the covenant from the tabernacle to Israel’s first temple (constructed at the directions of King Solomon). It was at the conclusion of the ark’s relocation that King Solomon and the people witnessed the cloud filling the most holy place as the presence of God appeared there. Solomon spoke of the cloud in reference to the statement God made to Moses concerning it while Israel was wandering in the desert as a nomadic tribe of people with the tabernacle in their midst. Solomon was now preparing to formerly dedicate the temple and all of its furnishings. Prior to leading a dedicatory public prayer, Solomon turned towards the people of Israel who were gathered and formerly addressed them. Solomon’s public speech to Israel is the subject of our lesson today. Solomon referred to the dream in which God appeared to his father, David, and talked with him concerning the temple David desired to build for the Lord. God reminded David that even in the wilderness in the midst of Israel, God did not dwell in a building nor did He request that a building be built for Him. Nevertheless, God considered David’s desire to build a temple to be good. However, God did not permit David to build a temple for Him. But God promised David that He would allow David’s son to sit on the throne of Israel after David’s death and his son would build Him a temple for His name. Since Solomon was now the king of Israel in David’s stead, he spoke of his leadership of Israel and the newly constructed temple as being the fulfillment of God’s promise to his father. As a servant of God, Solomon spoke of his hands as though they were the hands of God. Several times Solomon referred to the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises. Likewise, he referred to God as the God of Israel. It was important for Israel to know that they belonged to God and that they could always count on God to fulfill His promises. All of the great leaders of Israel, starting from Abraham, had close relationships with God and spoke of God’s faithfulness. Being a successful leader meant getting the people of Israel to follow God with the same faith and confidence that their leaders exhibited. There is only one God. The other people of the world chose to worship idols and nature and even participated in various religious rituals. However, those were not gods that could make and keep promises for them. They were not gods that cared about people but rather the product of the people’s imagination and superstitions. Israel served the one, true and living God, and Solomon took advantage of this public occasion to remind Israel who their God really is. Solomon was not just speaking to the people; he was reminding them of the God they served and how He was dependable throughout the generations of Israel. Once again, God had delivered as promised. Robert C. Hudson January 2, 2020