Solomon Dedicates the Temple

May 11, 2025 Background Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:1 - 20 Lesson Passage: 2 Chronicles 7:1 - 7, 11 King Solomon oversaw the construction of Israel's first temple. It was built to be a permanent location to replace the tabernacle that housed the Ark of the Covenant and the altar. Its design was patterned after the tabernacle which had been in use since the days of Moses. The tabernacle was an arrangement of tents and curtains designed and assembled according to the instructions God gave to Moses. The tabernacle was designed to be mobile since Israel began as a nomadic tribe. The tabernacle continued to be Israel's most sacred place even after they settled in Palestine and were no longer nomadic. The construction of the temple required tens of thousands of laborers and most of the precious metals and other material owned by the entire nation. The lack of an organized civil government made large projects such as the construction of the temple difficult—if not impossible. Israel's civil government began when Saul was enthroned as Israel's first king. Saul eventually turned from God, and God replaced him with David. King David led many military conquests for Israel. As a result of the conquests, he had overseen the shedding of much human blood. David desired to build a temple, but God forbade him because of the bloodshed. David gathered the materials for the construction of the temple and its furnishings. God allowed David's successor, his son Solomon, to lead the construction as Israel's third king. Today's lesson focuses on God's physical response to Solomon's dedicatory prayer after the construction was finished. The pretext and the post-text to today's lesson are worth noting. In the pretext, Solomon's prayer is very much like the Model Prayer given by Jesus. The heart of the prayer was that the temple might be a place for God's name, and His presence, to dwell amid His people. Solomon asked that the prayers of God's people be heard whether in the temple or in a foreign land if they have been taken captive and repent. In the post-text, God answered Solomon's prayer in a dream at night. God agreed to the terms of Solomon's prayer as to when He would hear His people crying out to Him, Today's lesson begins where Solomon's prayer ended. God responded by sending fire down which consumed the sacrifices on the altar. Then God's presence, the visible shekinah glory, filled the temple. Israel's priests were not able to enter the temple after God's glory filled it. The sight of the fire that descended and the shekinah glory were enough to cause the people to bow down to the ground and worship God. King Solomon and the people offered so many sacrificial animals to the Lord that the bronze altar could not contain it all. Therefore, the court in front of the temple was consecrated as a place to offer sacrifices as well. The enormity of the offering made it clear that it was a sacrificial offering for all the people of God. The Lesson Passage states that, "the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God." King Solomon, as the nation's leader, led the religious ceremony. However, the people were not mere spectators, They were involved in the dedicatory services. The Levites who were commissioned as musicians by King David played on their instruments as the people sang about the eternal mercy of God. David set the stage for what should happen on such a wonderfully blessed day. King David gathered the resources necessary and trained and commissioned the Levites to perform at a level of excellence. God told him that he would not be allowed to build the temple, but He would allow David's son to do it. David died knowing that one day his son, Solomon, would indeed build and dedicate the temple to the Lord. Robert C. Hudson April 19, 2025