And I am always happy to do that. 2 CHRONICLES 6:12-42 -- SOLOMON'S PRAYER OF DEDICATION Biblical Background: Temple construction began 2 nd month of the 4 th year of reign, 480 years after Israel came out of Egypt. And in the midst of a phenomenal celebratory service; the King of Israel prays a dedicatory prayer like none have ever heard before. b. 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. God honors a praying people, because a praying people honors God! Solomon here prays for Gods daily provision and sustenance, but he does so for a very specific purpose. Want the Verse of the Day sent to your inbox? The temple was completed the 8 th month of 11 th year of reign. The first petition which Solomon utters is rather difficult to understand. Enduring Word Bible Commentary 2 Chronicles Chapter 6 Does the temple in Jerusalem have more significance than our church buildings? 32-33) shows that he realized that Israel was to reach out and share the knowledge and blessings of God with Gentiles. 2 Chronicles 7:14 Sermon - Join Us In Prayer Prayer for Gods continued presence and direction (57-58). PDF 2 CHRONICLES 6:12-42 -- SOLOMON'S PRAYER OF DEDICATION - Ptwente a. This is a unique prayer from the Old Testament. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. Solomon mentions locust and caterpillar, grasshoppers and other creatures which denude the fields of all vegetation. It was important to recognize that though God had a special presence in the temple, He was far too great to be restricted to the temple. 28:36, 64; 2 Kin. Let the penitent be spared. 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? This was not a blanket request for blessing on every military adventure. Remember the kindness of David, Thy servant (2 Chron.6:42). King Solomon prayed 7 prayers anticipating 7 judgments on Israel the 1 Kings 8:22-61 NIV - Solomon's Prayer of Dedication - BibleGateway Why Do You Look for the Living Among the Dead? Bible Lesson: Solomon Builds Temple and Prays (1 Kings 8:1-13) It took seven years for King Solomon to actually build the temple. 3. The substance is Christ; whatever we ask in his name, it shall be given us. The Ark of the Covenant is brought to the temple. Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:34 9.4MB) King Solomon . Here Solomon acknowledges Gods work for their fathers in the past, and he seeks Gods continued presence and direction for his people in the present. When all the work for the temple was finished, the last step was bringing the Ark of the Covenant and placing it in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, putting it beneath the wings of the cherubim. The temple is dedicated and let God now arise to His dwelling place! Many times people want their pastor to come and pray a prayer of dedication for their new home or their place of business. And we should pray for Gods people to remain fully committed to him. 30:9]; Ezra 7:6; Ps. Forgiveness of sins that had brought on drought (vv. What a wonderful prayer to pray! The temple was a beautiful place that God instructed Solomon to build to represent the holiness of his presence. The hearts determine their actions. First we ask for Gods presence to be among us. In his prayer do not reject your anointed one, the king now meant himself, though in subsequent usage it would express Israels hope in the coming Messiah. (Payne), (c) 2021 TheEnduring WordBible Commentary by David Guzik ewm@enduringword.com. (If you're a human, don't change the following field), Solomons Prayer at the Dedication of the Temple. His prayer contained nine requests: 1. Let God now hear Solomon. Sunday School Lesson (January 19, 2020) Solomon's Dedication Prayer When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain: Drought was a constant threat for the agriculturally based economy of Israel. No! Jesus promised his disciples: For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. (Matthew 18:20) And so when we gather to worship God in Jesus name, we can be assured that Christ is with us, that he is present with us and brings us into Gods glorious presence as we lift up the name of Jesus and worship God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Look at verses 54-56: When 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. There I have put the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD: The chief glory of the temple was that it was the resting place for the ark of the covenant, a representation of Gods covenantal presence with His people. 9:5, [2 Chr. 2 chronicles 6 RSV;NIV - Dedication of the Temple - Then Solomon In the land of Palestine the people were totally dependent on the "former" and the "latter" rains in order that there might be crops. 6:36; Ps. 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. If this king will continue in this way, he may be sure that the Lord his God will remember His covenant and all the loving kindness which He had promised David. Suddenly this great and beautiful temple becomes very small and insignificant in comparison with the One for Whom it is built. The priests could not enter into the house of the . Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.. But oh my friend, do try and use Gods promises; nothing pleases God better than to see his promises put in circulation; he loves to see his children bring them up to him, and say, LORD, do as thou hast said. And let me tell you that it glorifies God to use his promises. (Spurgeon). He will then not lack a son to sit upon his throne. 25-30). 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. 1 Kings 8 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (concise) - Christianity c. When You hear, forgive: Solomon knew that the most important thing Israel needed was forgiveness. 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. 22Then Solomon stood before (B)the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and (C)spread out his hands toward heaven; 23and he said: Lord God of Israel, (D)there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, (E)who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who (F)walk before You with all their hearts. We gather to worship God in the beauty of his presence. i. 29 May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, 'My Name shall be there,' so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 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. Commentary I Kings 8:22-I Kings 8:40 Family-Times.net He ruled Israel for forty years, ushering in an era of peace and prosperity for his people. 1. b. And so this fourth part of Solomons prayer is so important when it comes to dedicating anything to God and his glory. 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. Although we gather as a church to worship Christ, we must always be thinking of those outside the church who still need Christ. From the study of Solomon's prayer after the completion of the temple, the students will discover that God keeps all His promises. Keep prayer at he center of all you do! Otherwise they could not be defeated in this "theocracy"! 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. 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. 1st Kings 8:22-53: Solomon's prayer at the dedication of God's people Standing there at the altar, he cried out for God to have mercy on His people . Now Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the City of David, which is Zion. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! There are four parts to this prayer, and all four are easily applicable to the dedication of our sanctuary to God and his glory today. 32:11, 12; Deut. 2 Chronicles 6 Solomon's Prayer of Dedication - Believe Trust 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.". David and Solomon were human instruments, but the work was Gods. PDF The Dedication of the Temple 1 Kings 8:10-61 Nor was the interest merely temporary or local. There will be seven distinct petitions in this prayer of Solomon. i. ACT OF DEDICATION (Adapted from the Dedicatory Service at The Moody Church November 8, 1925). There is no other God. 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. Jerusalem: The End of the Road or Just the Beginning? 2 Chronicles 2:1. Prayer for Gods name to be known among the nations (59-60). Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. The overseer of all is Solomon! The first prayer is a longer prayer which is recorded for us in verses 1 Kings 8:22-53. 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. Here are 3 key lessons from Solomon's prayer for wisdom that can give us spiritual wisdom, as well: 1. Solomon begins his prayer with thanksgiving and praise for what God has done. And spread out his hands: This was the most common posture of prayer in the Old Testament. God is the one who gave you the talents, the time, the opportunity and the strength to do whatever it is you have done. Can a murderer, if he repents, be saved? A strong church was planted here in Plantation that has been faithful in preaching Gods word and has given millions of dollars to missions around the world. I. Solomon's Prayer of _____ of God (1 Kings 8:22-29) Dedication Of The Wall, Nehemiah 12:27-43 KJV - KING JAMES BIBLE ONLINE Hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and when You hear, forgive.. 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. He now assumes a posture in prayer of which we have not read earlier in the Biblical account. a. Let us then stand in awe, and sin not. I sometimes run into this with baby dedications. a. The people had taken confidence in the temple. When Solomon's construction was completed, the temple was dedicated. Oh, let God now hear the prayer of His servant! Lines and paragraphs break automatically. We may request cookies to be set on your device. Hear from heaven, and act, and judge Your servants: Solomon asked the God who can see what man cant who knows the hidden heart of man to enforce from heaven the oaths made at the temple. Praying in the True Temple. It's praying until we know we have laid hold of God. Also when the whole people of Israel come to this place to offer their prayers, Lord hear them. Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. And God did help them! 2 Chronicles 6:12-42 Solomon's Temple Dedication Prayer In this prayer, there is plenty of evidence that Solomon understood God's purpose for Israel. Hello and welcome to RayFowler.org. If there was no rain, there was no food. "If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our . Click on the different category headings to find out more. If anyone sins against his neighbor, and is forced to take an oath, and comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this temple, then hear from heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, bringing retribution on the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.. God sent the promise on purpose to be used. 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. The temple will be a delight to the children of Israel for many years and the impressive ceremony at its dedication will linger with them as long as they live. Skilled workers were employed. Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. The ruler of the people is going to lead the whole nation in prayer! 2 Chron 6:12. How much less this temple which I have built! God answered this prayer of Solomon, and He forgave and restored His defeated people when they came in humble repentance. He humbly suggests that the Temple is the . This is the second part of Solomons prayer: a prayer for Gods continued presence and direction. Or lets talk about marriage for a moment. The Ark has been brought in. Solomon's Preparation, Construction, and Dedication of the Temple How would this be possible? with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, and the people . This lesson was prepared for older elementary students and can be adapted for . However, if they pray "toward," not at this place or in this place, but in their homes with their faces toward Jerusalem, may the Lord forgive the sins of the king and of the people and send rain so that they may again be able to live in the land the Lord has given them. Traffic and Tears on the Road to Jerusalem. ), 2Ch 2:6; Ps 139:7-16; Isa 66:1; Jer 23:24, ver 52; 2Ki 19:16; 2Ch 7:15; Ne 1:6; Ps 5:1; 31:2; 102:17; 130:2; Isa 37:17, ver 47; Lev 26:40; Ne 1:6; Jer 29:12; Da 9:4, Ps 5:8; 27:11; 107:7; Pr 11:5; Isa 45:13; Jer 6:16; 7:23; 31:21, ver 35; 1Ki 17:1; 18:1, 45; Jer 5:24; 10:3; 14:22; Zec 10:1, S Jos 22:22; S Ps 44:21; Jn 2:24; S Rev 2:23, Lev 26:33-39; S Dt 4:27; S 21:10; S 28:64; 2Ki 25:21, S ver 30; S Lev 5:5; Ezr 9:15; Ne 1:6; Jer 14:20, 1Ki 9:4; 11:4; 15:3, 14; 22:43; 2Ki 20:3; 1Ch 28:9; 29:19; 2Ch 16:9; 17:6; 25:2; Ps 119:80; Isa 38:3, NIV, Beautiful Word Bible Journal, Galatians, Paperback, Comfort Print, NIV, The Woman's Study Bible, Full-Color, Red Letter: Receiving God's Truth for Balance, Hope, and Transformation, NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture, NIV, The Story, Hardcover, Comfort Print: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible, Comfort Print: Follow Gods Redemptive Plan as It Unfolds throughout Scripture, NIV, Story of Jesus: Experience the Life of Jesus as One Seamless Story. We dedicate this sanctuary to be a light in this community proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ to all who will hear. How many people have you told about Jesus lately? It is our "faith" with its own connotation. Gods good response to our repentance comes from His grace, not from justice. 33-34). 30Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray(M) toward this place. For less than $5/mo. For this reason, many observant Jews still pray facing the direction of the site of the temple in Jerusalem. But understand that such a prayer of dedication only has meaning if you yourself are personally committed to the Lord. This was made of either brass or copper and Solomon took his position on this platform. Seeing God always forgives upon His people's repentance, can this forgiveness become rather common place to us? We dedicate this sanctuary to be a place where Gods word is honored and proclaimed. 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. Even though men cannot prove the sin which has been committed by this "someone," God does know. There is suffering in every part of life. Otherwise the child dedication has no meaning. Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits . For this reason, the only way they can receive forgiveness of sins is through the physical Temple. 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. 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. 2 Chronicles Chapter 6. The first prayer is a longer prayer which is recorded for us in verses 1 Kings 8:22-53. 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. 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.