Background Passage: I Kings
8:1-9:9
Focal Teaching Passage: 1
Kings 8:1-61; 9:1-9
Solomon Transports the Ark
to the Temple (8:1-13)
Following the completion of the temple, Solomon
commanded the “elders” and other leaders of Israel to transport the “ark
of the Lord’s covenant” to the site of the new place of worship. While the
ark had previously rested in the southern part of the city of Jerusalem, or “Zion,”
Solomon had it relocated to a newly annexed section to the north. In essence,
Solomon had extended the borders of the city beyond the boundaries of David’s
Jerusalem [House, 137].
Here we see that, in an atmosphere much like that of
a parade, the “ark of the Lord and the Tent of Meeting” were carried by
the “priests and Levites” to the site of the new temple. Verse 2
tells us that it was during the time of the “festival” when this
occurred. Most likely, this was the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles that
commemorated God’s faithfulness in the conquest of the promised land. This would indicate that Solomon actually
dedicated the new temple about one year after its completion. House suggests
that even though the temple had been finished eleven months earlier, Solomon
desired to wait until the feast in order to officially dedicate it to the Lord
[House, 137.
Also see Wiseman, 117-118]. Verse 5 depicts the glorious
scene of national worship, sacrifice, and the adoration of Yahweh led by “King
Solomon.” Note that so many sacrifices were offered at this time “they
could not be recorded or counted.”
Verses 6-13
Here the author describes how the ark was brought
safely to “its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy
Place,” where it was strategically positioned “beneath the wings of the
cherubim” (v. 6). As suggested earlier in this study, this seems to
parallel God’s heavenly throne room above and His holy and awesome presence
into which no man may come on his own account. According to verse 9,
the only items in the ark at this time were the “Stone tablets that Moses
had placed in it at Horeb.” This
fact clearly “underscores Israel’s ties to the Sinai covenant. God’s presence,
God’s word, and God’s covenant with Israel are inextricably linked” [House,
139].
As the ark was laid to rest in the Most Holy place,
the very “glory” of Yahweh, in the form of a “cloud,” literally “filled
the temple of the Lord” so that the priests “could not perform their
service” (v. 10). Wiseman reminds
us that the glory of the Lord “always marks his presence just as at Sinai (Ex.
24:15-17) and later in the tabernacle when the cloud (Ex. 20:21; Dt. 4:11), a
thick cloud whether of darkness or light [appeared].” This apparently signifies
that “God is now possessing his house” [118]. In this
instance the appearance of the glory-cloud clearly expresses the divine
approval of the temple and the location of His holy presence among His covenant
people. Paul House explains that in the same way
God was with Moses, so now
God is with this new generation of Israelites. Such continuity reaffirms the
Lord’s never-changing character, [His] desire to have fellowship with human
beings, and [His] ongoing commitment to the chosen people. [139].
While we might have difficulty reconciling the fact
of God’s immaterial and timeless nature with His location in one particular
place in time and space, the ancient Hebrews saw no “incompatibility between
divine omnipresence and a local dwelling-place on earth where he made himself
known” [Wiseman, 119].
Solomon Speaks of God’s
Faithfulness (8:14-21)
At this point in the dedication of the temple,
Solomon turned to address “the whole assembly of Israel” standing before
him. Having “blessed them,” he
made several significant points that needed their careful attention and
remembrance. First, Solomon called his people to remember the faithfulness of
the God who “with his own hand” had faithfully “fulfilled what he
promised with his own mouth” to king David (v. 14). Secondly, Solomon called the people to
recognize that his own kingship was due to the Lord’s sovereign declaration and
will (v. 19). Finally, he clarified the
purpose for which the temple was built.
It would serve as the central dwelling place “for the Name of the
Lord, the God of Israel” along with “the ark, in which is the covenant
of the Lord that he made with our fathers when he brought them out of Egypt”
(vv. 20-21).
Solomon Prays at the Temple
Dedication
(8:22-53)
Having addressed the people of his nation, Solomon
turned his attention upward to the Lord. With the people gathered as witnesses,
he “spread out his hands toward heaven” and offered prayer to God (v.
22). The significant components of
Solomon’s dedicatory prayer are summarized below:
Solomon Challenges the
People
(8:54-61)
With the conclusion of his public prayer on behalf
of his people, Solomon “rose from before the altar of the Lord” and once
again “blessed the whole assembly of Israel” (v. 54). Ultimately, this blessing is in the form of
another prayer for “the continuing close relationship between God and his
people” [Wiseman, 123]. Three major elements of this
blessing/prayer may be discerned [see House, 148-149]:
· First, Solomon calls upon his people to be loyal to the God who has been faithful to them with both His presence and blessings—“may he never leave us or forsake us” (vv. 56-57).
This section concludes with another plea from
Solomon regarding the commitment and obedience of the people of Israel. He
passionately calls upon them to “be fully committed” to God and to
continually “live by his decrees and obey his commands” (v. 61). His
point is quite clear. As a matter of regular spiritual exercise, the covenant
people must remember to follow the Lord with whole-hearted devotion, sacrifice,
and faithfulness.
Solomon Sees the Lord (9:1-9)
Following the completion of “the temple of the
Lord” as well as “the royal palace,” the Lord “appeared” to
Solomon again (v. 1). In this vision, or theophany, God assured Solomon that
his prayers and pleas had been heard and that He was well pleased with the
construction of a central place of worship (v. 2). The temple that Solomon had faithfully erected for the Name of
the Lord had indeed been “consecrated,” or made holy, by God. Consequently, the Lord then promised that
His “eyes” and “heart” would “always be there”(v. 3). In other words, the Lord Himself would
always carefully watch over and love the temple [House, 151].
Having assured Solomon that the temple was
acceptable as a place of dwelling for the divine presence, the Lord once again
set forth a weighty challenge and warning to Israel’s king. The language of this section clearly articulates
the conditional nature of both the promises and warnings given to Solomon.
First, the Lord calls the king to “walk before me
in integrity of heart and uprightness” (v. 4). That is, Solomon, as the
leader of the nation and the divinely chosen example of a covenant-keeping man,
was to conduct every facet of his life in the presence of God and His holy law
[Wiseman, 125].
The moral/spiritual qualities of “integrity”—being in agreement with the
truth—and “uprightness”—meaning honesty and purity—should always
characterize his life. Note that these qualities would be primarily manifested
as Solomon demonstrated obedience to each of God’s “commands,” “decrees,”
and “laws” (v. 4). If Solomon obeyed the Lord as commanded, the result
would be manifold blessings:
However, the Lord makes it clear that there would be the most serious consequences for disobedience and idolatry (vv. 6-10):
· Israel will be “cut off” and its temple “rejected” by God (v. 7).
· Israel would become “an object of ridicule among all peoples” (v. 7).
· Both spiritual and physical “disaster” will be brought against them by the Lord Himself (v. 10).
One:
Carefully read 8:10-11.
What is the significance of the cloud that appeared in the Temple? Hint:
Think about how the glory-cloud displays both God’s presence and approval of
the newly built temple.
Two: According to 8:6 the priests transported the ark of the covenant. What was important about the role of the Old Testament priest, and what, if any, significance does it have for our lives as New Testament believers? Hint: Consider the following possibilities:
Three: Much can be learned about prayer from
carefully examining Solomon’s words in 8:22-53. Consider the
following questions:
Four:
According to 8:24 Solomon had a well-balanced view of
worship. Are there errors for us to
avoid in our attitude and practice of worship?
Five:
Look carefully at Solomon’s words in 8:58. What is the meaning and significance of his
prayer that God would “turn our hearts to him”? If the hearts of the covenant people are in
need of turning or bending, what does this imply about us as believers?
Six: 8:60 clearly states the
ultimate purpose of worship, obedience, and service. What is it?
Seven:
Consider the divine curses that are threatened in 9:1-9.
How do these point us forward and upward to Christ and His work of atonement?