Bible in one year 6/8/2022 1 Kings Chapter 8-10 Dedication of the Temple By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Bible in one year 6/8/2022 1 Kings Chapter 8-10 Dedication of the Temple

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries : Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

 

1Kings 8 Dedication of the Temple

            When all the work King Solomon had done for the temple of the Lord was finished, The priests then brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and it carrying poles. There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tables that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt. (vv.6-9). Apparently the Aaron’s rod, and manna two items had been lost by this time.

When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple. Then Solomon said, “ The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.” (vv.10-13). Solomon recognized the cloud as the symbol of God’s presence and favor (Ex.19:9;Lev.16:2).

Solomon’s great prayer (much longer than his previous sermon) began with thanksgiving for the uniqueness (v.23a) and faithfulness (vv.23b-24), on love; of God God’s promise. He then asked God for His continued presence and protection (vv.25-30); for a continuous demonstration of His holiness(vv.31-32); for forgiveness, restoration, and succor in times of distress upon confession of sin(vv.33-40); for answered prayer for the foreigner(vv.41-43; Heb., nokri, does not mean the settled alien, but the non-Israelite who came to worship); for victory in battle (vv.46-53).Three different words for sin are used in verse 47: sinned (missed the mark); done wrong (deliberately disobeyed); and acted wickedly (failed to conform to a true standard.

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 hand spread out toward heaven. He stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, “ Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us. May He turn our hearts to him, to walk in all His ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers…(vv.56-58)

The large number of sacrifices was certainly appropriate for this magnificent occasion and was easily financed out of Solomon’s great wealth. Solomon observed the festival at the time, a vast assembly people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. They celebrated it before the Lord, the dedication of the Temple lasted seven days and the Feast of Tabernacles another seven days. fourteen days in all. 

1Kings Chapter 9 The Lord appeared to Solomon and made a covenant

When Solomon had finished building the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, the Lord appeared to him a second time as He had appeared to him at Gibeon. And said,

“ I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever, My eyes and my heart will always be there. As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, “ you shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.” But if you or your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel form the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name…(vv.3-7).

As far as the Temple and people are concerned, it is clearly stated that it will be destroyed and they will go into captivity if they are unfaithful; but the Davidic dynasty will not be set aside(Ps.89:30-37).If Solomon is unfaithful and turn away from the Lord to worship other gods, the Temple will be destroyed. Solomon’s treasury being depleted, he gave Hiram twenty cites in northern Galilee, which area Hiram called Cabul (understood by some to mean “ worthless” or “ good for nothing”). Evidently Solomon later regained possession of the region (2Chron.8:2). Hiram sent Solomon about 144,000 ounces of gold. Megiddo(v.15), an important fortification controlling a pass between the plains of Esdraelon and Sharon and the site of the future battle of Armageddon.(Rev.16:16). Tadmor(v.18), Either Tamar on the road from Hebron to Elath, or Tadmor (2Chron.8:4), a city in the Syrian desert about 135 miles NE. of Damascus, later known as Palmyra. Three times a year Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar he had built for the Lord.(v.25). the feasts of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.

1Kings 10 His visit from the queen of Sheba

            The queen of Sheba. Ruler of the Sabeans in the southern part of Arabia. She traveled twelve hundred miles on camelback to visit King Solomon, probably because his presence on the Gulf of Aqaba threatened the caravan routes that made S. Arabia rich. Solomon answered all her questions. When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, she said, “ the report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true…praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness.”(vv.3,6,9).and she gave the king 120 talents of gold (vv.10-11) about 144,000 ounces. Almugwood (or algum). Probably the red sandalwood tree, which grows up to twenty feet in height and is still used in making musical instruments. King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for, besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned to her own country.(v.13). King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. (v.23).

 

Bibliography,

 Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986