King Solomon (Message 3)

Two Lessons for This Series:

Solomon reminds us that there is good and bad in ALL of us.

It is not usually the “BIG” sins that destroy a life and a PURPOSE, but the little things that will DERAIL us from God’s perfect PLAN.

The Right Time, People, Place and Furnishings

1Kings 8:1 Then King Solomon summoned into his presence at Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the LORD’S covenant from Zion, the City of David. 2 All the Israelites came together to King Solomon at the time of the festival in the month of Ethanim, the seventh month. 3 When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark, 4 and they brought up the ark of the LORD and the tent of meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The priests and Levites carried them up, 5 and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.

King Solomon INITIATED the celebration which is one of the PINNACLE moments of Israel’s history. The Temple . . .

The leaders were there: ELDERS, HEADS of tribes, CHIEFS of families, and the PRIESTS.

The people were ALL there.

The dedication was held on the Feast of TABERNACLES (Sukhot) and was done 11 months after the temple was completed, in the year of JUBILEE. (This was 11 years after David’s death and the temple had taken 7 years to complete.)

The ark of the covenant was put in its PLACE, as were the other furnishings of the temple. It had been 500 years of waiting.

And the KING and people made SACRIFICES to the Lord.

The Response of God

1Kings 8:10 When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. 11 And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.

God asked that the Temple be built so that He could DWELL among His people. Now that it was complete, God's GLORY took up residence. The thick cloud caused the priests to LEAVE.

Solomon’s Reminder of God's Promises

1Kings 8:14 While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them. 15 Then he said: “Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his own hand has fulfilled what he promised with his own mouth to my father David. For he said, 16 ‘Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, but I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.’ . . . 20 “The LORD has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel.

PRAYER is mentioned 16 times in this chapter.

Solomon refers to God keeping His PROMISES 9 times. This chapter is a reminder of God’s many ATTRIBUTES.

Solomon’s Prayer and 7 Requests

1Kings 8:22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven 23 and said: “LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. . . . 27 “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 28 Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. . . . 30 Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.

Solomon LED the prayer even though the priests were PRESENT. He began by STANDING and by the end of the prayer was KNEELING (with his hands toward heaven).

He begins his prayer with PRAISE, being reminded of the greatness and VASTNESS of God. He also trusts that God hears the prayers of His people.

a. For forgiveness and JUSTICE after a crime
1Kings 8:31 “When anyone wrongs their neighbor and is required to take an oath and they come and swear the oath before your altar in this temple,

b. For forgiveness and RETURN to the land after DEFEAT
1Kings 8:33 “When your people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you, and when they turn back to you and give praise to your name, praying and making supplication to you in this temple,

c. For forgiveness after DIVINE punishment (national)
1Kings 8:35 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them,

d. For forgiveness after divine punishment (PERSONAL)
1Kings 8:37 “When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, 38 and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel— . . .

e. For the FOREIGNER who CALLS upon God
1Kings 8:41 “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name—

f. For HELP in BATTLE
1Kings 8:44 “When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to the LORD toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name,

g. For forgiveness after defeat while living as CAPTIVES
1Kings 8:46 “When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to their enemies, who take them captive to their own lands, far away or near;

The End of the Celebration

1Kings 8:56 “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. . . .65 So Solomon observed the festival at that time, and all Israel with him—a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. They celebrated it before the LORD our God for seven days and seven days more, fourteen days in all. 66 On the following day he sent the people away. They blessed the king and then went home, joyful and glad in heart for all the good things the LORD had done for his servant David and his people Israel.

Solomon reminds his people of God’s FAITHFULNESS.

People had come from many miles to PARTICIPATE in this event which lasted for 14 days.

And the people REJOICED!

Walk The Talk

This chapter of Scripture, 1 Kings 8, is a long one, but take time to read it again. What did you learn this time?

Solomon spoke constantly of God’s attributes. Which ones can you pick out from the following verses?
___________ (8:11)
___________ (8:14)
___________ (8:23)
___________ (8:27)
___________ (8:32)
___________ (8:50)
___________ (8:56)

What do you learn about making requests of the Lord from Solomon’s requests, and how can it help you in your prayer life?