In 1 Kings 8 and 2 Chronicles 6 we have the prayer of King Solomon of Israel at the dedication of the temple -- what came to be known as “Solomon’s temple”. It is an outstanding prayer recorded in two chapters of the Bible. Which means that Christians are to learn many lessons from it. It would appear that the words of Solomon have been inspired by the Holy Spirit. Not every detail of the prayer will be examined, but some of the highlights only.
1. Firstly Solomon says that God would dwell in “thick darkness”. But God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all. Which means that God would essentially be incomprehensible to men. Thus none can explain the Trinity nor the deity of Christ.
2. Secondly Solomon says that God has kept His promises to David and to Solomon. This directs us to the fact that God has made many promises to His children, the primary one being the promise of eternal life. That is a huge promise in itself.
3. Then Solomon says that there is no God like unto our God, who is a covenant keeping God: And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart. It is God who designed the New Covenant, and included the gift of the Holy Spirit in it.
4. Then Solomon confirms the fact that the Almighty God cannot be confined to a building, yet that building in Jerusalem will have great significance for God. Today the building of God is the Church of Christ -- each one who has been saved by grace, washed in the blood of the Lamb, and is within the Body of Christ.
5. Then Solomon declares that the temple at Jerusalem would become ”a house of prayer” and that is exactly what Christ also said. Therefore He cleansed the temple twice. Solomon details many situations where prayers would go up to God through that temple, and God would hear and answer. Today we have direct access to the Throne of Grace in Heaven, when we pray to the Father, through the Son, and by the Holy Spirit. And it is the Holy Spirit who enables us to pray as we ought to.
6. Solomon goes on to say that even “strangers” those outside Israel” would pray towards the temple, and that the temple would cause all people of the earth to know the name of the true God, and to fear Him: Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name.
7. Finally Solomon states a New Testament truth -- that it is God who clothes His saints with salvation (the robe of imputed righteousness), and that the saints are to rejoice in His goodness. The New Testament calls the children of God kings and priests, and all believers need to keep this in mind at all times: Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.
1. Firstly Solomon says that God would dwell in “thick darkness”. But God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all. Which means that God would essentially be incomprehensible to men. Thus none can explain the Trinity nor the deity of Christ.
2. Secondly Solomon says that God has kept His promises to David and to Solomon. This directs us to the fact that God has made many promises to His children, the primary one being the promise of eternal life. That is a huge promise in itself.
3. Then Solomon says that there is no God like unto our God, who is a covenant keeping God: And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart. It is God who designed the New Covenant, and included the gift of the Holy Spirit in it.
4. Then Solomon confirms the fact that the Almighty God cannot be confined to a building, yet that building in Jerusalem will have great significance for God. Today the building of God is the Church of Christ -- each one who has been saved by grace, washed in the blood of the Lamb, and is within the Body of Christ.
5. Then Solomon declares that the temple at Jerusalem would become ”a house of prayer” and that is exactly what Christ also said. Therefore He cleansed the temple twice. Solomon details many situations where prayers would go up to God through that temple, and God would hear and answer. Today we have direct access to the Throne of Grace in Heaven, when we pray to the Father, through the Son, and by the Holy Spirit. And it is the Holy Spirit who enables us to pray as we ought to.
6. Solomon goes on to say that even “strangers” those outside Israel” would pray towards the temple, and that the temple would cause all people of the earth to know the name of the true God, and to fear Him: Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name.
7. Finally Solomon states a New Testament truth -- that it is God who clothes His saints with salvation (the robe of imputed righteousness), and that the saints are to rejoice in His goodness. The New Testament calls the children of God kings and priests, and all believers need to keep this in mind at all times: Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.
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