Temple Dedicated I Kings 8

I Kings 8:1 "Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel unto king Solomon in Jerusalem that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion."

This chapter has five distinct parts all related to this event.

-bringing up the ark
-Solomon's sermon
-Solomon's prayer of dedication
-Solomon's blessing
-sacrifices and rejoicing

The ark had been kept in Zion after David brought it to Jerusalem. It was placed beneath the cherubims with their wings spread over the entire ark and staves. Solomon then gives a review of how David wished to build the temple but could not but received the promise of God.

v18 "And the LORD said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart. v19 Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house, but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name."

It is another lesson altogether but we should note verse 12. Often we are compassed with darkness and cannot see our way but this verse is a comfort.

v12 "Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness."

So we are not alone at these times.

Solomon then prays for the LORD to hear his prayer and take the temple as a place for the LORD's name. A place that God would look to and that Israel could pray toward.

v33 "When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because thy have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house: v34 Then hear thou in heaven and forgive the sin of thy people Israel and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers."

We see here a reference to the day when Israel would be taken away from Jerusalem and held captive. It has been spoken of before. It must have caused a dread among the people to know that day was before the nation and their children.

Look at this verse. It is a pronouncement that God has not failed at all in what he said he would do.

v56 "Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant."

Then sacrifices were made that could not be numbered and the people were sent away. It was a happy day.

v66 "On the eighth day he sent the people away: and they blessed the king and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant and for Israel his people."

Solomon acknowledged that the house of God could not contain him but only asked that it be a place for his name. There is power in His name.

Psalm 128:8 "Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth."

Keywords: Old Old Story, Old Testament, Bible Study, Solomon, Kings, Temple, Ark. The ark is brought to the temple.