Brenda Speaks

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Solomon prays, requests, hopes, and acknowledges that God will dwell in the house that has been built for His residence.  Solomon asked God to deal with him, in the same manner, he dealt with his father, David.  The same mercy God showed toward David, Solomon is asking God to bestow on him.

God never asked for a house, an apartment, or living space tangibly made by man.  David offered to build God a house.  Although God did not allow David to build, he allowed his son to do it.  What kind of God will except to dwell in a man-made building?  The Living God.  God is a like a gentleman whom you can ask to taste a recipe and after being offered a taste, he gladly receives it because you want him to have it.  I love the attitude of God.  Lord help me become more like you in this way too.

When God spoke he always spoke in darkness away from a lot of people.  He spoke to Moses and he called Moses his friend.  God laughed and talked with Moses.  How do I know that?  I saw their conversation on the road to the promised land.  I read or tried to read every word and I laugh with them.  When you spend time with God, you see his soft side.  Now God has his own residence on earth made by David's son.  There were thousands who were the builders, but the leader is the one who is mentioned as the builder.  God was delighted to call this his home as long as all knew he was in charge.  You will not bribe him because you made him a house the way Solomon built it; God says I will call this my house but I am not changing one thing about me because I am your neighbor. (smile)

  After Solomon settles into the fact of knowing God is residing in the house built for him, Solomon falls on his knees and made his request known.

Solomon petitioned God through prayer by saying, now that I have your undivided attention Lord, I have a few request, mainly one; deal with us from this house when we sin.  Solomon did not ask for riches, favors, or any such thing.  He asked God to stay put and always be there when and if we sin and if we turned back to him, please receive us.  Solomon asked God in essence, will you not forsake us when we well deserve it? 

It has been proven by us and our ancestors, we  (man) cannot be trusted, Solomon is saying.  However, when we come to our senses, please be there to let us come home.  This chapter is about a man who talks to his God as his Father.

Solomon’s Dedication of the Temple

6 Then Solomon said:

The Lord said he would dwell in total darkness,
2 but I have built an exalted temple for you,
a place for your dwelling forever.

3 Then the king turned and blessed the entire congregation of Israel while they were standing. 4 He said:

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel!
He spoke directly to my father David,
and he has fulfilled the promise
by his power.
He said,
5 “Since the day I brought my people Israel
out of the land of Egypt,
I have not chosen a city to build a temple in
among any of the tribes of Israel,
so that my name would be there,
and I have not chosen a man
to be ruler over my people Israel.
6 But I have chosen Jerusalem
so that my name will be there,
and I have chosen David
to be over my people Israel.”
7 My father David had his heart set
on building a temple for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.
8 However, the Lord said to my father David,
“Since it was your desire to build a temple for my name,
you have done well to have this desire.
9 Yet, you are not the one to build the temple,
but your son, your own offspring,
will build the temple for my name.”
10 So the Lord has fulfilled what he promised.
I have taken the place of my father David
and I sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised.
I have built the temple for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.
11 I have put the ark there,
where the Lord’s covenant is
that he made with the Israelites.

Solomon’s Prayer

12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire congregation of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 For Solomon had made a bronze platform 7½ feet[a] long, 7½ feet wide, and 4½ feet[b] high and put it in the court. He stood on it, knelt down in front of the entire congregation of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven. 14 He said:

Lord God of Israel,
there is no God like you
in heaven or on earth,
who keeps his gracious covenant
with your servants who walk before you
with all their heart.
15 You have kept what you promised
to your servant, my father David.
You spoke directly to him,
and you fulfilled your promise by your power,
as it is today.
16 Therefore, Lord God of Israel,
keep what you promised
to your servant, my father David:
“You will never fail to have a man
to sit before me on the throne of Israel,
if only your sons take care to walk in my Law
as you have walked before me.”
17 Now, Lord God of Israel, please confirm
what you promised to your servant David.
18 But will God indeed live on earth with humans?
Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain you,
much less this temple I have built.
19 Listen[c] to your servant’s prayer and his petition,
Lord my God,
so that you may hear the cry and the prayer
that your servant prays before you,
20 so that your eyes watch over this temple
day and night,
toward the place where you said
you would put your name;
and so that you may hear the prayer
your servant prays toward this place.
21 Hear the petitions of your servant
and your people Israel,
which they pray toward this place.
May you hear in your dwelling place in heaven.
May you hear and forgive.
22 If a man sins against his neighbor
and is forced to take an oath[d]
and he comes to take an oath
before your altar in this temple,
23 may you hear in heaven and act.
May you judge your servants,
condemning the wicked man by bringing
what he has done on his own head
and providing justice for the righteous
by rewarding him according to his righteousness.
24 If your people Israel are defeated before an enemy,
because they have sinned against you,
and they return to you and praise your name,
and they pray and plead for mercy
before you in this temple,
25 may you hear in heaven
and forgive the sin of your people Israel.
May you restore them to the land
you gave them and their ancestors.
26 When the skies are shut and there is no rain
because they have sinned against you,
and they pray toward this place
and praise your name,
and they turn from their sins
because you are afflicting[e] them,
27 may you hear in heaven
and forgive the sin of your servants
and your people Israel,
so that you may teach them the good way
they should walk in.
May you send rain on your land
that you gave your people for an inheritance.
28 When there is famine in the land,
when there is pestilence,
when there is blight or mildew, locust or grasshopper,
when their enemies besiege them
in the land and its cities,[f][g]
when there is any plague or illness,
29 every prayer or petition
that any person or that all your people Israel may have—
they each know their own affliction[h] and suffering—
as they spread out their hands toward this temple,
30 may you hear in heaven, your dwelling place,
and may you forgive and give to everyone[i]
according to all their ways, since you know each heart,
for you alone know the human heart,
31 so that they may fear you
and walk in your ways
all the days they live on the land
you gave our ancestors.
32 Even for the foreigner who is not of your people Israel
but has come from a distant land
because of your great name
and your strong hand and outstretched arm:
when he comes and prays toward this temple,
33 may you hear in heaven in your dwelling place,
and do all the foreigner asks you.
Then all the peoples of the earth will know your name,
to fear you as your people Israel do
and know that this temple I have built
bears your name.
34 When your people go out to fight against their enemies,
wherever you send them,
and they pray to you
in the direction of this city you have chosen
and the temple that I have built for your name,
35 may you hear their prayer and petition in heaven
and uphold their cause.
36 When they sin against you—
for there is no one who does not sin—
and you are angry with them
and hand them over to the enemy,
and their captors deport them
to a distant or nearby country,
37 and when they come to their senses
in the land where they were deported
and repent and petition you in their captors’ land,
saying, “We have sinned and done wrong;
we have been wicked,”
38 and when they return to you with all their mind and all their heart
in the land of their captivity where they were taken captive,
and when they pray in the direction of their land
that you gave their ancestors,
and the city you have chosen,
and toward the temple I have built for your name,
39 may you hear their prayer and petitions in heaven,
your dwelling place,
and uphold their cause.[j]
May you forgive your people
who sinned against you.
40 Now, my God,
please let your eyes be open
and your ears attentive
to the prayer of this place.
41 Now therefore:
Arise, Lord God, come to your resting place,
you and your powerful ark.
May your priests, Lord God, be clothed with salvation,
and may your faithful people rejoice in goodness.
42 Lord God, do not reject your anointed one;[k]
remember your servant David’s acts of faithful love.