Solomon Prays and Blesses

Read 1 Kings 8
 
1 Kings 8:1-2 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 men of Israel came together to King Solomon at the time of the festival in the month of Ethanim, the seventh month.
 
YOU might consider this entire chapter a worship service to the LORD. Three essential elements of worship are present here: the LORD’s presence, prayer and God’s Word spoken.
    This placing of the ark into the temple came at the Festival of Booths or Feast of Tabernacles. This was in the fall of the year to celebrate God’s care for Israel to shelter them for 40 years on their desert journey. It also remembered how God tabernacled (recall “tabernacle” is both an action word and a noun) with His people over the ark of the covenant in the tabernacle structure. The ark and the tabernacle have been in various places for centuries. At last God allows it to be moved to the new temple. God’s glory then fills the temple. The temple is the expansion of te expression of God to dwell with his people. What a wondrous joy to have God’s glory so visibly and powerfully present in his sanctuary. Oh, that the churches today could experience the LORD’s presence in this way!
    God has come in his personal power display. In response, Solomon prays for his nation and his people. He praises God, “there is no God like you” (v.23) and prays for the people’s obedience. The king desires God will judge Israel’s enemies and bring justice to the land. He prays all people of the earth will commit to God. And he prays for Israel to enter into God’s rest.
    As the worship concludes, there is great sacrifice. A repentant, joyful people are demonstrating their commitment to the LORD God, who has fulfilled his promise to build a temple and to dwell with them.
    This interlude of God’s glory come so visibly to earth illustrates his presence on earth through the Son and the Spirit. God’s glory came that Resurrection Day and began to fill the earth on Pentecost. The church is to be the expression of worship in response to God’s glory come down.
    Our future is to live with joy our lives are to be a sacrifice of praise to the LORD. He has come to dwell with us while he is preparing an eternal tabernacle in heaven. Our only appropriate response is to worship him in all he calls us to be.
 
Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name.