Tuesday, October 1 – 1 Kings 8, 2 Chronicles 5 – Additional Reading, Prophets and Kings chapter 2, “The Temple and Its Dedication”

1. Who was first desirous of building a temple for God? 1 Kings 8:17

2. What important piece of furniture was placed in the temple? 1 Kings 8:6; 2 Chronicles 5:7

3. Identify at least 3 requests Solomon made to God in his dedicatory prayer. 1 Kings 8:31-45

For those of us who are a bit conversant with the Bible, we know that the books of Kings and Chronicles, capture similar historical events in the life of Israel. Allow me to suggest that the capturing of these events was not just for record-keeping but also to provide evidence for ensuing generations of God’s movement in the life of His people and His desire to be with them.

In our focus Chapters for today, 1 Kings 8 and 2 Chronicles 5, we have a recording of the completion and dedication of the temple. Though it is often referred to as ‘Solomon’s Temple’, which I believe is a misnomer, it is evident in 1 Kings 8:15-19, that it was erected for God. Solomon recounts in 1 Kings 8:17 that it was his father David’s desire to have constructed this house for God.

This monumental edifice replaced “the tabernacle of meeting” 1 Kings 8:4, which was a portable sanctuary, dating back to the time of Moses. Just as how God “tabernacled” or dwelt with His people in the “Tent of Meetings”, He would be resident in this permanent structure.

This was evidenced in 1 Kings 8:10–11 (NKJV), “And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.”

Another important element in the record is the dedicatory prayer of Solomon, which, by my estimate, takes up the largest portion of 1 Kings 8. This prayer can undoubtedly be regarded as one of the great prayers of the Bible. There are a number of elements resident in this prayer, but I will just highlight a few. Solomon begins by affirming the sovereignty of God. Note, 1 Kings 8:23 (NKJV) “Lord God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You…” He notes further in the verse that God, is one “who (keeps His) covenant and mercy with (His) servants who walk before (Him) with all their hearts.” He then rehearses how God had made this promise to his father David and how this promise was now being fulfilled. Then, he introduces an element in his prayer that, on the surface, may appear antithetical to the building of a place for God. He says, 1 Kings 8:27 (NKJV) “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!” I find the SDA Bible Commentary’s take on this to helpful: “But when Solomon contemplated the greatness and the grandeur of God, the One who inhabiteth eternity, who had “measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance” (Isa. 40:12), it seemed incomprehensible that such a God would take up His abode on earth, in such a house as Solomon had made.” It continues to observe that, “It will never cease to be a source of wonderment that One so mighty and so transcendently great should condescend to take recognition of mortal man and come to dwell in sanctuaries of mere wood and stone, and within the human heart.”

As we reflect on these passages, let us consider that God has always desired to dwell with us. We don’t need to build a monumental temple like Solomon for God to do so; we just need to surrender our hearts to Him. Of the places that God wishes to reside, I believe none is greater than our hearts. Will you join me today in making a place for Him to reside?