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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T K I N G S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. VIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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The building and furniture of the temple were very glorious, but the
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dedication of it exceeds in glory as much as prayer and praise, the
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work of saints, exceed the casting of metal and the graving of stones,
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the work of the craftsman. The temple was designed for the keeping up
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of the correspondence between God and his people; and here we have an
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account of the solemnity of their first meeting there.
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I. The representatives of all Israel were called together
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>),
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to keep a feast to the honour of God, for fourteen days,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:65">ver. 65</A>.
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II. The priests brought the ark into the most holy place, and fixed it
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there,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:3-9">ver. 3-9</A>.
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III. God took possession of it by a cloud,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:10,11">ver. 10, 11</A>.
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IV. Solomon, with thankful acknowledgments to God, informed the people
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touching the occasion of their meeting,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:12-21">ver. 12-21</A>.
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V. In a long prayer he recommended to God's gracious acceptance all the
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prayers that should be made in or towards this place,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:22-53">ver. 22-53</A>.
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VI. He dismissed the assembly with a blessing and an exhortation,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:54-61">ver. 54-61</A>.
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VII. He offered abundance of sacrifices, on which he and his people
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feasted, and so parted, with great satisfaction,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:62-66">ver. 62-66</A>.
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These were Israel's golden days, days of the Son of man in type.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="1Ki8_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki8_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki8_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki8_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki8_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki8_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki8_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki8_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki8_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki8_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki8_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Dedication of the Temple.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1003.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the
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heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of
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Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up
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the ark of the covenant of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> out of the city of David,
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which <I>is</I> Zion.
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2 And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king
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Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which <I>is</I> the seventh
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month.
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3 And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up
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the ark.
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4 And they brought up the ark of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and the tabernacle
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of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that <I>were</I> in the
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tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up.
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5 And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that
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were assembled unto him, <I>were</I> with him before the ark,
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sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered
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for multitude.
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6 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most
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holy <I>place, even</I> under the wings of the cherubims.
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7 For the cherubims spread forth <I>their</I> two wings over the
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place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the
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staves thereof above.
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8 And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves
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were seen out in the holy <I>place</I> before the oracle, and they
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were not seen without: and there they are unto this day.
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9 <I>There was</I> nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone,
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which Moses put there at Horeb, when the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> made <I>a covenant</I>
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with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of
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Egypt.
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10 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the
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holy <I>place,</I> that the cloud filled the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>,
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11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of
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the cloud: for the glory of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had filled the house of the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The temple, though richly beautified, yet while it was without the ark
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was like a body without a soul, or a candlestick without a candle, or
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(to speak more properly) a house without an inhabitant. All the cost
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and pains bestowed on this stately structure are lost if God do not
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accept them; and, unless he please to own it as the place where he will
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record his name, it is after all but a ruinous heap. When therefore
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<I>all the work</I> is ended
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+7:51"><I>ch.</I> vii. 51</A>),
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the <I>one thing needful</I> is yet behind, and that is the bringing in
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of the ark. This therefore is the end which must crown the work, and
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which here we have an account of the doing of with great solemnity.</P>
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<P>
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I. Solomon presides in this service, as David did in the bringing up of
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the ark to Jerusalem; and neither of them thought it below him to
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follow the ark nor to lead the people in their attendance on it.
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Solomon glories in the title of the <I>preacher</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+1:1">Eccl. i. 1</A>),
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and the <I>master of assemblies,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+12:11">Eccl. xii. 11</A>.
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This great assembly he summons
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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and he is the centre of it, for to him they all assembled
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>)
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<I>at the feast in the seventh month,</I> namely, the feast of
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tabernacles, which was appointed on the fifteenth day of that month,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+23:34">Lev. xxiii. 34</A>.
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David, like a very <I>good</I> man, brings the ark to a
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<I>convenient</I> place, near him; Solomon, like a very <I>great</I>
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man, brings it to a <I>magnificent</I> place. As every man has received
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the gift, so let him minister; and let children proceed in God's
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service where their parents left off.</P>
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<P>
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II. All Israel attend the service, their judges and the chief of their
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tribes and families, all their officers, civil and military, and (as
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they speak in the north) the heads of their clans. A convention of
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these might well be called <I>an assembly of all Israel.</I> These came
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together, on this occasion,
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1. To do honour to Solomon, and to return him the thanks of the nation
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for all the good offices he had done in kindness to them.
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2. To do honour to the ark, to pay respect to it, and testify their
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universal joy and satisfaction in its settlement. The advancement of
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the ark in external splendour, though it has often proved too strong a
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temptation to its hypocritical followers, yet, because it may prove an
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advantage to its true interests, is to be rejoiced in (with trembling)
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by all that wish well to it. Public mercies call for public
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acknowledgments. Those that appeared before the Lord did not appear
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empty, for they all sacrificed sheep and oxen innumerable,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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The people in Solomon's time were very rich, very easy, and very
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cheerful, and therefore it was fit that, on this occasion, they should
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consecrate not only their cheerfulness, but a part of their wealth, to
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God and his honour.</P>
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<P>
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III. The priests do their part of the service. In the wilderness, the
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Levites were to carry the ark, because then there were not priests
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enough to do it; but here (it being the last time that the ark was to
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be carried) the priests themselves did it, as they were ordered to do
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when it surrounded Jericho. We are here told,
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1. What was in the ark, nothing but the two tables of stone
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
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a treasure far exceeding all the dedicated things both of David and
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Solomon. The pot of manna and Aaron's rod were <I>by</I> the ark, but
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not <I>in</I> it.
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2. What was brought up with the ark
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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<I>The tabernacle of the congregation.</I> It is probable that both
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that which Moses set up in the wilderness, which was in Gibeon, and
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that which David pitched in Zion, were brought to the temple, to which
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they did, as it were, surrender all their holiness, merging it in that
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of the temple, which must henceforward be the place where God must be
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sought unto. Thus will all the church's holy things on earth, that are
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so much its joy and glory, be swallowed up in the perfection of
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holiness above.
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3. Where it was fixed in its place, the place appointed for its rest
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after all its wanderings
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>In the oracle of the house,</I> whence they expected God to speak to
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them, even in the most holy place, which was made so by the presence of
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the ark, <I>under the wings of the</I> great <I>cherubim</I> which
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Solomon set up
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+6:27"><I>ch.</I> vi. 27</A>),
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signifying the special protection of angels, under which God's
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ordinances and the assemblies of his people are taken. The staves of
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the ark were drawn out, so as to be seen from under the wings of the
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cherubim, to direct the high priest to the mercy-seat, over the ark,
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when he went in, once a year, to sprinkle the blood there; so that
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still they continued of some use, though there was no longer occasion
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for them to carry it by.</P>
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<P>
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IV. God graciously owns what is done and testifies his acceptance of
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it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>.
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The priests might come into the most holy place till God manifested his
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glory there; but, thenceforward, none might, at their peril, approach
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the ark, except the high priest, on the day of atonement. Therefore it
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was not till the priests had come out of the oracle that the
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<I>Shechinah</I> took possession of it, in a cloud, which filled not
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only the most holy place, but the temple, so that the priests who burnt
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incense at the golden altar could not bear it. By this visible
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emanation of the divine glory,
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1. God put an honour upon the ark, and owned it as a token of his
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presence. The glory of it had been long diminished and eclipsed by its
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frequent removes, the meanness of its lodging, and its being exposed
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too much to common view; but God will now show that it is as dear to
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him as ever, and he will have it looked upon with as much veneration as
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it was when Moses first brought it into his tabernacle.
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2. He testified his acceptance of the building and furnishing of the
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temple as good service done to his name and his kingdom among men.
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3. He struck an awe upon this great assembly; and, by what they saw,
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confirmed their belief of what they read in the books of Moses
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concerning the glory of God's appearance to their fathers, that hereby
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they might be kept close to the service of the God of Israel and
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fortified against temptations to idolatry.
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4. He showed himself ready to hear the prayer Solomon was now about to
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make; and not only so, but took up his residence in this house, that
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all his praying people might there be encouraged to make their
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applications to him. But the glory of God appeared in a cloud, a dark
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cloud, to signify,
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(1.) The darkness of that dispensation in comparison with the light of
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the gospel, by which, <I>with open face, we behold, as in a glass, the
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glory of the Lord.</I>
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(2.) The darkness of our present state in comparison with the vision of
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God, which will be the happiness of heaven, where the divine glory is
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unveiled. Now we can only say what he is not, but then we shall see him
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as he is.</P>
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<A NAME="1Ki8_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki8_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki8_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki8_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki8_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki8_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki8_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki8_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki8_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki8_21"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>12 Then spake Solomon, The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said that he would dwell in the
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thick darkness.
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13 I have surely built thee a house to dwell in, a settled
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place for thee to abide in for ever.
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14 And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the
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congregation of Israel: (and all the congregation of Israel
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stood;)
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15 And he said, Blessed <I>be</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of Israel, which
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spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand
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fulfilled <I>it,</I> saying,
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16 Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of
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Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build
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a house, that my name might be therein; but I chose David to be
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over my people Israel.
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17 And it was in the heart of David my father to build a house
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for the name of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of Israel.
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18 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said unto David my father, Whereas it was in
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thine heart to build a house unto my name, thou didst well that
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it was in thine heart.
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19 Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son
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that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house
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unto my name.
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20 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath performed his word that he spake, and I am
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risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of
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Israel, as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> promised, and have built a house for the
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name of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of Israel.
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21 And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein <I>is</I> the
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covenant of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, which he made with our fathers, when he
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brought them out of the land of Egypt.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here,
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I. Solomon encourages the priests, who came out of the temple from
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their ministration, much astonished at the dark cloud that overshadowed
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them. The disciples of Christ <I>feared when they entered into the
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cloud,</I> though it was a <I>bright cloud</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+9:34">Luke ix. 34</A>),
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so did the priests when they found themselves wrapped in a thick cloud.
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To silence their fears,
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1. He reminds them of that which they could not but know, that this was
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a token of God's presence
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
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<I>The Lord said he would dwell in the thick darkness.</I> It is so far
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from being a token of his displeasure that it is an indication of his
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favour; for he had said, <I>I will appear in a cloud,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+16:2">Lev. xvi. 2</A>.
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Note, Nothing is more effectual to reconcile us to dark dispensations
|
|
than to consider what God hath said, and to compare his word and works
|
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together; as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+10:3">Lev. x. 3</A>,
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<I>This is that which the Lord hath said.</I> God is light
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+1:5">1 John i. 5</A>),
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and he dwells in light
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+6:16">1 Tim. vi. 16</A>),
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but he dwells with men <I>in the thick darkness,</I> makes that his
|
|
pavilion, because they could not bear the dazzling brightness of his
|
|
glory. <I>Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself.</I> Thus our holy
|
|
faith is exercised and our holy fear is increased. Where God dwells in
|
|
light faith is swallowed up in vision and fear in love.
|
|
|
|
2. He himself bids it welcome, as worthy of all acceptation; and since
|
|
God, by this cloud, came down to take possession, he does, in a few
|
|
words, solemnly give him possession
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Surely I come,</I>" says God. "<I>Amen," </I> says Solomon,
|
|
"<I>Even so, come, Lord,.</I> The house is thy own, entirely thy own,
|
|
<I>I have surely built it for thee,</I> and furnished it for thee; it
|
|
is for ever thy own, <I>a settled place for thee to abide in for
|
|
ever;</I> it shall never be alienated nor converted to any other use;
|
|
the ark shall never be removed from it, never unsettled again." It is
|
|
Solomon's joy that God has taken possession; and it is his desire that
|
|
he would keep possession. Let not the priests therefore dread that in
|
|
which Solomon so much triumphs.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He instructs the people, and gives them a plain account concerning
|
|
this house, which they now saw God take possession of. He spoke briefly
|
|
to the priests, to satisfy them (a word to the wise), but <I>turned his
|
|
face about</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>)
|
|
|
|
from them <I>to the congregation</I> that stood in the outer court, and
|
|
addressed himself to them largely.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. He blessed them. When they saw the dark cloud enter the temple they
|
|
blessed themselves, being astonished at it and afraid lest the thick
|
|
darkness should be utter darkness to them. The amazing sight, such as
|
|
they had never seen in their days, we may suppose, drove every man to
|
|
his prayers, and the vainest minds were made serious by it. Solomon
|
|
therefore set in with their prayers, and blessed them all, as one
|
|
having authority (for <I>the less is blessed of the better</I>); in
|
|
God's name, he spoke peace to them, and a blessing, like that with
|
|
which the angel blessed Gideon when he was in a fright, upon a similar
|
|
occasion.
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+6:22,23">Judg. vi. 22, 23</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>Peace be unto thee. Fear not; thou shalt not die.</I> Solomon
|
|
<I>blessed them,</I> that is, he pacified them, and freed them from the
|
|
consternation they were in. To receive this blessing, they all stood
|
|
up, in token of reverence and readiness to hear and accept it. It is a
|
|
proper posture to be in when the blessing is pronounced.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He informed them concerning this house which he had built and was
|
|
now dedicating.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) He began his account with a thankful acknowledgment of the good
|
|
hand of his God upon him hitherto: <I>Blessed be the Lord God of
|
|
Israel,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
What we have the pleasure of God must have the praise of. He thus
|
|
engaged the congregation to lift up their hearts in thanksgivings to
|
|
God, which would help to still the tumult of spirit which, probably,
|
|
they were in. "Come," says he, "let God's awful appearances not drive
|
|
us from him, but draw us to him; <I>let us bless the Lord God of
|
|
Israel.</I>" Thus Job, under a dark scene, <I>blessed the name of the
|
|
Lord.</I> Solomon here blessed God,
|
|
|
|
[1.] For his promise which he <I>spoke with his mouth to David.</I>
|
|
|
|
[2.] For the performance, that he had now <I>fulfilled it with his
|
|
hand.</I> We have then the best sense of God's mercies, and most
|
|
grateful both to ourselves and to our God, when we run up those streams
|
|
to the fountain of the covenant, and compare what God does with what he
|
|
has said.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Solomon is now making a solemn surrender or dedication of this
|
|
house unto God, delivering it to God by his own act and deed. Grants
|
|
and conveyances commonly begin with recitals of what has been before
|
|
done, leading to what is now done: accordingly, here is a recital of
|
|
the special causes and considerations moving Solomon to build this
|
|
house.
|
|
|
|
[1.] He recites the want of such a place. It was necessary that this
|
|
should be premised; for, according to the dispensation they were under,
|
|
there must be but one place in which they must expect God to record his
|
|
name. If, therefore, there were any other chosen, this would be a
|
|
usurpation. But he shows, from what God himself had said, that there
|
|
was no other
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>I chose no city to build a house in for my name;</I> therefore there
|
|
is occasion for the building of this.
|
|
|
|
[2.] He recites David's purpose to build such a place. God chose the
|
|
person first that should rule his people (<I>I chose David,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>)
|
|
|
|
and then put it into <I>his heart to build a house</I> for God's name,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was not a project of his own, for the magnifying of himself;
|
|
but his good father, of blessed memory, laid the first design of it,
|
|
though he lived not to lay the first stone.
|
|
|
|
[3.] He recites God's promise concerning himself. God approved his
|
|
father's purpose
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Thou didst well, that it was in thy heart.</I> Note, Sincere
|
|
intentions to do good shall be graciously approved and accepted of God,
|
|
though Providence prevent our putting them in execution. <I>The desire
|
|
of a man is his kindness.</I> See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+8:12">2 Cor. viii. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
God accepted David's good will, yet would not permit him to do the good
|
|
work, but reserved the honour of it for his son
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>He shall build the house to my name;</I> so that what he had done
|
|
was not of his own head, nor for his own glory, but the work itself was
|
|
according to his father's design and his doing it was according to
|
|
God's designation.
|
|
|
|
[4.] He recites what he himself had done, and with what intention: <I>I
|
|
have built a house,</I> not for my own name, but <I>for the name of the
|
|
Lord God of Israel</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>),
|
|
|
|
and <I>set there a place for the ark,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
Thus all the right, title, interest, claim, and demand, whatsoever,
|
|
which he or his had or might have in or to this house, or any of its
|
|
appurtenances, he resigns, surrenders, and gives up, to God for ever.
|
|
It is for his name, and his ark. In this, says he, <I>the Lord hath
|
|
performed his word that he spoke.</I> Note, Whatever good we do, we
|
|
must look upon it as the performance of God's promise to us, rather
|
|
than the performance of our promises to him. The more we do for God the
|
|
more we are indebted to him; for our sufficiency is of him, and not of
|
|
ourselves.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_32"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_33"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_34"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_35"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_36"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_37"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_38"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_39"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_40"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_41"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_42"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_43"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_44"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_45"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_46"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_47"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_48"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_49"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_50"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_51"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_52"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_53"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Solomon's Prayer.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1003.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>22 And Solomon stood before the altar of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> in the
|
|
presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his
|
|
hands toward heaven:
|
|
23 And he said, L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of Israel, <I>there is</I> 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:
|
|
24 Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou
|
|
promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast
|
|
fulfilled <I>it</I> with thine hand, as <I>it is</I> this day.
|
|
25 Therefore now, L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of Israel, keep with thy servant
|
|
David my father that thou promisedst him, saying, There shall not
|
|
fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; so
|
|
that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before
|
|
me as thou hast walked before me.
|
|
26 And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be
|
|
verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father.
|
|
27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven
|
|
and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this
|
|
house that I have builded?
|
|
28 Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to
|
|
his supplication, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> my God, to hearken unto the cry and to
|
|
the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day:
|
|
29 That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day,
|
|
<I>even</I> toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be
|
|
there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant
|
|
shall make toward this place.
|
|
30 And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of
|
|
thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and
|
|
hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest,
|
|
forgive.
|
|
31 If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath be
|
|
laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before
|
|
thine altar in this house:
|
|
32 Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants,
|
|
condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and
|
|
justifying the righteous, to give him according to his
|
|
righteousness.
|
|
33 When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy,
|
|
because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to
|
|
thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto
|
|
thee in this house:
|
|
34 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.
|
|
35 When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they
|
|
have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and
|
|
confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest
|
|
them:
|
|
36 Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy
|
|
servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good
|
|
way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which
|
|
thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.
|
|
37 If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence,
|
|
blasting, mildew, locust, <I>or</I> if there be caterpillar; if their
|
|
enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever
|
|
plague, whatsoever sickness <I>there be;</I>
|
|
38 What prayer and supplication soever be <I>made</I> by any man,
|
|
<I>or</I> by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the
|
|
plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this
|
|
house:
|
|
39 Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive,
|
|
and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart
|
|
thou knowest; (for thou, <I>even</I> thou only, knowest the hearts of
|
|
all the children of men;)
|
|
40 That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the
|
|
land which thou gavest unto our fathers.
|
|
41 Moreover concerning a stranger, that <I>is</I> not of thy people
|
|
Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name's sake;
|
|
42 (For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong
|
|
hand, and of thy stretched out arm;) when he shall come and pray
|
|
toward this house;
|
|
43 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 <I>do</I> thy people Israel;
|
|
and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is
|
|
called by thy name.
|
|
44 If thy people go out to battle against their enemy,
|
|
whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
|
|
toward the city which thou hast chosen, and <I>toward</I> the house
|
|
that I have built for thy name:
|
|
45 Then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their
|
|
supplication, and maintain their cause.
|
|
46 If they sin against thee, (for <I>there is</I> no man that
|
|
sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to
|
|
the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of
|
|
the enemy, far or near;
|
|
47 <I>Yet</I> if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither
|
|
they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication
|
|
unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying,
|
|
We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed
|
|
wickedness;
|
|
48 And <I>so</I> return unto thee with all their heart, and with all
|
|
their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away
|
|
captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest
|
|
unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the
|
|
house which I have built for thy name:
|
|
49 Then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven
|
|
thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause,
|
|
50 And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and
|
|
all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against
|
|
thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them
|
|
captive, that they may have compassion on them:
|
|
51 For they <I>be</I> thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou
|
|
broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of
|
|
iron:
|
|
52 That thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy
|
|
servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to
|
|
hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee.
|
|
53 For thou didst separate them from among all the people of
|
|
the earth, <I>to be</I> thine inheritance, as thou spakest by the hand
|
|
of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of
|
|
Egypt, O Lord G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT>.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Solomon having made a general surrender of this house to God, which God
|
|
had signified his acceptance of by taking possession, next follows
|
|
Solomon's prayer, in which he makes a more particular declaration of
|
|
the uses of that surrender, with all humility and reverence, desiring
|
|
that God would agree thereto. In short, it is his request that this
|
|
temple may be deemed and taken, not only for a house of sacrifice (no
|
|
mention is made of that in all this prayer, that was taken for
|
|
granted), but a <I>house of prayer for all people;</I> and herein it
|
|
was a type of the gospel church; see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:7">Isa. lvi. 7</A>,
|
|
|
|
compared with
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+21:13">Matt. xxi. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
Therefore Solomon opened this house, not only with an extraordinary
|
|
sacrifice, but with an extraordinary prayer.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The person that prayed this prayer was great. Solomon did not
|
|
appoint one of the priests to do it, nor one of the prophets, but did
|
|
it himself, <I>in the presence of all the congregation of Israel,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
1. It was well that he was able to do it, a sign that he had made a
|
|
good improvement of the pious education which his parents gave him.
|
|
With all his learning, it seems, he learnt to pray well, and knew how
|
|
to express himself to God in a suitable manner, <I>pro re nata--on the
|
|
spur of the occasion,</I> without a prescribed form. In the crowd of
|
|
his philosophical transactions, his proverbs, and songs, he did not
|
|
forget his devotions. He was a gainer by prayer
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+3:11-14"><I>ch.</I> iii. 11</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c.), and, we may suppose, gave himself much to it, so that he
|
|
excelled, as we find here, in praying gifts.
|
|
|
|
2. It was well that he was willing to do it, and not shy of performing
|
|
divine service before so great a congregation. He was far from thinking
|
|
it any disparagement to him to be his own chaplain and the mouth of the
|
|
assembly to God; and shall any think themselves too great to do this
|
|
office for their own families? Solomon, in all his other glory, even on
|
|
his ivory throne, looked not so great as he did now. Great men should
|
|
thus support the reputation of religious exercises and so honour God
|
|
with their greatness. Solomon was herein a type of Christ, the great
|
|
intercessor for all over whom he rules.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The posture in which he prayed was very reverent, and expressive of
|
|
humility, seriousness, and fervency in prayer. He <I>stood before the
|
|
altar of the Lord,</I> intimating that he expected the success of his
|
|
prayer in virtue of that sacrifice which should be offered up in the
|
|
fulness of time, typified by the sacrifices offered at that altar. But
|
|
when he addressed himself to prayer,
|
|
|
|
1. He <I>kneeled down,</I> as appears,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:54"><I>v.</I> 54</A>,
|
|
|
|
where he is said to <I>rise from his knees;</I> compare
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+6:13">2 Chron. vi. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
Kneeling is the most proper posture for prayer,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:14">Eph. iii. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
The greatest of men must not think it below them to <I>kneel before the
|
|
Lord their Maker.</I> Mr. Herbert says, "Kneeling never spoiled silk
|
|
stocking."
|
|
|
|
2. <I>He spread forth his hands towards heaven,</I> and (as it should
|
|
seem by
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:54"><I>v.</I> 54</A>)
|
|
|
|
continued so to the end of the prayer, hereby expressing his desire
|
|
towards, and expectations from, God, as a <I>Father in heaven.</I> He
|
|
spread forth his hands, as it were to offer up the prayer from an open
|
|
enlarged heart and to present it to heaven, and also to receive thence,
|
|
with both arms, the mercy which he prayed for. Such outward expressions
|
|
of the fixedness and fervour of devotion ought not to be despised or
|
|
ridiculed.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The prayer itself was very long, and perhaps much longer than is
|
|
here recorded. At the throne of grace we have liberty of speech, and
|
|
should use our liberty. It is not making long prayers, but making them
|
|
for a pretence, that Christ condemns. In this excellent prayer Solomon
|
|
does, as we should in every prayer,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Give glory to God. This he begins with, as the most proper act of
|
|
adoration. He addresses himself to God as the <I>Lord God of
|
|
Israel,</I> a God in covenant with them And,
|
|
|
|
(1.) He gives him the praise of what he is, in general, the best of
|
|
beings in himself ("<I>There is no God like thee,</I> none of the
|
|
powers in heaven or earth to be compared with thee"), and the best of
|
|
masters to his people: "<I>Who keepest covenant and mercy with thy
|
|
servants;</I> not only as good as thy word in keeping covenant, but
|
|
better than thy word in keeping mercy, doing that for them of which
|
|
thou hast not given them an express promise, provided they <I>walk
|
|
before thee with all their heart,</I> are zealous for thee, with an eye
|
|
to thee."
|
|
|
|
(2.) He gives him thanks for what he had done, in particular, for his
|
|
family
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Thou hast kept with thy servant David,</I> as with thy other
|
|
servants, <I>that which thou promisedst him.</I>" The promise was a
|
|
great favour to him, his support and joy, and now performance is the
|
|
crown of it: <I>Thou hast fulfilled it, as it is this day.</I> Fresh
|
|
experiences of the truth of God's promises call for enlarged
|
|
praises.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He sues for grace and favour from God.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) That God would perform to him and his the mercy which he had
|
|
promised,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:25,26"><I>v.</I> 25, 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe how this comes in. He thankfully acknowledges the performance
|
|
of the promise in part; hitherto God had been faithful to his word:
|
|
"<I>Thou hast kept with thy servant David that which thou promisedst
|
|
him,</I> so far that his son fills his throne and has built the
|
|
intended temple; <I>therefore now keep with thy servant David that
|
|
which thou hast</I> further <I>promised him,</I> and which yet remains
|
|
to be fulfilled in its season." Note, The experiences we have had of
|
|
God's performing his promises should encourage us to depend upon them
|
|
and plead them with God: and those who expect further mercies must be
|
|
thankful for former mercies. Hitherto God has helped,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+1:10">2 Cor. i. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
Solomon repeats the promise
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>There shall not fail thee a man to sit on the throne,</I> not
|
|
omitting the condition, <I>so that thy children take heed to their
|
|
way;</I> for we cannot expect God's performance of the promise but upon
|
|
our performance of the condition. And then he humbly begs this entail
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Now, O God of Israel! let thy word be verified.</I> God's promises
|
|
(as we have often observed) must be both the guide of our desires and
|
|
the ground of our hopes and expectations in prayer. David had prayed
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+7:25">2 Sam. vii. 25</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Lord, do as thou hast said.</I> Note, Children should learn of their
|
|
godly parents how to pray, and plead in prayer.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) That God would have respect to this temple which he had now taken
|
|
possession of, and that his eyes might be <I>continually open towards
|
|
it</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>),
|
|
|
|
that he would graciously own it, and so put an honour upon it. To this
|
|
purpose,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] He premises, <I>First,</I> A humble admiration of God's gracious
|
|
condescension
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>But will God indeed dwell on the earth?</I> Can we imagine that a
|
|
Being infinitely high, and holy, and happy, will stoop so low as to let
|
|
it be said of him that he <I>dwells upon the earth</I> and blesses the
|
|
worms of the earth with his presence--the earth, that is corrupt, and
|
|
overspread with sin--cursed, and reserved to fire? <I>Lord, how is it?"
|
|
Secondly,</I> A humble acknowledgment of the incapacity of the house he
|
|
had built, though very capacious, to contain God: "<I>The heaven of
|
|
heavens cannot contain thee,</I> for no place can include him who is
|
|
present in all places; even this house is too little, too mean to be
|
|
the residence of him that is infinite in being and glory." Note, When
|
|
we have done the most we can for God we must acknowledge the infinite
|
|
distance and disproportion between us and him, between our services and
|
|
his perfections.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] This premised, he prays in general, <I>First,</I> That God would
|
|
graciously hear and answer the prayer he was now praying,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was a humble prayer (<I>the prayer of thy servant</I>), an earnest
|
|
prayer (such a prayer as is a <I>cry</I>), a prayer made in faith
|
|
(<I>before thee,</I> as the Lord, and my God): "Lord, <I>hearken to it,
|
|
have respect to it,</I> not as the prayer of Israel's king (no man's
|
|
dignity in the world, or titles of honour, will recommend him to God),
|
|
but as the prayer of thy servant." <I>Secondly,</I> That God would in
|
|
like manner hear and answer all the prayers that should, at any time
|
|
hereafter, be made in or towards this house which he had now built, and
|
|
of which God had said, <I>My name shall be there</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>),
|
|
|
|
his own prayers (<I>Hearken to the prayers which thy servant shall
|
|
make</I>), and the prayers of all Israel, and of every particular
|
|
Israelite
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Hear it in heaven, that</I> is indeed <I>thy dwelling-place,</I> of
|
|
which this is but a figure; and, <I>when thou hearest, forgive</I> the
|
|
sin that separates between them and God, even the <I>iniquity of their
|
|
holy things.</I>" <I>a.</I> He supposes that God's people will ever be
|
|
a prayer people; he resolves to adhere to that duty himself. <I>b.</I>
|
|
He directs them to have an eye, in their prayers, to that place where
|
|
God was pleased to manifest his glory as he did not any where else on
|
|
earth. None but priests might come into that place; but, when they
|
|
worshipped in the courts of the temple, it must be with an eye towards
|
|
it, not as the object of their worship (that were idolatry), but as an
|
|
instituted medium of their worship, helping the weakness of their
|
|
faith, and typifying the mediation of Jesus Christ, who is the true
|
|
temple, to whom we must have an eye in every thing wherein we have to
|
|
do with God. Those that were at a distance looked towards Jerusalem,
|
|
for the sake of the temple, even when it was in ruins,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+6:10">Dan. vi. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>c.</I> He begs that God will <I>hear the prayers,</I> and <I>forgive
|
|
the sins,</I> of all that look this way in their prayers. Not as if he
|
|
thought all the devout prayers offered up to God by those who had no
|
|
knowledge of this house, or regard to it, were therefore rejected; but
|
|
he desired that the sensible tokens of the divine presence with which
|
|
this house was blessed might always give sensible encouragement and
|
|
comfort to believing petitioners.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[3.] More particularly, he here puts divers cases in which he supposed
|
|
application would be made to God by prayer in or towards this house of
|
|
prayer.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>First,</I> If God were appealed to by an oath for the determining of
|
|
any controverted right between man and man, and the oath were taken
|
|
before this altar, he prayed that God would, in some way or other,
|
|
discover the truth, and judge between the contending parties,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:31,32"><I>v.</I> 31, 32</A>.
|
|
|
|
He prayed that, in difficult matters, this throne of grace might be a
|
|
throne of judgment, from which God would right the injured that
|
|
believingly appealed to it, and punish the injurious that
|
|
presumptuously appealed to it. It was usual to swear by the temple and
|
|
altar
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+23:16,18">Matt. xxiii. 16, 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
which corruption perhaps took its rise from this supposition of an oath
|
|
taken, not <I>by</I> the temple or altar, but <I>at</I> or <I>near</I>
|
|
them, for the greater solemnity.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> If the people of Israel were groaning under any
|
|
national calamity, or any particular Israelite under any personal
|
|
calamity, he desired that the prayers they should make in or towards
|
|
this house might be heard and answered.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>a.</I> In case of public judgments, war
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>),
|
|
|
|
want of rain
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>),
|
|
|
|
famine, or pestilence
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:37"><I>v.</I> 37</A>),
|
|
|
|
and he ends with an <I>et cetera</I>--any plague or sickness; for no
|
|
calamity befals other people which may not befal God's Israel. Now he
|
|
supposes,
|
|
|
|
(<I>a.</I>) That the cause of the judgment would be sin, and nothing
|
|
else. "If they be <I>smitten before the enemy,</I> if there be no rain,
|
|
it is <I>because they have sinned against thee.</I>" It is sin that
|
|
makes all the mischief.
|
|
|
|
(<I>b.</I>) That the consequence of the judgment would be that they
|
|
would cry to God, and make supplication to him in or towards that
|
|
house. Those that slighted him before would solicit him then. <I>Lord,
|
|
in trouble have they visited thee. In their afflictions they will seek
|
|
me early</I> and earnestly.
|
|
|
|
(<I>c.</I>) That the condition of the removal of the judgment was
|
|
something more than barely praying for it. He could not, he would not,
|
|
ask that their prayer might be answered unless they did also <I>turn
|
|
from their sin</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>)
|
|
|
|
and <I>turn again to God</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>),
|
|
|
|
that is, unless they did truly repent and reform. On no other terms may
|
|
we look for salvation in this world or the other. But, if they did thus
|
|
qualify themselves for mercy, he prays,
|
|
|
|
[<I>a.</I>] That God would hear from heaven, his holy temple above, to
|
|
which they must look, through <I>this</I> temple.
|
|
|
|
[<I>b.</I>] That he would forgive their sin; for then only are
|
|
judgments removed in mercy when sin is pardoned.
|
|
|
|
[<I>c.</I>] That he would <I>teach them the good way wherein they
|
|
should walk,</I> by his Spirit, with his word and prophets; and thus
|
|
they might be both profited by their trouble (for <I>blessed is the man
|
|
whom God chastens and teaches</I>), and prepared for deliverance, which
|
|
then comes in love when it finds us brought back to the good way of God
|
|
and duty.
|
|
|
|
[<I>d.</I>] That he would then remove the judgment, and redress the
|
|
grievance, whatever it might be--not only accept the prayer, but give
|
|
in the mercy prayed for.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>b.</I> In case of personal afflictions,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:38-40"><I>v.</I> 38-40</A>.
|
|
|
|
"If any man of Israel has an errand to thee, here let him find thee,
|
|
here let him find favour with thee." He does not mention particulars,
|
|
so numerous, so various, are the grievances of the children of men.
|
|
|
|
(<I>a.</I>) He supposes that the complainants themselves would very
|
|
sensibly feel their own burden, and would open that case to God which
|
|
otherwise they kept to themselves and did not make any man acquainted
|
|
with: They <I>shall know every man the plague of his own heart,</I>
|
|
what it is that pains him, and (as we say) where the shoe pinches, and
|
|
shall spread their hands, that is, spread their case, as Hezekiah
|
|
spread the letter, in prayer, towards this house; whether the trouble
|
|
be of body or mind, they shall represent it before God. Inward burdens
|
|
seem especially meant. Sin is the plague of our own heart; our
|
|
indwelling corruptions are our spiritual diseases. Every Israelite
|
|
indeed endeavours to know these, that he may mortify them and watch
|
|
against the risings of them. These he complains of. This is the burden
|
|
he groans under: <I>O wretched man that I am!</I> These drive him to
|
|
his knees, drive him to the sanctuary. Lamenting these, <I>he spreads
|
|
forth his hands</I> in prayer.
|
|
|
|
(<I>b.</I>) He refers all cases of this kind, that should be brought
|
|
hither, to God.
|
|
|
|
[<I>a.</I>] To his omniscience: "<I>Thou, even thou only, knowest the
|
|
hearts of all the children of men,</I> not only the plagues of their
|
|
hearts, their several wants and burdens" (these he knows, but he will
|
|
know them from us), "but the desire and intent of the heart, the
|
|
sincerity or hypocrisy of it. Thou knowest which prayer comes from the
|
|
heart, and which from the lips only." The hearts of kings are not
|
|
unsearchable to God.
|
|
|
|
[<I>b.</I>] To his justice: <I>Give to every man according to his
|
|
ways;</I> and he will not fail to do so, by the rules of grace, not the
|
|
law, for then we should all be undone.
|
|
|
|
[<I>c.</I>] To his mercy: <I>Hear, and forgive, and do</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:39"><I>v.</I> 39</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>that they may fear thee all their days,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:40"><I>v.</I> 40</A>.
|
|
|
|
This use we should make of the mercy of God to us in hearing our
|
|
prayers and forgiving our sins, we should thereby he engaged to fear
|
|
him while we live. <I>Fear the Lord and his goodness. There is
|
|
forgiveness with him, that he may be feared.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>c.</I> The case of the stranger that is not an Israelite is next mentioned,
|
|
a proselyte that comes to the temple to pray to the God of Israel,
|
|
being convinced of the folly and wickedness of worshipping the gods of
|
|
his country.
|
|
|
|
(<I>a.</I>) He supposed that there would be many such
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:41,42"><I>v.</I> 41, 42</A>),
|
|
|
|
that the fame of God's great works which he had wrought for Israel, by
|
|
which he proved himself to be above all gods, nay, to be God alone,
|
|
would reach to distant countries: "Those that live remote <I>shall hear
|
|
of thy strong hand, and thy stretched-out arm;</I> and this will bring
|
|
all thinking considerate people to pray towards this house, that they
|
|
may obtain the favour of a God that is able to do them a real
|
|
kindness."
|
|
|
|
(<I>b.</I>) He begged that God would accept and answer the proselyte's
|
|
prayer
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:43"><I>v.</I> 43</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for.</I> Thus
|
|
early, thus ancient, were the indications of favour towards the
|
|
<I>sinners of the Gentiles:</I> as there was then <I>one law for the
|
|
native and for the stranger</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+12:49">Exod. xii. 49</A>),
|
|
|
|
so there was one gospel for both.
|
|
|
|
(<I>c.</I>) Herein he aimed at the glory of God and the propagating of
|
|
the knowledge of him: "O let the stranger, in a special manner, speed
|
|
well in his addresses, that he may carry away with him to his own
|
|
country a good report of the God of Israel, <I>that all people may know
|
|
thee and fear thee</I> (and, if they know thee aright, they will fear
|
|
thee) <I>as do thy people Israel.</I>" So far was Solomon from
|
|
monopolizing the knowledge and service of God, and wishing to have them
|
|
confined to Israel only (which was the envious desire of the Jews in
|
|
the days of Christ and his apostles), that he prayed that <I>all people
|
|
might fear God as Israel did.</I> Would to God that all the children of
|
|
men might receive the adoption, and be made God's children!
|
|
<I>Father,</I> thus <I>glorify thy name.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>d.</I> The case of an army going forth to battle is next recommended by
|
|
Solomon to the divine favour. It is supposed that the army is encamped
|
|
at a distance, somewhere a great way off, sent by divine order
|
|
<I>against the enemy,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:44"><I>v.</I> 44</A>.
|
|
|
|
"When they are ready to engage, and consider the perils and doubtful
|
|
issues of battle, and put up a prayer to God for protection and
|
|
success, with their eye <I>towards this city and temple,</I> then
|
|
<I>hear their prayer,</I> encourage their hearts, strengthen their
|
|
hands, cover their heads, and so maintain their cause and give them
|
|
victory." Soldiers in the field must not think it enough that those who
|
|
tarry at home pray for them, but must pray for themselves, and they are
|
|
here encouraged to hope fore a gracious answer. Praying should always
|
|
go along with fighting.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>e.</I> The case of poor captives is the last that is here mentioned
|
|
as a proper object of divine compassion.
|
|
|
|
(<I>a.</I>) He supposes that Israel will sin. He knew them, and
|
|
himself, and the nature of man, too well to think this a foreign
|
|
supposition; <I>for there is no man that sinneth not,</I> that does not
|
|
enough to justify God in the severest rebukes of his providence, no man
|
|
but what is in danger of falling into gross sin, and will if God leave
|
|
him to himself.
|
|
|
|
(<I>b.</I>) He supposes, what may well be expected, that, if Israel
|
|
revolt from God, God will be <I>angry with them,</I> and <I>deliver
|
|
them into the hand of their enemies,</I> to be carried captive into a
|
|
strange country,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:46"><I>v.</I> 46</A>.
|
|
|
|
(<I>c.</I>) He then supposes that they will bethink themselves, will
|
|
consider their ways (for afflictions put men upon consideration), and,
|
|
when once they are brought to consider, they will repent and pray, will
|
|
confess their sins, and humble themselves, saying, <I>We have sinned
|
|
and have done perversely</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:47"><I>v.</I> 47</A>),
|
|
|
|
and <I>in the land of their enemies will return to God,</I> whom they
|
|
had forsaken in their own land.
|
|
|
|
(<I>d.</I>) He supposes that in their prayers they will look towards
|
|
their own land, the holy land, Jerusalem, the holy city, and the
|
|
temple, the holy house, and directs them so to do
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:48"><I>v.</I> 48</A>),
|
|
|
|
for his sake who gave them that land, chose that city, and to whose
|
|
honour that house was built.
|
|
|
|
(<I>e.</I>) He prays that then God would <I>hear their prayers, forgive
|
|
their sins, plead their cause,</I> and incline their enemies to <I>have
|
|
compassion on them,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:49,50"><I>v.</I> 49, 50</A>.
|
|
|
|
God has all hearts in his hand, and can, when he pleases, turn the
|
|
strongest stream the contrary way, and make those to pity his people
|
|
who have been their most cruel persecutors. See this prayer answered,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+106:46">Ps. cvi. 46</A>.
|
|
|
|
He <I>made them to be pitied of those that carried them captive,</I>
|
|
which, if it did not release them, yet eased their captivity.
|
|
|
|
(<I>f.</I>) He pleads their relation to God, and his interest in them:
|
|
"They are thy people, whom thou hast taken into thy covenant and under
|
|
thy care and conduct, thy inheritance, from which, more than from any
|
|
other nation, thy rent and tribute of glory issue and arise
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:51"><I>v.</I> 51</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>separated from among all people</I> to be so and by distinguishing
|
|
favours appropriated to thee,"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:53"><I>v.</I> 53</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Lastly,</I> After all these particulars, he concludes with this
|
|
general request, that God would hearken to all his praying people <I>in
|
|
all that they call unto him for,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:52"><I>v.</I> 52</A>.
|
|
|
|
No place now, under the gospel, can be imagined to add any
|
|
acceptableness to the prayers made in or towards it, as the temple then
|
|
did. That was a shadow: the substance is Christ; whatever we ask in his
|
|
name, it shall be given us.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_54"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_55"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_56"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_57"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_58"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_59"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_60"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_61"> </A>
|
|
|
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<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Solomon Blesses and Exhorts the People.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1003.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>54 And it was <I>so,</I> that when Solomon had made an end of
|
|
praying all this prayer and supplication unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, he arose
|
|
from before the altar of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, from kneeling on his knees
|
|
with his hands spread up to heaven.
|
|
55 And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel
|
|
with a loud voice, saying,
|
|
56 Blessed <I>be</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, 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.
|
|
57 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let
|
|
him not leave us, nor forsake us:
|
|
58 That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his
|
|
ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his
|
|
judgments, which he commanded our fathers.
|
|
59 And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication
|
|
before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, be nigh unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our God day and night,
|
|
that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his
|
|
people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require:
|
|
60 That all the people of the earth may know that the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> <I>is</I>
|
|
God, <I>and that there is</I> none else.
|
|
61 Let your heart therefore be perfect with the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our God,
|
|
to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this
|
|
day.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Solomon, after his sermon in Ecclesiastes, gives us the conclusion of
|
|
the whole matter; so he does here, after this long prayer; it is called
|
|
his <I>blessing the people,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:55"><I>v.</I> 55</A>.
|
|
|
|
He pronounced it standing, that he might be the better heard, and
|
|
because he blessed as one having authority. Never were words more fitly
|
|
spoken, nor more pertinently. Never was congregation dismissed with
|
|
that which was more likely to affect them and abide with them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. He gives God the glory of the great and kind things he had done for
|
|
Israel,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:56"><I>v.</I> 56</A>.
|
|
|
|
He stood up to <I>bless the congregation</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:55"><I>v.</I> 55</A>),
|
|
|
|
but began with blessing God; for we must in <I>every thing give
|
|
thanks.</I> Do we expect God should do well for us and ours? let us
|
|
take all occasion to speak well of him and his. He blesses God who has
|
|
given, he does not say wealth, and honour, and power, and victory, to
|
|
Israel, but <I>rest,</I> as if that were a blessing more valuable than
|
|
any of those. Let not those who have rest under-value that blessing,
|
|
though they want some others. He compares the blessings God had
|
|
bestowed upon them with the promises he had given them, that God might
|
|
have the honour of his faithfulness and the truth of that word of his
|
|
which he has <I>magnified above all his name.</I>
|
|
|
|
1. He refers to the <I>promises given by the hand of Moses,</I> as he
|
|
did
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:15,24"><I>v.</I> 15, 24</A>)
|
|
|
|
to those which were made to David. There were promises given by Moses,
|
|
as well as precepts. It was long ere God gave Israel the promised rest,
|
|
but they had it at last, after many trials. The day will come when
|
|
God's spiritual Israel will <I>rest from all their labours.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. He does, as it were, write a receipt in full on the back of these
|
|
bonds: <I>There has not failed one word of all his good promises.</I>
|
|
This discharge he gives in the name of all Israel, to the everlasting
|
|
honour of the divine faithfulness, and the everlasting encouragement of
|
|
all those that build upon the divine promises.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He blesses himself and the congregation, expressing his earnest
|
|
desire and hope of these four things:--
|
|
|
|
1. The presence of God with them, which is all in all to the happiness
|
|
of a church and nation and of every particular person. This great
|
|
congregation was now shortly to be scattered, and it was not likely
|
|
that they would ever be all together again in this world. Solomon
|
|
therefore dismisses them with this blessing: "<I>The Lord be present
|
|
with us,</I> and that will be comfort enough when we are absent from
|
|
each other. <I>The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our
|
|
fathers</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:57"><I>v.</I> 57</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>let him not leave us,</I> let him be to us to day, and to ours for
|
|
ever, what he was to those that went before us."
|
|
|
|
2. The power of his grace upon them: "<I>Let him be with us,</I> and
|
|
continue with us, not that he may enlarge our coasts and increase our
|
|
wealth, but <I>that he may incline our hearts to himself, to walk in
|
|
all his ways and to keep his commandments,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:58"><I>v.</I> 58</A>.
|
|
|
|
Spiritual blessings are the best blessings, with which we should covet
|
|
earnestly to be blessed. Our hearts are naturally averse to our duty,
|
|
and apt to decline from God; it is his grace that inclines them, grace
|
|
that must be obtained by prayer.
|
|
|
|
3. An answer to the prayer he had now made: "<I>Let these my words be
|
|
nigh unto the Lord our God day and night,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:59"><I>v.</I> 59</A>.
|
|
|
|
Let a gracious return be made to every prayer that shall be made here,
|
|
and that will be a continual answer to this prayer." What Solomon asks
|
|
here for his prayer is still granted in the intercession of Christ, of
|
|
which his supplication was a type; that powerful prevailing
|
|
intercession <I>is before the Lord our God day and night,</I> for our
|
|
great Advocate attends continually to this very thing, and we may
|
|
depend upon him to maintain our cause (against the adversary that
|
|
accuses us <I>day</I> and <I>night,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+12:10">Rev. xii. 10</A>)
|
|
|
|
<I>and the</I> common <I>cause of his people Israel, at all times,</I>
|
|
upon all occasions, as the matter shall require, so as to speak for us
|
|
<I>the word of the day in its day,</I> as the original here reads it,
|
|
from which we shall receive grace sufficient, suitable, and seasonable,
|
|
<I>in every time of need.</I>
|
|
|
|
4. The glorifying of God in the enlargement of his kingdom among men.
|
|
Let Israel be thus blessed, thus favoured; not that all people may
|
|
become tributaries to us (Solomon sees his kingdom as great as he
|
|
desires), but <I>that all people may know that the Lord is God,</I> and
|
|
he only, and may come and worship him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:60"><I>v.</I> 60</A>.
|
|
|
|
With this Solomon's prayers, like <I>the prayers of his father David,
|
|
the son of Jesse, are ended</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+72:19,20">Ps. lxxii. 19, 20</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Let the whole earth be filled with his glory.</I> We cannot close
|
|
our prayers with a better summary than this, <I>Father, glorify thy
|
|
name.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. He solemnly charges his people to continue and persevere in their
|
|
duty to God. Having spoken to God for them, he here speaks from God to
|
|
them, and those only would fare the better for his prayers that were
|
|
made better by his preaching. His admonition, at parting, is, "<I>Let
|
|
your heart be perfect with the Lord our God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:61"><I>v.</I> 61</A>.
|
|
|
|
Let your obedience be universal, without dividing--upright, without
|
|
dissembling--constant, without declining;" this is evangelical
|
|
perfection.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_62"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_63"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_64"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_65"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki8_66"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Solomon Holds a Great Feast.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1003.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>62 And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice
|
|
before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
|
63 And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he
|
|
offered unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an
|
|
hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the
|
|
children of Israel dedicated the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
|
64 The same day did the king hallow the middle of the court
|
|
that <I>was</I> before the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: for there he offered
|
|
burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace
|
|
offerings: because the brasen altar that <I>was</I> before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
|
|
<I>was</I> too little to receive the burnt offerings, and meat
|
|
offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.
|
|
65 And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with
|
|
him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto
|
|
the river of Egypt, before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our God, seven days and seven
|
|
days, <I>even</I> fourteen days.
|
|
66 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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had done for David his servant,
|
|
and for Israel his people.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We read before that Judah and Israel were eating and drinking, and very
|
|
cheerful under their own vines and fig-trees; here we have them so in
|
|
God's courts. Now they found Solomon's words true concerning Wisdom's
|
|
ways, that they are ways of pleasantness.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. They had abundant joy and satisfaction while they attended at God's
|
|
house, for there,
|
|
|
|
1. Solomon offered a great sacrifice, 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep,
|
|
enough to have drained the country of cattle if it had not been a very
|
|
fruitful land. The heathen thought themselves very generous when they
|
|
offered sacrifices by <I>hundreds (hecatombs</I> they called them), but
|
|
Solomon out-did them: he offered them by <I>thousands.</I> When Moses
|
|
dedicated his altar, the peace-offerings were twenty-four <I>bullocks,
|
|
and of rams, goats, and lambs,</I> 180
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+7:88">Num. vii. 88</A>);
|
|
|
|
then the people were poor, but now that they had increased in wealth
|
|
more was expected from them. Where God sows plentifully he must reap
|
|
accordingly. All these sacrifices could not be offered in one day, but
|
|
in the several days of the feast. Thirty oxen a day served Solomon's
|
|
table, but thousands shall go to God's altar. Few are thus minded, to
|
|
spend more on their souls than on their bodies. The flesh of the
|
|
peace-offerings, which belonged to the offerer, it is likely, Solomon
|
|
treated the people with. Christ fed those who attended him. The brazen
|
|
altar was not large enough to receive all these sacrifices, so that, to
|
|
serve the present occasion, they were forced to offer many of them
|
|
<I>in the middle of the court,</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:64"><I>v.</I> 64</A>),
|
|
|
|
some think on altars, altars of earth or stone, erected for the purpose
|
|
and taken down when the solemnity was over, others think on the bare
|
|
ground. Those that will be generous in serving God need not stint
|
|
themselves for want of room and occasion to be so.
|
|
|
|
2. He kept a feast, the feast of tabernacles, as it should seem, after
|
|
the feast of dedication, and both together lasted fourteen days
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:65"><I>v.</I> 65</A>),
|
|
|
|
yet they said not, <I>Behold, what a weariness is this!</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. They carried this joy and satisfaction with them to their own
|
|
houses. When they were dismissed they blessed the king
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:66"><I>v.</I> 66</A>),
|
|
|
|
applauded him, admired him, and returned him the thanks of the
|
|
congregation, and then <I>went to their tents joyful and glad of
|
|
heart,</I> all easy and pleased. God's goodness was the matter of their
|
|
joy, so it should be of ours at all times. They rejoiced in God's
|
|
blessing both on the royal family and on the kingdom; thus should we go
|
|
home rejoicing from holy ordinances, and go on our way rejoicing for
|
|
God's goodness to our Lord Jesus (of whom David his servant was a type,
|
|
in the advancement and establishment of his throne, pursuant to the
|
|
covenant of redemption), and to all believers, his spiritual Israel, in
|
|
their sanctification and consolation, pursuant to the covenant of
|
|
grace. If we rejoice not herein always it is our own fault.</P>
|
|
|
|
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