Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.

1KINGS
CHAPTER 8

1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. 2 And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.

It is commendable that those in authority would be concerned for the spiritual efficiency of the people. There is no power for good in the people unless it comes from God.
David longed to build the temple for the glory of God and for the benefit of the people. Solomon had that same desire in his heart. And, being king, did not bother him at all. He was quite willing to devote attention, time and power to the prospect of gathering people for worship.
So should ALL those in authority be.
Solomon used his position to gather "..the elders..heads of tribes...and chief of the fathers.."
There was a time designated. It was the month of Tishri (September-October). This time appointed was eleven months after the temple was completed (see 6:38). So there was more than ample time to properly promote that gathering and worship of the Lord.

3 And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. 4 And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up. 5 And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude.

This time designated was also a feast day. At the beginning of this month was the call of the trumpet to gather for feasting at the tabernacle. This time they would gather at the new temple. On the fifteenth day of the month was the feast of "booths" or "tabernacles." The people, for this feast, were to gather twigs and limbs and make themselves small "booths" in which to stay for seven days. The small booth was a reminder that God is the One Who protects us from the things of the world.
This week of feasting and living in the "booths" was also a time to prepare for "the solemn assembly," which was held on the last day of that feast (22nd of Tishri).
They brought the tabernacle which was the center of worship and all the parts of the tabernacle. And they brought the ark of the covenant.
The place of worship was changing, but the center of worship was the same: the Lord God of Israel Who had promised them this land and His protection.

6 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims. 7 For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above. 8 And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day.

When the ark was placed in the new permanent temple, the staves (for carrying it) were removed. These were placed, one on each side of the ark, and extended to the veil of the Holy of Holies. The staves would serve as guides to direct the High Priest to the ark when he entered once per year. He would come with fear and trembling, with tear-filled eyes and blurred vision, and he would need guidance.

9 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.

The two tablets of stone Moses had placed in the ark some 500+ years ago were STILL IN THE ARK! When God gives His Word, we ought to devote attention to KEEPING it!
No one knows what happened to the manna (Exodus 16:33-34), and Aaron's Rod (Numbers 17:10) that Moses caused to be brought into the Holy Place. Perhaps they wer not placed IN the ark, but only kept at the tabernacle.

10 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, 11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.

Now here's a great miracle! Immediately after placing the ark in the Holy of Holies, the Lord's PRESENCE came upon the new temple so strongly that the priests could not "..stand to minister."
Wouldn't it be wonderful to go to church one day, and the Spirit of God be so strong that all we could do is stand in AWE!!, and WORSHIP!?
This is what happened when Moses and Aaron first set up the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34). God was assuring the people and Solomon of His acceptance of this place of worship. He was assuring them of His PRESENCE and POWER.

12 Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. 13 I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.

Solomon realized the significance of the cloud. This is the "Shekinah" of God. It is the cloud that represents His Glory, Power, and Presence.
It is the cloud which separated the Nation of Israel from Pharoah's army at the Red Sea all through the night (Exodus 4:19-20). It is the same cloud which descended upon the tabernacle when it was first dedicated to God (Exodus 40:34). It is the "pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night" that led Israel in the wilderness for forty years (Exodus 13:12). It is the cloud into which Jesus was gathered and ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9).
Solomon recognized the cloud! He'd been reading the Bible, like all good men in authority ought to do.
Solomon immediately turned toward the huge crowd of people and the Bible says he "blessed" them. I can just imagine Solomon, filled with joy, saying, "O, nation of Israel, you are BLESSED this day because the Lord God of heaven and earth has fulfilled His promise to be WITH you!"
My friends, we ARE indeed blessed when God is willing to come and dwell WITH us! And when we repent of our sins, and beg His forgiveness through the blood of Jesus, He promises to be WITH us!
Has there ever been a day in your life when you repented of your sins, asked God to come into your life, and you sensed the GLORY of God descending upon your spirit?

The next thing we have in this chapter is a long prayer by Solomon. It is a prayer of praise (verses 15-24).

15 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it, saying, 16 Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose David to be over my people Israel. 17 And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 18 And the LORD said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart. 19 Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name. 20 And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 21 And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt. 22 And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: 23 And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is 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 it with thine hand, as it is this day.

It is a prayer requesting God's continued presence upon the people (verses 25-30).

25 Therefore now, LORD 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 LORD 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, even 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.

It is a prayer that requests God's forgiveness and restoration for Israel when they sin (verses 34-40, and 44-45).

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, or if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be; 38 What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or 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, even 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. 44 If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house that I have built for thy name: 45 Then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

It is a prayer that requests even strangers who hear about God and repent to be forgiven and become saved by the Lord (Verses 41-43).

41 Moreover concerning a stranger, that is 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 do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name.

This prayer acknowledges that all men are sinners and begs for MERCY and not JUSTICE. It also acknowledges that GOD ALONE is in charge of national events and domination (verses 46-53).

46 If they sin against thee, (for there is 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 Yet 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 so 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 be 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, to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD.

Solomon had been praying on his KNEES in front of all the people. Now he stood up and again "blessed" the people with a loud voice.

54 And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, 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 be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.

It is GOD Who has blessed Israel. He came, He promised and He fulfilled.

57 The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us:

We NEED God's PRESENCE!

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.

His presence inspires us to draw near to Him and to do good.

59 And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD 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 LORD is God, and that there is none else.

We need to "pray without ceasing" before the Lord, begging Him to uphold the righteous and (verse 60) demonstate that he alone is God.

61 Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.

Now - "..let YOUR heart be perfect with.." God. Here is HOW: live by His Word!

62 And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the LORD. 63 And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the LORD, 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 LORD. 64 The same day did the king hallow the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings: because the brasen altar that was before the LORD was 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 LORD our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days.

Solomon then initiated the response of FEASTING. Feasting requires first that sacrifice be made to God. Then WE become the recipients and beneficiaries of His GRACE.
What a great feast! Verse 65 tells us that the WHOLE nation participated!

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 LORD had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people.

Finally, at the APPOINTED time (the end of the Feast of Booths), Solomon sent all the people home.
Notice how they went: refreshed, joyful, thankful. THAT'S the way we oughta leave church! Amen?

Please continue with us in daily Bible study.