Today’s passage: 1 Kings 8:54-66
Helpful thoughts:
- Solomon blessed Israel by asking the God would graciously incline their hearts to Himself (Verse 58).
- This request of God’s grace did not negate the need to command Israel to be true (loyal) to God, to walk in His statutes, and keep His commandments (Verse 61).
- The people were reminded again of their role in the world (Verse 60), “That all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God, there is no other.”
- Lebo-hamath (Or, the entrance of Hamath) to the Brook of Egypt were northern and southern (Southwestern) borders in Israel. These locations were stated to show that people from all over Israel were in attendance for this celebration.
Questions to consider:
- Look back at verse 22 and then again at verse 54. What had changed in Solomon’s posture as he prayed that day at the consecration of the Temple? How would the weight of that day, the responsibility he bore, the glory of God brought him to his knees? Why is it right for leadership to be humbling for the Christian? (Mark 9:35, Hebrews 13:17 – Especially the last part of the first sentence.)
- What was the sense of national joy at the end of this great celebration? If there were political polls back in those days, what would they have looked like? What was the source of their joy? Solomon? David? Or someone else (Verse 66)? What must the source of our joy be, no matter what the political polls say in our land?