_____

The temple was dedicated in 1004 BC with a massive assembly (1 Ki. 8). The people attended from Hamath in the north near the Euphrates to the river of Egypt in the south.

This was in the 7th month on the feast of Ethanim or tabernacles (1 Ki. 8:2). “The Feast of Tabernacles commemorated Israel’s years of wandering in the wilderness (Le. 23:33, 41-43). It was fitting that the temple should be dedicated at this feast since that permanent sanctuary now symbolized the end of Israel’s wanderings” (Bible Knowledge Commentary).

They brought up the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle and other vessels from the city of David (1 Ki. 8:1-9). Apparently the Tabernacle had been moved from Gibeon for the occasion. Solomon and the congregation of Israel preceded the ark as it was carried by the priests. The priests took the ark into the holy of holies and placed it under the wings of the cherubims. “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” (1 Ki. 8:7). In the ark were the two tables of stone containing the 10 commandments, but nothing else (1 Ki. 8:9). We are not told what happened to the pot of manna or to Aaron’s rod that budded (Heb. 9:4).

When the priests came out of the holy of holies, the Levites, clothed in white linen, sang and played on cymbals, psalteries, harps, and 120 trumpets (2 Ch. 5:11-13). They sang and played “as one, to make one sound.” There was unity and perfection. How beautiful it must have sounded! They sang, “For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.” This expresses the essence of God’s character. This was from the psalm that David wrote when he brought the ark to Jerusalem as the first step toward the building of the temple (1 Ch. 16:34). The people sang this at the end of the service when the glory of God again appeared (2 Ch. 7:3). This expression appears four times in the Psalms (106:1; 107:1; 118:1; 136:1). It will be the eternal theme song of the redeemed.

“Then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud” (2 Ch. 5:13-14). This was the same glory that had filled the Tabernacle at its dedication (Ex. 40:34-35). The glory departed from the temple before its destruction by the Babylonians (Eze. 10:18). It did not return at the dedication of Zerubbabel’s temple. The glory of God will return to the Millennial temple (Eze. 43:2; 44:4).

Solomon begins his dedication by stating that the Lord dwells in the thick darkness (“The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness,” 1 Ki. 8:12; 2 Ch. 6:1). This refers to Sinai (“Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was,” Ex. 20:21; “and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness,” De. 4:11). The law of Moses given at Sinai teaches that God is hidden from man because of sin and the broken law. The people could not even touch the mountain; they stood afar off (Ex. 19:12, 16; 20:18-19). That is man’s condition in Adam. Only through the blood of Christ can the sinner approach God, and this was the significance of the Levitical offerings and the priesthood and the temple service. Moses’ Tabernacle and Solomon’s Temple were pictures of Christ the only Saviour. So Solomon says, “But I have built an house of habitation for thee” (2 Ch. 6:2). Through Christ man can be reconciled with God and they can dwell together.

Solomon praised God for fulfilling His word to David (1 Ki. 8:15-21; 2 Ch. 6:1-11). God’s covenant with David promises that David’s son, Christ, will rule God’s kingdom of the redeemed forever (2 Sa. 7:12-13, 16). Solomon sitting on the throne of his glorious kingdom was the down payment of God’s promise to David. It was the first step. It was the foreview. It pointed to Jesus Christ.

Solomon then knelt on his knees on a platform before the altar of sacrifice and prayed a prayer of dedication (1 Ki. 8:22-53; 2 Ch. 6:12-42). Chronicles describes the platform that Solomon built for this purpose; it was 5 cubits (7.5 feet) square and 3 cubits (4.5 feet) high (2 Ch. 6:12-13). Thus, it was 10.5 feet lower than the altar, which was 10 cubits (15 feet) high (2 Ch. 4:1). This is the longest prayer recorded in the Bible. The location before the altar signifies that it is only through Christ’s atonement that man can approach God acceptably. (1) Solomon addresses God in three ways: “LORD God [Jehovah Elohiym] of Israel” (1 Ki. 8:23, 25, 26) -- Jehovah is the covenant name of God, God the Saviour, God the good Shepherd (“Jehovah is my shepherd,” Ps. 23:1). Elohiym is God as all-powerful Creator. Elohiym corresponds to theos in Greek. The “LORD God of Israel” is the God who has revealed Himself to and through Israel. He is the God of the Bible. “LORD [Jehovah] my God [Elohiym]” (1 Ki. 8:28) -- Solomon addresses God as his personal God, not only as the God of Israel or the God of David, but as “my God.” “LORD [Adonai] GOD [Jehovah]” (1 Ki. 8:53) -- Adonai is God as Master, Lord, Ruler. It corresponds to the Greek kurios, Lord. By the term “Lord GOD” the saints addressed Jehovah as their Lord and Master. (2) The prayer is filled with revelation of God’s character: He is the only God (1 Ki. 8:23). He keeps covenant and mercy with those who walk before Him with all their heart (1 Ki. 8:23). His Word is true and faithful (1 Ki. 8:24, 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” (1 Ki. 8:56). The heavens cannot contain God (1 Ki. 8:27). God hears prayers (1 Ki. 8:28-29). God judges the wicked (1 Ki. 8:32). God forgives sin (1 Ki. 8:33-39). God is in control of the weather and pestilence (1 Ki. 8:36-37). God knows the hearts of all men (1 Ki. 8:39). God is to be feared (1 Ki. 8:40). God loves strangers as He loves Israel (1 Ki. 8:41-43). Israel forgot this great truth. God is not only the God of Israel; He is the God of the whole earth; He loves all men and would save all men. God chose Israel and separated her from the nations (1 Ki. 8:53). (3) Solomon petitions God to hear Israel’s prayers (1 Ki. 8:29-52). God will answer from heaven; Solomon knows that God dwells in heaven, not in temples made with men’s hands (“hear thou in heaven,” v. 30, 32, 34, 36, 39, 43, 45, 49). God will condemn the wicked and justify the righteous (v. 32). God will forgive sin when it is confessed (v. 33-39). God answered Solomon’s prayer throughout the times of the kingdom. Multitudes of prayers were answered when they were addressed to the God of heaven in truth, repentance, and confession. And Israel’s prayers will yet be answered at the restoration when Israel will repent and receive Jesus as the Christ. (4) Solomon prophesies Israel’s captivity and restoration (1 Ki. 8:46-51). Israel will be restored when they confess their sins and return unto God “with all their heart, and with all their soul.” This will be fulfilled during Daniel’s 70th week as described in Zechariah (Zec. 12:10-14). For 2,000 years, Israel has been praying toward the Promised Land as Solomon taught, but the prayers have not been with true repentance.

When Solomon finished praying, fire came from heaven and consumed the sacrifices and the glory of God again filled the house (2 Ch. 7:1-2). This is not recorded in Kings. This signified God’s Amen to Solomon’s prayer and His acceptance of Israel through the offerings.

Solomon then stood up and blessed the people “with a loud voice” (1 Ki. 8:54-61). He concluded by stating that the purpose of the temple was “that all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else” (1 Ki. 8:60). This is the purpose of Israel’s existence. It is the theme of Scripture.

Solomon and Israel offered sacrifices (1 Ki. 8:62-64). All of these point to Christ in His manifold perfections as Saviour, as we saw in the studies on the Levitical offerings.

The national feast lasted 14 days (1 Ki. 8:65-66). The feast of tabernacles itself lasted seven days, and there was an extra week for the dedication festivities. The great festival points to Christ’s Millennial Kingdom when Israel will be converted and joy and blessing will fill the nation. “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” (1 Ki. 8:66).