I KINGS CHAPTER 8
I Kings 7 saw the completion of Solomon's building of the Temple for Father YHVH; his own palace complex, which consisted of his house, the house of the Forest of Lebanon--the Armory, the Seat of Judgment and the elaborate hall where he received kings, heads of state and other dignitaries--and the House for the Queen (pharaoh's daughter). Of course Solomon didn't do any of the building himself, he contracted other's to do the actual work. He had the knowledge and wisdom as, Father had first given it to Solomon's father, king David, who then passed it onto Solomon. Solomon hired Hiram of Tyre, the widow's son, to do the construction and also the casting of all the instruments, vessles and utensils which would be used by the Priests in the Worship of Father. Remember, Solomon had built the Temple in seven years, and it has now been approximately 10-10 1/2years since he started work on all his other construction.
I Kings 8 brings us Solomon bringing of the Ark of the Covenant out of the tent which David had made for it on Mount Zion in Jerusalem to be now placed in the Temple on Mount Moriah, the dedication of the Temple of Father YHVH, and the Prayer of Blessing Solomon asks of Father over the entire House of Israel. Therefore it is now time for all the elders of Israel and the heads of the tribes and all the people of all the tribes of Israel to also come to Jerusalem for the dedication ceremony. With the Ark of the Covenant now being placed in its permanent location inside the Temple of YHVH, worship will no longer be held in a tent (tabernacle) which is still in the high place in Gibeon.
3:2-10:29 government.
3:2-10:29 GOVERNMENT. (Alternations, Simple and Extended with Introversion.)
6:1-8:66 Temple (part).
6:1-8:66 THE TEMPLE. (PARTICULAR.) (Introversion.)
7:1-12 Other buildings.
7:13-8:66 The Temple.
8:1-66 The dedication of the work.
I Kings 8:1-66 THE DEDICATION. (Introversion and Alternation.)
8:1-11 The Feast.1A1I Kings 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. -> Some of the codices read differently on this verse with the most likely rendition reading thus: "Then Solomon gathered all the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the father's houses of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem...". So, basically what transpired was that Solomon gathered all the people in his administration, the important people of all the tribes, and all the people of Israel together. Those who were elders and administrative staff went to the tent David had made for the Ark of the Covenant which was where they were, in Jerusalem, while everybody else went to the newly built Temple on Mount Moriah to await their arrival with the Ark.
I Kings 8:2 And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. -> At the Feast in the month Ethanim=This was the Feast which was celebrated on the fifteenth day of the month which was--as we'll read below--the Feast of Tabernacles, the last of the three Feasts in this month Ethanim.
Ethanim=The month of gifts, i.e., of vintage offerings; called Tisri after the Assyrian captivity—Ethanim being Hebrew in origin and Tisri being Assyrian in origin; in either case, it corresponds to part of September and October. It was the first month of the civil year, and the seventh of the sacred, or calendar year. Only used once, in I Kings 8:2. The seventh month is one of the most important months on the Hebrew calendar, why? Because it is the only month in which three Feasts were celebrated by our forefathers: (1) The first day of the month was the "Blowing of the Trumpets;" (2) the 10th day of the month was the "Day of Atonement;" and (3) the 15th day of the month was the "Feast of Tabernacles." All three Feasts were major events in this month as directed by our Father. All three of these Feast Days are important and I have a Study "Jesus' Birth Date" which goes into great detail of all three of them.
I Kings 8:3 And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. -> Took up the Ark=Remembering what had happened to Uzzah--II Samuel 6--when David and the Israelites were trying to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem on that "new cart" as the Philistines had given it back to them, Solomon ensured that only the Priests, and more specifically, the sons of Kohath bear the Ark on their shoulders as prescribed in Numbers 4.
I Kings 8:4 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. -> Here we see that they not only brought the Ark of the Covenant to the Temple on Mount Moriah; but, they had also gone to Gibeon and had wrapped all the instruments, vessels and utensils from within the Tabernacle, then taken down and folded the Tabernacle itself and brought all that to be placed in the Temple as well. This also was accomplished by the Priests, the sons of Kohath, Merari and Gershon. Remember, only the Kohathites were allowed to see and touch the items which went into the Holiest of Holies.
I Kings 8:5 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. -> Again, Solomon has called for all the heads of the families, the tribe princes, the heads of the Host, or military, and any and everybody of importance to come to this dedication ceremony. We’ll even see by the end of this chapter that the people came in from the borders of Hamath, at the far northern end, all the way to the river Nile in Egypt. Why the nile River? Remember, one of Solomon's wives was the daughter of Pharaoh of the northern kingdom of Egypt. Of all the people who showed up at this dedication ceremony, The Most Important was The Guest of Honor, That being Father Himself.
We see here that even before Solomon took the Ark of the Covenant into His place inside the Holiest of Holies, Solomon began his sacrificing of all the offerings. Remember there were numerous Offerings: Burnt Offerings; Heave Offferings; Meat Offerings; Peace Offerings; Sin Offerings and Wave Offerings, and I'm sure that for such an occasion as this, even though only a week before the High Priest had gone into the Holiest of Holies to make Atonement for all the sins of Israel, with the Ark of the Covenant now being set in His place, they wanted to offer for every Offering they could. This Feast and celebration was going so strongly, that Solomon kept it for an extra seven days, before he finished it all.
I Kings 8:6 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. -> Remember, we read back in I Kings 6 that the Oracle was 20 cubits long, by 20 cubits wide by 20 cubits high, and the wings of the 2 cherubim completely stretched from one wall to the other in the rear of the Most Holy Place. Therefore, now not only are the 2 cherubim which sit above the Ark as part of the Mercy Seat keeping the Ark safe, so also are the 2 cherubim which are watching over it in the Holiest of Holies.
It is here where Father will now commune with, and speak with man, hence the word "oracle;" which in the Strong's Concordance is Hebrew word number H1687 - דּבר דּביר, - debı̂yr, or debir, pronounced - deb-eer', deb-eer', and means: From H1696 (apparently in the sense of oracle); the shrine or innermost part of the sanctuary: - oracle., now let’s look at H1696 - דּבר, dâbar, pronounced - daw-bar', and means: A primitive root; perhaps properly to arrange; but used figuratively (of words) to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue: - answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use [entreaties], utter, X well, X work..
I Kings 8:7 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. -> There is a difference in the codices with the use of the word "over" in this verse. The Hebrew manuscripts, otherwise known as the Massorah read "unto;" whereas, the Aramaic, the Septuagint and the Vulgate all read "over." I'll stick with the Hebrew manuscripts, and we'll read this as thus: "For the cherubims spread forth their two wings unto the place of the Ark...".
I Kings 8:8 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. -> Once the bearers of the Ark set Him in His place, they removed the one end of the staves, or should I say, they pulled the one end of the staves to their rings on the Ark. They would not have completely removed them as, that would have gone against what Father told Moses in Exodus 25:15.
So then, what does this phrase "that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place...and they were not seen without" mean? The scholars disagree; however, the most likely translation is this: That once the pulled the staves out--and they most likely pulled the staves out away from the rear wall in order to afford the High Priest to be able to walk around the Ark, between the Ark and the rear wall--then that would mean that the other end of the Ark, the staves would be pressing against the vail which separated the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place; however, with the staves pressing against the vail, they Priests in the Holy Place would be able to see the protrusion into the vail, but, not the staves themselves, nor would they be able to see into the Most Holy Place, as we know, if a priest other than the High Priest did see into the Most Holy Place, he would have been struck dead.
I Kings 8:9 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. -> Though this says that there was nothing in the Ark save for the two tables--maybe the Philistines removed the rest of the contents while they had it in their possession?--we know at one time it had contained more than just the two tables. Paul in the New Testament even talks about the contents in the Book of Hebrews, let's turn there and read what he has to say: Hebrews 9:1 Then verily he first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. -> The first Covenant which Father made with man had a mundane sanctuary with its regulations for worship, and ceremonies which were different from the laws, commandments and statutes in part. These ordinances were followed and completed during each year for the sake of justifying a person from their sins. The blood ordinances were to give righteousness to the one performing those sacrifices and also the one offering up the sacrifice, thereby giving them justification in Father's eyes. Some of those ceremonies under the Old Covenant included the slaughtering of a pure and clean animal - sacrificing the blood and parts of that animal on an altar. This was a shadow of the Messiah, Jesus Christ that would be sacrificed on the altar, which in this case was the Roman cross. Jesus Christ fulfilled this act for our sins and shortcomings - not His, because there was no sin in Him. That old "earthly sanctuary" was temporary and meant that those sacrifices were done in a setting that would pass away. The blood ordinances also were very temporary, and had to be preformed at least once a year, however, the true Temple--the one found in Revelation 21:22--is an eternal Temple, one which will never pass away for God and His Lamb – Jesus Christ, are the Temple. [9:2] For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. -> We find the instructions Father gave to Moses on how to construct the first sanctuary and tabernacle in Exodus 25. The sanctuary (miq-dash, pronounced mik-dawsh, meaning - a hallowed, holy place), while the tabernacle (mishkan, pronounced mish-kawn' meaning - habitation or tent), was a tent made to a pattern that was given to Moses by Father while he was up on Mount Sinai also receiving the Ten Commandments From Father. Within that tabernacle - or tent; were all the items that would become essential for the ceremony Father required for the forgiveness of man's sins. Though as we learn in Hebrews 10, these things could never take away a man's sins: Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.. The "candlestick" was the lampstand, it was made of pure gold, a beaten work (one whole piece molded by hammering), with seven bowls - its purpose is recorded in Exodus 25:31-37. The "table" as recorded in Exodus 25:23-27 was to be overlaid with three layers of gold to represent three crowns. Those three crowns were the "crown of the Law", which represented the atoning blood between it and the cherubim, its executor." The "crown of the Priest", represents its incense fired only by the fire from the altar of burnt offering. The "crown of the kingdom" represented the twelve tribes, symbolized by the twelve loaves of shewbread that was placed on the table. In other words, the law - the atoning blood; the priest - incense by the altar fire; and the kingdom of the twelve tribes of Israel - the shewbread on the table. [9:3] And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; -> The tabernacle represents the abode with our Heavenly Father, with Jesus sitting in His place, at the right hand of the Father. Psalms 110:1 The LORD said unto My LORD, "Sit Thou at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool." -> This is the verse quoted by Jesus in Matthew 22:41-46. Let's take a look at that passage: Matthew 22:41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, [22:42] Saying, "What think ye of Christ? Whose Son is He?" They say unto Him, "The Son of David." [22:43] He saith unto them, "How then doth David in spirit call Him Lord, saying, [22:44] 'The Lord said unto My Lord, 'Sit Thou on My right hand, till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool?' [22:45] If David then call Him Lord, how is He his Son?" [22:46] And no man was able to answer Him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask Him any more questions. -> So we see Jesus Himself quoted from David here, as did Peter in Acts 2:34-35, and Paul in Hebrews 1:13. This time that our Lord Jesus Christ makes His enemies His footstool is on the "day of Vengeance," or better put "the Day of the Lord - The Lord's Day;" at His return. Then all evil will be gone, and satan will be bound, and cast in the pit for the thousand year period where his spirit will not have the ability to deceive anybody during that time. The things of this earth age of flesh man will be completely done away with, and all mankind will be changed from their fleshly corruptible bodies, into their spiritual bodies - the same bodies that the angels have, for the next thousand year period. Upon Jesus' death in the flesh on the cross, as we read in Matthew 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the Ghost. [27:51] And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; -> This was at 3:00PM, when the high priest was to go into the temple for the day. I sure would have loved to have been a fly on the wall and saw the look on his face when the veil was rent by Father's hands. [27:52] And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, [27:53] And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. -> This was a "one-time" event to show that Jesus had the power over, and just conquered - death. [27:54] Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God." -> He first went to those prisoners, then to the Father to sit on His right hand and that is where He is to this day. Also, as soon as He rent that veil, He opened to us that we can now--no longer needing a fleshly high priest--boldly go directly to Father. [9:4] Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; -> So, yes, we see that at one time the Ark had contained more than just the Tables of Stone, or the two stone tablets on which Father engraved with His hand the Ten Commandments, or The Law; it also contained as Father told Moses to put into it, one of the incense pots, and Aaron’s rod which budded, where can we find what Father told Moses to put into the Ark? In Exodus 16; so, let’s turn there now and read it: Exodus 16:31 And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. -> The Prople complained and bellyached for water and food; therefore, Father gave them manna to eat. We learn in Psalms 78:25 that manna is angels food. [16:32] And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commandeth, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt. -> Father wanted them--and us--to always remember that He fulfilled His Promise to Abram and it was He Who brought them out of their bondage to the Egyptians and He even fed them while they wandered the wilderness--because of their unbelief--for those 40 years; therefore He told Moses to tell them to gather some of the manna to keep. [16:33] And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations. -> They were to take that manna they gathered to keep, and put it into a censer; which, as we're about to read, will then be put into the Ark. [16:34] As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept. -> Put it into the Ark to be kept forever as a reminder of how Father had indeed taken care of our forefathers as they wandered the wilderness. [16:35] And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan. -> For a full 40 years, every morning when they awoke, there was the manna covering the earth like a dew, and all tehy had to do was gether it and eat it. [16:36] Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah. -> An ephah was equivalent to approximately 8 quarts; therefore, an omer is slightly less than a quart.
Horeb=The desert or mountain of the dried-up ground, a general name for the whole mountain range of which Sinai was one of the summits Exodus 3:1; 17:6; 33:6; Psalms 106:9, etc.. The modern name of the whole range is Jebel Musa. It is a huge mountain block, about 2 miles long by about 1 in breadth, with a very spacious plain at its north-east end, called the Er Rahah, in which the Israelites encamped for nearly a whole year., so, in other words, Horeb is just another name for Mount Sinai.
I Kings 8:10 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, -> No sooner had the Kohathites left Holiest of Holies, and Father came and filled it with His presence, signifying His approval of what Solomon had had constructed. This should put you in remembrance of when He came and dwelled with man just after Moses had had the original tent Tabernacle constructed, then too had Father come and filled it with His presence, signifying His approval in Exodus 40:34; but, also, several other times when we read of the manifestation of the presence of Father, we read of clouds, thunderings and lightenings, such as when Moses first visited with Father in Exodus 3; right after He brought our forefathers out of Egypt and they camped at the base of Mount Sinai Exodus 20:18; as they wandered the wilderness for those 40 years and He led them by cloud during the day and a pillar of fire during the night, Revelation 4:5; but, also, the very last chapter and verse of the Book of Ezekiel, Ezekiel 48:35 where we read: Ezekiel 48:35 It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there. -> YHVH Shammah.
I Kings 8:11 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. -> Why do we read of thunderings and lightenings when we read of Father's presence? Because this is the way He manifests His presence for us in order for us to see Him: Exodus 19:9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD. -> Father's presence: YHVH Shammah, or His Glory, His shekanya Glory, Hebrew word number H7935, Yah has dwelt.
8:12-21 Blessing.
8:12-21 THE BLESSING. (Repeated Alternation.)
8:12 Words of and to YHVH
I Kings 8:12 Then spake Solomon, “The LORD said that He would dwell in the thick darkness. -> If you know and understand anything concerning our Father, then you know and understand that He is the Light of the World; therefore, there can be no darkness about Him as, even just a little light cancels out any darkness. This is just how He chose to manifest Himself in order for His Children in the flesh to see Him.
8:13 The house.
I Kings 8:13 I have surely built Thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.” -> Father fulfilled His promise which He made to David concerning his son Solomon building a house for Father, and Father establishing his--David's--house forever, of which we can read in II Samuel 7:13-16.
Dwell...abide=This should put you in mind of John 14 where Jesus tells His disciples and us of the many mansions that are prepared for us: John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. -> Check out the word “mansions” as it is in the Strong’s Concordance, Greek word number G3438 - μονή, monē, pronounced - mon-ay', and means: From G3306; a staying, that is, residence (the act or the place): - abode, mansion., notice it is derived from G3306, so, let’s follow it out and read that next: G3306 - μένω, menō, pronounced - men'-o, and means: A primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy): - abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own., so, as we see, it does not mean a building, it means: YHVH Shammah, that, Father is there.
8:14-16 Words of and to YHVH.
I Kings 8:14 And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation of Israel: (and all the congregation of Israel stood;) -> Solomon turned from facing the altar, in other words, from facing Father, to where he now faced the assembly and he asked Father to Bless all His People.
I Kings 8:15 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, -> Blessed be the LORD God=YHVH ELOHIM. What about you brethren, do you Bless Father? If you're asking, "well how can I Bless our Creator, our Covenant maker?" You need to commune with Him more as, that is one of the ways to Bless Him, by communing with Him, in other words, by walking His path and talking with Him, or by also being a doer of and follower of: His Commandments, His Judgments, His Laws, His Ordinances and His Statutes.
I Kings 8:16 ‘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.’ -> This is what Father told David when David had designs to build a house for Father back in II Samuel 7:1-6.
I like the parallel chapter to this--II Chronicles 6--and the way it reads there: II Chronicles 6:5 Since the day that I brought forth My People out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel: [6:6] But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel. -> Remember two things here brethren: (1) the Book of Kings is from man's point of view, whereas, the Book of Chronicles is from Father's; and (2) another reason for the difference is a copyist error, in other words, the scribe, when he was copying, saw, "I have chosen David", therefore he went on from there and omited "But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there".
8:17 The house.
I Kings 8:17 And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. -> Yes, it had been in David's heart to build a house for Father, he decided he wanted to do this as he sat in his own house, and he looked out his palace window and saw the tent Tabernacle out in the courtyard. Father had told him then that he had shed too much blood; so, he could not build a house for Father, however, his son Solomon could and would.
8:18 Words of and to YHVH.
I Kings 8:18 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. -> Though Father would not allow David to build Him a house, it still pleased Him that David thought so much of Father that he wanted to build a house for Him.
8:19 Words of and to YHVH.
I Kings 8:19 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.’ -> Again, it was because David had shed so much blood as a warrior fighting for Israel's defense that he was not allowed to build a house for Father (I Chronicles 22:8). This doesn't mean murder, though for sure David had had someone murdered--Uriah the Hittite, Bath-sheba's husband--but, because David had shed so much blood during battle to secure Israel's safety (I Chronicles 28:3).
8:20 The house.
I Kings 8:20 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. -> With Solomon's acknowledgment here of Father keeping His Promise, he is actually pleasing Father, and therefore, Blessing Him as well.
8:21 The house.
I Kings 8:21 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.” -> The Covenant was made hundreds of years before Father led our forefathers up, out of their bondage to the Egyptians, He made this Covenant with Abram even before He changed Abram's name to Abraham. Therefore, the covenant which Solomon is referencing here are the two stone tables of the Law, in other words, the Ten Commandments which were already spoken of in verse v8:9 above.
8:22 Station.
I Kings 8:22 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: -> Solomon stood=This is in reference to Solomon's position and not his posture, i.e. he is actually kneeling toward the altar of Burnt Offering and facing away from the congregation of Israel with his hands spread in a very humble posture, we know this because in verse v8:54 below we'll read there, that, after Solomon finishes this prayer, he then rises from his kneeling position before congregation. We can also read in the parallel chapter II Chronicles 6:12-13 that he was indeed kneeling: II Chronicles 6:12 And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands: [6:13] For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven,.
8:23-53 Prayer.
8:23-53 THE PRAYER. (Division.)
8:23-30 General. YHVH and himself.
8:23-30 GENERAL. (Alternation.)
8:23 YHVH’S faithfulness.
I Kings 8:23 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: -> There is no God like Thee=Solomon is correct in that there is no God like YHVH ELOHIM, and that is because there is only one God, and one Creator of all things; any and all other "gods" (lower case "g") are only fictitious and a figment of man's imagination. Father ELOHIM Created us all, every single one of us, we are all His children and He plays no favorites; however, He did choose one set of people to bring forth Himself in the flesh, and that People: is Israel. That seedline started with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Solomon is also correct in that our Father is faithful and does keep the Promises He has made to us. It is we, His children, who lack this same faithfulness to Him as, we usually fail to live up to, and meet the conditions, and yes, Solomon did point out the condition in this verse: "...that walk before Thee with all their heart:".
8:24 YHVH’S faithfulness.
I Kings 8:24 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. -> Solomon is thanking and commending Father for always being so faithful in keeping and fulfilling each and every Promise He makes to His children.
8:25 Solomon’s plea.
I Kings 8:25 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.’ -> Solomon is pouring out his heart to Father, and he is asking Him to continue to fulfill His promise which He made with David that, as long as we His children continue to meet His condition, Israel will exist and there will be a man of the lineage of David sitting upon that throne. Solomon at this point in his life already had a son, and therefore, he could see that Father was indeed keeping His Promise.
Of course, the line to the throne, or "the king line" would continue through Solomon, however, the seedline to Father in the flesh—Jesus Christ—would continue through another of David’s children: Nathan as can be read in Luke 3:31.
8:26 Solomon’s plea.
I Kings 8:26 And now, O God of Israel, let Thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which Thou spakest unto Thy servant David my father. -> There are several words to look more closely at in this verse; the first is the word “word,” in the Strong’s Concordance this is Hebrew word number H1697 - דּבר, - dâbâr, pronounced - daw-bawr', and means: From H1696; a word; by implication a matter (as spoken of) of thing; adverbially a cause: - act, advice, affair, answer, X any such (thing), + because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X commune (-ication), + concern [-ing], + confer, counsel, + dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, + eloquent, errand, [evil favoured-] ness, + glory, + harm, hurt, + iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter, message, [no] thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, + please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some [uncleanness], somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that, X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings, what [-soever], + wherewith, which, word, work., now let’s look at the second; this is one is the word “verified.” And in the Strong’s it Hebrew word number H539 - אמן, - 'âman, pronounced - aw-man', and means: A primitive root; properly to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; morally to be true or certain; once (in Isa_30:21; by interchange for H541) to go to the right hand: - hence assurance, believe, bring up, establish, + fail, be faithful (of long continuance, stedfast, sure, surely, trusty, verified), nurse, (-ing father), (put), trust, turn to the right.. So, what Solomon is asking—some Codices such as the Septuagint and the Syriac even have it written here: I beseech Thee—Father here is, that, He make His Promises (Word) permanent (verified).
O God of Israel=Solomon is addressing Father ELOHIM in His role of Creator of all things, though the Septuagint, the Syriac and hhe Vulgate were translated and written "YHVH ELOHIM."
8:27 YHVH’s immensity.
I Kings 8:27 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? -> Solomon is again being very humble before Father. Here he even states that it was Father Who created the earth and all the heavens which surround the earth, and if He created them, how could they possibly contain Him.
8:28-30 Solomon’s plea.
I Kings 8:28 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: -> Notice that, though it is Solomon speaking and pouring out his heart to Father, he isn't asking solely for himself; no, he is asking for all the People of Israel; and not only them even, for, he is even asking--as we'll discover as we continue reading--for anybody, meaning the stranger, or foreigner--who comes to Jerusalem to worship Father.
If only Solomon had stayed this humble before Father and not turned to the other false gods, the gods of his wives; but, as he'll admit nine verses from this verse, in verse 8:39, Father is the only God Who knows the hearts of man.
I Kings 8:29 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. -> Here Solomon is asking Father that He keep His eyes toward the Temple built for Him, in order that, whenever somebody comes near unto the Temple to Pray to Him, or if they even turn their eyes toward His Temple in Prayer, then He hear their Prayer, and we'll read in the next verse, that Solomon goes so far to ask the He answer the supplication accordingly.
This should put you in mind of the prophet Daniel, where, as we can read in the Book named after him, we read in Daniel 6:10 that he looked toward Jerusalem and kneeled and Prayed to Father three times a day, for which he was thrown into the lion's den and the Angel of the LORD saved him.
For us today, we no longer need to turn toward Jerusalem to talk to Father as, He is no longer in Jerusalem, He is on His throne in heaven.
I Kings 8:30 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. -> Solomon asked in the last verse that Father keep His eyes toward His Temple in order that when His Children turn toward His Temple and pour out their supplications to Him, that He hear. Now he is asking that when He does hear; He also answer, and if the Prayer asks for His forgiveness, then He forgive also.
Solomon knows that every man falls short of the Glory of Father and sins; therefore he is rightly seeking and asking Father to forgive us when we do.
8:31-53 Special. The people.
8:31-53 SPECIAL. THE PEOPLE. (Introversion and Repeated Alternation.)
8:31 Subject.
8:31 Individual.
8:31 “Hear thou”.
I Kings 8:31 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: -> We can see in this portion of Solomon's Prayer that he has followed Father's Word and written his own copy of "The Law." I say this because, as we read in this verse, he is quite familiar with the Law, and here he specifically addresses "the sins and tresspass offerings required thereof" of Leviticus 5; wherein, if somebody were to make a vow before Father and then failed to fulfill that vow, not only were they guilty, there was a specific penalty which was required to be paid.
8:32 Individual.
I Kings 8:32 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. -> Solomon asks Father that, when those who does love Father and follow after His Commandments, Judgments, laws, Ordinances adn Statutes come against those who do, then, Father bring back upon their own head, the judgments and punishments they are due according to Father's Law.
Brethren, we don't have to concern ourselves with Father repaying the wicked as, He knows all and sees all, and He will revisit the evil acts the wicked do, He even tells us of such in Psalms 37: Psalms 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. -> See, we just have to be patient and not concern ourselves, don't allow the wicked to consume your thoughts, Father has everything they do recorded in the Book of Life and He'll take care of them. [37:20] But the wicked shall perish, And the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: They shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. -> On the last day of Jesus' 1,000 year Millennium is the Great White Throne Judgment, and if they hadn't learned and still refuse to love Father, then into the Lake of Fire they go and will be remembered no more. [37:34] Wait on the LORD, and keep His way, And He shalt exalt thee to inherit the land: When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. -> The righteous will see the wicked cut off, in other words, we'll see them cast into the Lake of Fire.
8:33 Subject.
8:33 National.
I Kings 8:33 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: -> Solomon is Praying and asking Father--and in a sense, reminding Father of His Promise, as He told us to do in Isaiah: Isaiah 43:26 Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.--that when the sinner becomes oppressed because of his sins against Father, and then turns from their sins and toward the Temple and asks Father to forgive them; then, Father be faithful in remembering His Promise and indeed forgive the sinner his sin, and bring them out of their bondage. See, it isn't Father Who needs reminding of His Promise, it's we sinners, and, you can only know of the Promise if you have read and are familiar with His Word.
What does Father also promise us in His Word, in "The Law," the first five Books of His Word? We can read in both Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 of the Blessings we can expect and receive if we do, follow, and obey His Commandments, Judgments, Laws, Ordinances and Statutes; and we can also expect the cursings and punishments should we choose to not do, follow and obey them.
8:34 “Hear thou”.
8:34 National.
I Kings 8:34 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. -> This is very prophetic of Solomon in that, sadly, it will be he who causes Israel to sin by his marrying his 700 wives and 300 concubines, and then in order to please them, worships their false gods, angering Father to the point of dividing the Nation in two. Both Houses; the House of Israel first, and then the House of Judah, go into captivity because they committed idolatry. The House of Judah does finally turn to Father and ask Him to return them to their lands, and He does; but, sadly, because of the kenites they will keep amongst them, they'll again commit their sin and basically "fall off the map" for approximately 400 years, until the time of the New Testament.
This also shows us pretty much what transpired from the First Earth Age: Father moved us out of the Promised Land--First Earth Age--and into this land--Flesh Age--however, He will again bring us back into The Promised Land--the Third Earth Age, otherwise known as the eternity; which comes to fruition after Jesus' 1,000 year Millennial reign.
8:35 Subject.
8:35 National.
I Kings 8:35 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: -> So in other words, Solomon is asking Father that, when His Children err and commit sin; but, then, realize they have indeed committed a sin, and, turn from that sin, and humble themselves, repent and ask for forgiveness; then Father, forgive them their sin.
No rain=This too will actually come to pass in the not too distant future, after Solomon returns Home to Father, we’ll read of when we come to I Kings 17 and following. Father had told Moses in Leviticus 26:19 to tell the Israelites that if they were not hearers, doers and followers of His Commandments, Judgments, Laws, Ordinances and Statutes; then He would set His face against them, and do amongst other things, turn their heaven as iron and their earth as brass. Anyway, as King Ahab begins his reign over the House of Israel, of course Ahab’s father king Omri had committed more evil than all the previous kings of Israel before him; and now his son Ahab picks up right where he left off, and he commits even more abominations than his father; therefore, Our Father YHVH brings a condition of no rain or even a night dew upon the earth, this lasts for into the third year when we come to one of my favorite Chapters in Father’s Word: I Kings 18. The drought will end upon Father’s acceptance of Elijah’s Offering, after all 850 of Jezebel’s false prophets and presets of baal could not convince baal to accept their offering and then make it rain. Of course baal could not accept their offering because baal is a false, imaginary god (lower case “g”). More on this when we get to I Kings 18.
8:36 Subject.
8:36 National.
I Kings 8:36 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. -> Father tells us to not only be hearers and doers of His Commandments; but, teachers as well, and if we do, then He will bestow upon us His Blessings.
Give them rain upon thy land=Not only will Father provide the nourishing rain to sustain His People, their herds and their crops; He will also provide the former rain and the latter rain, that Spiritual Rain of Deuteronomy 11: Deuteronomy 11:11 But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: -> At the end of these next few verses we’ll read of the condition that Father places on receiving the benefits of the following verses, as it always is, Father does attach conditions to everything, and we—His Children—must meet in order to receive His Blessings; and, here in this verse we see that we can expect to receive the Life Giving Water that we need to sustain us not only while in these flesh bodies; but, to sustain us Spiritually as well. Brethren, have you had your eyes and ears opened to receive the Truth in Father’s Word? [11:12] A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year. -> It doesn't matter whether you work in agriculture or not, Father is with you in your work or profession when you strive to follow His ways. It is up to you whether you take an advantage of His promises and blessings to you; again, He tells us in Isaiah 43:26 to remind Him of His Promises, not because He doesn’t remember them; but, to see if you have read His Word and know them. [11:13] And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, -> Here again, is another condition. Sadly, far too many preachers today say that Father’s love and His Blessings are unconditional, and that is just not true, time and again in His Word we can read of His conditions which must be met. [11:14] That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. -> Here is that Spiritual Rain, otherwise known as the Former Rain and the Latter Rain. The Former Rain prepares our minds to receive His Truths, so that when you read or hear the Word it sprouts in your mind, and then buds as you think and mull over what you've just read or heard. It grows on you moderately as the truths (Word of God) takes shape in your mind, and then starts to flower in your life. Your eyes become open, and the Words Father places upon your heart and in your mind start to make sense; whereas, the latter rains are the heavy rains, or the “truth of Father's Word,” which brings you to full maturity, in order to be strong, and stand against any false doctrine, traditions of man, or whatever comes against His Word, and it allows you to mature in Father’s Word in order that you can be of assistance to others around you. [11:15] And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full. [11:16] Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; -> Father will continue to Bless you by providing more of His Truth to you, if you continue to meet His conditions; however: [11:17] And then the LORD'S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you. -> If you turn aside from His truth and no longer accept it as Truth; or, if you begin to follow after man's traditions and false doctrines, He will stop providing you with His Truth. Likewise also, if He gives you a nugget of Truth and you keep that truth and not share it with others; then, again, He'll not give you another. [11:18] Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. -> When He gives you a Truth in His Word, you apply that Truth to your daily life and you continue to Study His Word in order to grow and He'll see from heaven and supply you with More of His Truths. [11:19] And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. -> Teach His Truth to your family, friends and all who'll listen. When you share a Truth, leave it, if they ask for more, continue sharing; however, if they don't ask for more, then leave it for, it is up to Father whether He wants that seed to grow into maturity or not. [11:20] And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: [11:21] That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth. -> These door posts and gates are both literal and figurative as, we are to Study Father's Word in order that we become so familiar with it, that it'll be forever in and on our minds, our path that we should follow as we leave our houses and walk out in the secular world; but, also, yes, we can do as some do and post them on our door posts, the gates of our fences and on the trees of our property so that, as others either drive by, or enter onto our property, they can read them and see that we live for Father, in order that we fulfill His Will in our lives, and thereby be a Blessing to others. [11:22] For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him; [11:23] Then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves. -> Again, if we be doers as well as hears of His Laws, then He will abundantly Bless us with more of His Word and ensuring all our needs are met.
He will teach them the good way=He does this through His Word, it is up to us to pick His Word and Study it. Don't listen to man, listen to Father, don't sit in a pew listening to man's traditions and false teachings, listen to Father and His Truth. They only way you can know whether a man is deceiving you is if you are familiar enough with Father's Word to spot the difference. Remember brethren, how did satan attempt to tempt Jesus in Matthew 4 and Luke 4? With the Word of Father, he knows Father's Word better than most Christians; only, he lies to twist it to where it is of none effect.
8:37 Subject.
8:37 National.
I Kings 8:37 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; -> If there be: (1) famine; (2) pestilence; (3) blasting; (4) mildew; (5) Locust; (6) catepiller and (7) their enemy besiege them. Seven in Biblical numerics is Spiritual Perfection or Completeness. Now, let's break each of these down: let's turn to Leviticus 26 and read how Father says that He will bring upon His Chosen People these plagues: Leviticus 26:27 And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; -> Listen to what Father declares He will do if we walk contrary to Him: [26:28] Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I will chastise you seven times for your sins. -> How will those seven times or plagues be? [26:29] And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. -> Didn’t we just read something about a famine in I Kings 8:37? [26:30] And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you. -> Brethren, we are all Father’s Children, I cannot imagine being abhorred by Him. [26:31] And I will make your cities waste (H1698 - דּבר, - deber, pronounced - deh'-ber, and means: From H1696 [in the sense of destroying]), and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours. -> If we don’t do as He Commands, He won’t even accept our Offering. [26:32] And I will bring the land into desolation (H7711 - שׁדּפון שׁדפה, - shedêphâh or shiddâphôn, pronounced - shed-ay-faw', shid-daw-fone', and means: From H7710 (to scorch); blight, this is also the mildew; or, paleness of the land due to drought spoken of in I Kings 8:37): and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it. -> We are beginning to see some of this come to pass in this country—the United States—today. [26:33] And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste. -> This is happening here in our Country today, look at the flood of Illegal Aliens streaming across our Southern Border and our President and the Democratic Party is complicit and causing this disaster. There is nothing wrong with wanting to come to the USA, people have been migrating to here for well over a hundred years; only, they did it the legal way, and they wanted to assimilate and be productive members of our culture. [26:34] Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths. -> Father first sent the House of Israel into Captivity to the Assyrians, then the House of Judah to the Babylonians, and today, we—the House of Israel—are going into captivity from within our own borders. [26:35] As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it. -> We need to stop being so thick-headed and return our hearts to Father, then and only then can we live in safety and peace; but, all that we’re seeing today, is written in His Word and must come to pass as, they are the beginning birth pangs for the coming Age.
8:38 Subject.
8:38 National.
I Kings 8:38 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: -> Solomon is praying and asking Father if, that, after He brings upon any of His Children, any of the plagues He brings upon them for failing to be hearers and doers of His Word, and His Laws, then will He also hear the cry of His Children and stop the punishment which He brought upon them when they have that change of heart?
Did you notice brethren, that this was two-fold or separate? It first identified, man as an individual, and then the Nation as a whole. So, in other words, even if the Nation as a whole does not return its heart to Father, you as an individual can still return your heart to Him in order to receive His Blessings.
8:39 “Hear thou”.
8:39 National.
I Kings 8:39 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;) -> What a beautiful verse this is; Father, and Father alone is able to read our hearts and minds. He knows what we are thinking as we think it! I guess if you're evil or have designs on doing evil, that isn't such a good thing for you; however, if you walk the path of righteousness; then, yes it is a good thing.
Notice also it is only Father Who can read the hearts and minds of His Children, satan cannot. Therefore, if you have plans to do something and want to seek Father's permission and\or guidance, go to Him in Silent Prayer and He'll hear you and satan will not.
8:40 “Hear thou”.
8:40 National.
I Kings 8:40 That they may fear Thee all the days that they live in the land which Thou gavest unto our fathers. -> That they may fear Thee all the days that they live=Sadly, far too many preachers stick to this mistranslation and leave it at, or, as "fear," instead of properly translating it "revere."
8:41 Subject.
8:41 Individual.
I Kings 8:41 Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of Thy People Israel, but cometh out of a far country for Thy name's sake; -> Here we see Solomon even Praying for foreigners; or, non-Israelites who wish to worship Father.
I like the way this reads in the parallel Chapter II Chronicles 6: II Chronicles 6:32 Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of Thy People Israel, but is come from a far country for Thy great name's sake, and Thy mighty hand, and Thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house; [6:33] Then hear Thou from the heavens, even from 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, and fear Thee, as doth Thy People Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by Thy name. -> Solomon points out exactly what Father wants each and every one of His Children to know and understand: that He is ELOHIM YHVH, that He hears each and every Prayer offered up to Him, and He desires to answer every sincere supplication of His Children. What happens should they come to know that Father is ELOHIM YHVH and they Pray to Him?They receive the same status and benefits that His Children Israel receive. See, He planned and Chose the Eighth Day man: Adam--eth-ha-adam, over His Sixth Day Created man--adam, as the seedline through which He would become flesh manifested in His only begotten Son Jesus Christ; however, other than the fact that He chose eth-ha-adam as the seedline, we are all His Children, and He therefore plays no favorites among us. He just wants us all to know that He and He alone is Creator: ELOHIM.
8:42 Subject.
8:42 Individual.
I Kings 8:42 (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; -> When a Gentile: a foreigner or stranger turns towards Father's House and seeks Him; then, other heathen peoples will see that He has answered the Prayer of one of their own, and they will then know in their heart that Father YHVH is God, and they too will then turn and Pray to Father. Again, this is what Father has always wanted, for all His Children to come to know Him, and to know that He and He alone is ELOHIM YHVH.
8:43 “Hear thou”.
8:43 Individual.
I Kings 8:43 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. -> Whenever His Children turn to Him with a whole heart, He will and does hear their supplication; and He will also answer. Now, that answer may not always be the answer we His Children are looking for; but, He has indeed answered us. He knows what's best for us, He also knows what is coming in our future; therefore, His answer--without our knowing it--maybe for our own safety. Say for instance, I ask for a shiny new sports car, and His answer it that I not get it because I just might decide to drive too fast and hurt or kill myself or another of His Children, I may not like the idea that I was unable to acquire that car, but, I have to realize that it was for my own--or somebody else's--wellbeing.
That all the people of the earth may know Thy name=I am reminded of a verse in the New Testament concerning this, we can read of it in Hebrews 8:10-12: Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: [8:11] And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. [8:12] For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. -> The day is coming when all His Children will know Father is YHVH ELOHIM, and when that day arrives; then no one will have to ask or wonder Who He is, for they will all know beyond a shadow of a doubt.
8:44 Subject.
8:44 National.
I Kings 8:44 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: -> Did you read this verse closely? What did you just read in this verse? "...go out to battle...whithersoever Thou shalt send them..." Father does sometimes send His Chosen People out to battle against another of His Children. Why you might ask? Again, in order that they might come to know that He is YHVH. It is His desire that by their being smitten down and thumped; that, they just might turn to Him and seek Him.
8:45 “Hear thou”.
8:45 National.
I Kings 8:45 Then hear Thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause. -> Solomon is asking that when He sends His People out to wage war against the heathen in order to try and turn them back to Him, and His People Pray for His assistance in their fight to turn the heathen; then He hear their Prayer and indeed lend assistance. Of course, in reality, Solomon need not have asked this for several reasons: (1) Of course He'll be there with them and give assistance, after all, He sent them to try and turn the heathen back to Him in the first place; and (2) as He tells us through Paul in the New Testament: Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee..
Check out the last word in this verse though: "cause:" In the Strong's Concordance, it is Hebrew word number H4941 - משׁפּט, - mishpât, pronounced - mish-pawt', and means: From H8199; properly a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (particularly) divine law, individual or collectively), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly justice, including a particular right, or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style: - + adversary, ceremony, charge, X crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just (-ice, -ly), (manner of) law (-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right, sentence, usest, X worthy, + wrong.. So, in other words, cause as used here means: to execute judgment; so, what Solomon is asking Father to do is, to execute judgment against His and Israel's enemies. Again, the main reason to ensure this happens is so that they turn from the ways of the world to know Him and know that He is YHVH ELOHIM
8:46-48 Subject.
8:46-48 National.
I Kings 8:46 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; -> "(for there is no man that sinneth not)" There was only one man who was sinless in the flesh, and that was Father when He came as His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. No other man can claim this and not just because they all sin; but, because if there were to ba another who was sinless--which there cannot be--then he could claim the same diety as Father. We can also look to the New Testament for further documentation of this: I John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. -> So, in other words we did indeed just deceive ourselves because, if we say we have no sin, then we just lied and sinned., so, we just verified and proved these two verses, I Kings 8:46 and I John 1:8.
"...That they carry them away captives..."=Sadly, because of the man in the flesh speaking here in this verse, this too will come to pass in the future as, first the Nation of Israel will be divided into two separate Nations: House of Israel and House of Judah; and then they continue sinning by worshiping false gods and Father will send both Houses into captivity to other nations their enemy: the House of Israel to the Assyrians and the House of Judah to the Babylonians two hundred years later.
I Kings 8:47 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;’ -> We can again see Solomon's knowledge of "The Law" in his statement here, let's turn to Deuteronomy 30 and read where he is quoting from: Deuteronomy 30:1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee, -> Moses is telling the Israelites that they are going over into the promised land, but in time, Father is going to scatter them around the world into many nations. When you have formed into those nations and settled in your promised lands, you are to remind the people of these laws and statutes that I am giving you. [30:2] And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey His voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; -> What this is telling us is that Father expects us to obey Him because He is our Father, our Creator. As our Creator, Father ELOHIM, He is in charge of your nations, your families, and your lives. That is the reason that we are to teach our children to love the Him with all our heart and with all our souls. Your "heart" is your mind, and that is what you think with, that controls your actions. Your soul is to take command over your flesh body and its desires, and keep yourself under control. The blessing and the cursings that we receive from Father depends upon your choice of obeying Him, or going against Him. Moses is telling us that what we do depends on our choices, and that we are not to blame others for our own choices, you are the one that lives your life. Our Heavenly Father sent this letter to you, and He expects you to read it and retain the knowledge in it; then what you do about it is your business, for you are the one that chooses to receive the blessings or the cursings. [30:3] That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee. -> This verse has not happened yet. The gathering from all the nations happens on the first day of the Millennium when both the House of Israel and the House of Judah shall return to their lands from where they were scattered. Many today look to the few numbers of "Jews," those of the tribe of Judah, with a few Levites, and many Kenites mixed in with them as being Israel. They have lost the identity of themselves, and the House of Israel, those ten tribes to the north of the House of Israel that the Assyrians uprooted and took from their lands. [30:4] If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will He fetch thee: -> Today, we live in the time of space travel, and even if our astronauts are traveling out to a far distant point, at that time of the gathering, their souls will all be brought back for judgment. There is no mistranslation to this word "heaven." We should also think about the gulf in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. That great place in the heavens is where certain souls go until the first day of Jesus' 1,000 Millennial reign. This is all part of how the gathering takes place; to "bring you into captivity" means that Father, through Christ, is going to hold you captive. When you are held captive by Christ, you are in good standing with the Father. That captivity is up to you, whether you will be captive by Christ, to love Him and to be obedient to His ways. However, there is a time when all Father's children will be brought back, and given full understand in their minds, given the right to be obedient or not, and that time is the Millennium age. [30:5] And the Lord thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and He will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. -> At the beginning of the Millennium, when Father brings all souls back into their liable-to-die spiritual bodies, that multiplying will be in wealth and number and not by birth, for there will be no births in the Millennium age, for there will be no flesh. All flesh will be done away with at the time of the sounding of the seventh trump. All flesh will be changed in the wink of an eye into their spiritual bodies, as the angels have, and the things of the flesh will be finished forever: I Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. -> When Christ returns to earth on the "day of the Lord" and sets up His kingdom, there will be no one in their flesh and blood bodies during that kingdom age. [15:51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. -> A "mystery" is something which is not yet known, however once all of the clues are in, and the mystery is revealed, there is no longer a mystery. Paul is going to shew us a mystery that has never been known until its revelation here. "Sleep" as it is used here is to "die," Paul is telling us that there is a time coming in the very near future when those that are alive in their flesh body, will not die. Why, they are going to be changed from their flesh bodies to their incorruptible bodies, which will never age nor get sick. Those bodies are for the thousand year period of the age of Jesus Christ's kingdom here on earth. [15:52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed. -> The change will be instant, faster than you can wink an eye. The time of this change will be "at the last trumpet," the seventh trump, for all the other trumps will have already happened. This change will be after satan and his angels have been cast to the earth, and the world has gone through satan's time of great deception. Those who think they are flying out of here, are going to be part of satan's system, for they will have given themselves over to him. They will have been "taken out of season" even in ignorance, and thus this time of the Millennium age will be a time of discipline for them. At the close of the Millennium age, they will be saved by their works through that thousand year period, and that only is what will determine their eternal live. When anyone is taken by satan and worships him as the Christ during the time of the sixth trump, the time of grace is not extended to them. When you "take the mark of the beast, the name and number of the beast, and worship the image of the beast," you give up your right to grace, if it is done in ignorance. However, if you do it knowing full well what you have done, there is no hope for you. That is the unforgivable sin. In the Millennium age, Ezekiel 39-48 gives us the layout of the land with the Temple being the center of that kingdom. Let’s return to Deuteronomy 30: [30:6] And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. -> This is the Old Testament that we are reading of, that this is exactly what happens as part of the New Testament. Circumcision of the Old Testament was for males only, however in the New Testament time the "circumcision is of the heart," of the mind. Circumcision today is for both males and females because it is of the mind, and it has no part in the old blood ritual of the past. Circumcision was part of the blood rituals of the Old Testament, and it acts to show identity and commitment to Father. Circumcision of the heart is to love the Lord thy God with all of your heart. It is done when you tell Father that you love Him, and prove it through your obedience to Him in repentance of your sins in Jesus name. You love Father through the intellect of your mind, which is your own personal spirit. Though your flesh body grows old and in time dies, the soul that is within that physical body never ages, and upon death returns to the father that gave it. Solomon told us this in Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God Who gave it.. [30:7] And the Lord thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee. -> All of these curses which have been discussed in Deuteronomy 27 and 28 will be applied to those that do not love Father. When you do something that goes against His instructions under the law, and you violate that law, the curse for that law will be brought down on you. The choice is yours; you can receive Father's blessings, or His cursings. He is telling you that when you love and obey His laws, He is going to persecute those that do wrong to you.
I Kings 8:48 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: -> See, this isn't hard. We all fall short and sin--though we should not and cannot use that as our reason to commit more sin--;however, all we have to do is return our heart to Him, repent of our sin and ask His forgiveness and He will forgive us. Though we will still have accept the responsibility and pay the penalty for our sins as, that too is part of the acceptance and acknowledgement of our sin.
See any difference in our current president? He is unapologetic and doesn't accept any responsibility for any of his errors, they are all other people's fault. Except for the previous President G.W. Bush--who is his favorite candidate to cast the blame upon--obama has nominated, pushed and fought for every administrative cabinet member who is now come under extreme scrutiny for failure to properly execute and carry-out their assigned duties: Chief of Staff - Rahm Emmanuel; USAG - Eric Holder; Secretary of State - Hillary Clinton; Secretary of Defense - Robert Gates; Secretary of Defense - Leon Panetta; Secretary of Commerce - John Bryson; Interior Secretary - Ken Salazar; Director of Exempt Organizations of the IRS - Lois Lerner; Department of Home land Security - Kathleen Sebelius, Special Advisor for “Green Jobs” - Vann Jones; Secretary of Education - Arne Duncan, Veterans Administration Chief - Eric Shinseki, amongst others. The only One obama hasn't yet blamed for his--obama's--errors is Father, good thing for him too.
8:49-53 “Hear thou”.
8:49-53 National.
I Kings 8:49 Then hear Thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven Thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause, -> Their cause=Here again we see that Solomon is asking Father to execute His judgment upon those who do unrighteously against His Children.
I Kings 8:50 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: -> As Solomon is pointing out; we must repent and have a change of heart and then ask Father to forgive us our sins, and then He will indeed hear in heaven and do so. This is also a Promise from Father, He told Moses this very thing in Leviticus 26:40-42: Leviticus 26:40 If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; -> When Jesus gave up His Spirit on the cross, Father rent the vail from top to bottom, and now, we no longer have to go through a man to seek Father for His forgiveness, we can go boldly to Him and confess our sins before Him. [26:41] And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: -> Those that humble themselves will He exhalt; and those who exhalt themselves will He Humble. Yes, we can boldly enter before Him; however, humble your heart and confess your sins and be forgiven. [26:42] Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. -> Have you claimed this Promise?
I Kings 8:51 For they be Thy People, and Thine inheritance, which Thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron: -> Furnace of iron=This has a two-fold meaning: (1) it is symbolic of the affliction Israel suffered while in their captivity to first the Egyptians, and then all the nations around them when Father brought them into the Promised Land and they forsook Him; and (2) it is also representative of the furnace that Israel used for smelting iron, not that it was made of iron.
I Kings 8:52 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. -> When we call upon His name He hears, it is easy to go to Him; again, this is what He wants of us, but, it must be done with a contrite and a repentive heart.
I Kings 8:53 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.” -> Yes, Father did separate His People Israel--the eighth day creation: eth-ha-adam--from all the other races of people: the sixth day creation. Most people, because of listening to false translations don't know or realize that they are separate, He chose to separate them in order for Him to come through, not just and seed line, but a peculiar seed line, the eth-ha-adam seed line. We don't hear of the other races unless specifically mentioned, or unless Israel has some contact with them. It's simple and makes common sense when you sit down and think about it.
I enjoyed reading this in the parallel chapter II Chronicles 6, especially the way Dr. Bullinger has it laid out in his Companion Bible: II Chronicles 6:39 Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee. [6:40] Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. [6:41] Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness. [6:42] O LORD God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant..
To be Thine inheritance=Do you hear that brethren, we are co-inheritors of every one of Father's Promises, so long as we meet the conditions.
LORD GOD=This is Father in His role of Adonai YHVH. Adonai is YHVH in His relation to the earth; and as carrying out His purposes of blessing in the earth. With this limitation it is almost equivalent to YHVH. Indeed, it was from an early date so used, by associating the vowel points of the word YHVH with Adon, thus converting Adon into Adonai. A list of 134 passages where this was deliberately done is preserved and given in the Massorah (107-115). (See Ap. 32) We have indicated these by printing the word like YHVH, putting an asterisk, thus: LORD*..
8:54 Station.
I Kings 8:54 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. -> "...he arose...from kneeling on his knees=This again shows and corrects verse v8:22 above where it states: "And Solomon stood before the altar..." Solomon completely humbled himself before Father until he finished his prayer; then he arose from off his knees, sadly, this will be one of the last times he is this humble before Father. It won't be too long from now that he'll start getting "the big head" and think so highly of himself that he'll feel it necessary to accumulate wives unto himself and as he does so, he'll allow them to bring with them their false gods, which in the future, he'll worship too. This is what causes Father to become angry with him, for, no only does he and his wives and concubines worship them; but, the Nation will follow the lead of their king and also start to worship other false gods. Father then tells Solomon that He is going to rend the kingdom in two; but, that He won't do it while Solomon is yet king, but after he returns Home to Father when his son Rehoboam is over the kingdom.
8:55 Station.
I Kings 8:55 And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying, -> After finishing his prayer and standing on his feet; Solomon now turns and addresses the congregation.
8:56-61 Blessing.
8:56-61 THE BLESSING. (Introversion.)
8:56 The faithfulness of YHVH. Celebrated.
8:56 Retrospective. Praise.
I Kings 8:56 “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. -> Father has never broken a Promise to any of His Children, again, it is only we who have failed Father and not kept up our end. He told Abram that He was going to send Abram's seed down into Egypt for 400 hundred years and then bring them back out again - Promise kept, He promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that their offspring would be as numerous as the stars of the heavens and the sands in the sea - Promise kept; He Promised that so long as we worship Him, then things would be OK for us - Promise kept, He Promised to send His only Begotten Son, He Himself in the flesh - Promise Kept; He Promised to go to the cross in order to forgive us of all our sins in order that we live with Him in eternity - Promise Kept.
8:57-60 Prospective. Prayer.
I Kings 8:57 The LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers: let Him not leave us, nor forsake us: -> Father will never leave or forsake His Children. This is again, another Promise that Father has fulfilled to this time of Solomon's reign, and Solomon is calling it to the People's rembrance from several different times in the past: first made to Jacob for a "Covenant of Grace" in Genesis 28:15; to our forefather's as they began their journey into the Promised Land in
Deuteronomy 31:6; to be with Joshua during conflict in Joshua 21:5,8; to Solomon for work in I Chronicles 28:20; and one not in Solomon's past which we can look to for us which Paul told us of for our daily provision in Hebrews 13:5-6.
I Kings 8:58 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. -> Incline our hearts unto Him=We can turn back to the Book of Leviticus to where Father also made this Promise to Israel: Leviticus 26:3 If ye walk in My statutes, and keep My commandments, and do them; -> Notice this verse immediately starts with a condition: "if?" If the Israelites--and we too brethren--meet Father's conditions; then He will fulfill His Promised Covenant that He is about to make with Israel, and us today too. [26:4] Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. -> If we meet His condition, then He will provide for us, life sustaining rain in order for us to water our livestock and crops, and ourselves too; and He'll also provide us with both the former rain and the latter rain so we can be fulfilled Spiritually as well. [26:5] And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. -> When we plant our crops, He'll ensure they grow to the full in order that we never go hungry, He'll also ensure that neither beast, nor man come to steal our crops and we can live in safety. [26:6] And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. -> We will never have to be afraid because He will keep "the watch" over us to ensure nothing comes against us; therefore, we will always live in peace. [26:7] And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. -> Any who try and come against us we will chase and they will flee in terror. [26:8] And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. -> Can you imagine? Five of us will cause an hundred to flee in terror and an hundred will cause ten thousand to flee for their lives. [26:9] For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish My covenant with you. -> So much in this verse! If we hear, obey and follow His Commandments, Judgments, Laws, Ordinances and Statutes, then; He will have repsect toward us! Think about that brethren, Father will have respect towards us. He'll also establish and keep His Covenant with us. He also says here that He'll multiply us and make us fruitful, in other words He'll Bless our wombs in order that we will never fail to have offspring. But, we see an important prospect here: it is Father Who Blesses our wombs and any woman--or man who supports--who decides to have an abortion, is not only killing a living child inside her; but, rejecting Father's Blessing as well. [26:10] And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new. -> Their--and our, I mean, after all we here in the United States are the descendants of the House of Israel--food supply would be so plenteous that they would have enough to see them through the remainder of the year and then some. We here in the United States for many years watched this come to pass as, we had so much that we were able to feed the world. [26:11] And I will set My tabernacle among you: and My soul shall not abhor you. -> Solomon is seeing this Promise fulfilled this day, in a monent he'll literally witness Father accept his offerings and then move into and dwell in the house he built for Him. [26:12] And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be My People. -> Father is telling us this is how it was and will be again when we are all Home with Him, what a beautiful thought! [26:13] I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright. -> Again, Solomon and all Israel know this Promise was fulfilled when He did bring their--and our--forefathers up out of their bondage to the Egyptians. Why did He send them down into Egypt to being with? To get the Egyptian attention so that they too would know that He is YHVH ELOHIM, and there is none else! He created every one of us who walk in the flesh and He did so millions and millions of years ago when He first created us in our spiritual body. His and our adversary satan rebelled and led others to do the same, therefore He destroyed that Age to bring in this flesh Age and when everyone of His Children are born--or at least have had the opportunity to be--in the flesh, then He will close out this Age by having Michael kick satan and his angels out of heaven to come and deceive the while world, and after he is here doing so, then Christ will return and close it out, ushering in His 1,000 year Millennial reign.
I Kings 8:59 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: -> At all times=In other words, day-by-day, and not only day-by-day; but, day and night, every day will Father be nigh--kaw-robe' in the Hebrew, meaning near unto, or allied with--unto us if we be nigh unto Him to be hearers, doers and followers of His Commandments and righteousness.
I Kings 8:60 That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else. -> Hear this verse clearly brethren, for it truly is as Solomon states here: "That all the People of the earth may know that the LORD is GOD, and that there is none else.". This is exactly what Father desires: that all His Children come to know and understand this!
8:61 The faithfulness of His People. Exhortation.
I Kings 8:61 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.” -> Perfect=Check out this word in the Hebrew, in the Strong's Concordance it is Hebrew word number H8003 - שׁלם, shâlêm, pronounced - shaw-lame', and means: From H7999; complete (literally or figuratively); especially friendly. (shalem used by mistake for a name.): - full, just, made ready, peaceable, perfect (-ed), quiet, Shalem [by mistake for a name], whole.. You could also easily insert or replace this word with the word loyal, as, this is what Solomon is driving at: "Let your heart be loyal to YHVH only," as we cannot worship Him and any of the false gods that man has created in his own mind.
8:62-64 Worship.
I Kings 8:62 And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the LORD. -> Offered a sacrifice=Let’s look at both words "offered" and "sacrifice" first: “offered,” in the Strong’s Concordance it is Hebrew word number H2076 - זבח, - zâbach, pronounced - zaw-bakh', and means: A primitive root; to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice): - kill, offer, (do) sacrifice, slay., and now “sacrifice,” it in the Strong’s is Hebrew worn number H2077 - זבח, - zebach, pronounced - zeh'-bakh, and means: From H2076; properly a slaughter, that is, the flesh of an animal; by implication a sacrifice (the victim or the act): - offer (-ing), sacrifice.. Did you notice the similarity between the two words, and also that they were sequentially numbered? So, in other words, they sacrificed sacrifices; and not only did they just sacrifice sacrifices; but, as we'll read in a moment, the amount of sacrifice was enormous.
I Kings 8:63 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. -> Solomon offered up Offerings of thanks to Father for the peace that Israel is currently enjoying; but, also, Prayer for future peace as well. Remember, Solomon has reigned over Israel for twenty plus years, and has enjoyed peace from all Israel's enemies the entire time, plus, during the last few years of his father's reign as king, Israel also had peace from all her enemies; therefore, this Peace Offering as we see, is very, very abundant.
Two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep=Several things to note concerning this sacrifice: (1) as we'll read shortly, this didn't take place during one day, this dedication ceremony actually lasted a full two weeks. Remember, this is taking place--as we read in verse v8:2 above--during the month of ethanim, or as we know it: Tisri, the very month of the Blowing of the Trumpets, Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles; (2) it shows the entire Nation of Israel and not just the heads of the tribes were present, as, when they slaughtered an animal for sacrifice, they didn't waste any of it as that would have been an abomination to Father, therefore we know that every bit of these sacrifices were consumed as their meals and therefore proves everybody was there; (3) all the Priests we present as well, and there we multiple sacrifices taking place at the same time, can you imagine, the priests and the temple servants--read that, the nethinim--were extremely busy the entire time; (4) Father had Blessed Israel abundantly, I mean, they slaughtered for this sacrifice, 142,000 animals and you know they wouldn't have slaughtered all they had, they were very wealthy. Why? Because they were obedient to Father in loving and worshipping Him, sadly, it turns south and all goes down hill from here; and (5) 142,000 animals were sacrificed; so, let's look at this number 142,000. 142,000 is made up of 22,000 plus 120,000. So, let’s break down these two numbers, beginning with 22,000: “Twenty two being the double of eleven, has the significance of that number in an intensified form,—disorganization and disintegration, especially in connection with the Word of God. For the number two is associated with the second person of the Godhead, the living Word. It is associated with the worst of Israel's kings,—Jeroboam (1 Kings 14:20), and Ahab (1 Kings 16:29), each reigning 22 years. Eleven, we have seen, derives its significance by being an addition to Divine order (10), and a subtraction from Divine rule (12). These are two of the three ways in which the written Word of God can be corrupted—the third being alteration. "The words of the LORD are pure words"—words pertaining to this world and therefore requiring to be purified (see p. 169). But these words have been altered, taken from, and added to by man. Is there anything in this which connects it with the fact that the letters of the alphabet (Hebrew) are twenty-two in number? Does it point to the fact that the revelation of God in being committed to human language and to man's keeping would thereby be subject to disintegration and corruption?”. Now onto One Hundred Twenty: “One Hundred Twenty is made up of three forties (3x40=120). Applied to time therefore it signifies a divinely appointed period of probation, Genesis 6:3. Applied to persons it points to a divinely appointed number during a period of waiting, Acts 1:15. It is a factor also in the number of those who returned from Babylon, 42,360, being 120 x 353. It is also a factor of the number of the men who went up out of Egypt, 600,000, being 120 x 5000. It is a factor also of the 144,000 who will be sealed from the Twelve Tribes of Israel to go unscathed through the great tribulation, 144,000, being 120 x 1200. The unanimous voice of Jewish tradition agrees with the Talmud that "the Great Synagogue" (Nehemiah 10:1-10) consisted of 120 members. "It was called 'Great" because of the great work it effected in restoring the Divine law to its former greatness, and because of the great authority and reputation which it enjoyed." Its greatest work was in completing the Canon of the Old Testament. The Great Synagogue lasted about 110 years, from BC 410-300, or from the latter days of Nehemiah to the death of Simon the Just. It then passed into the Sanhedrim, when its whole constitution was changed.”. One Hundred Forty Four is also a sum of 12 X 12, with of course 12 denoting Governmental Perfection.
We can read in II Chronicles 7:1 that, as soon as Solomon was finished offfering up his Prayers to Father, "fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifices," well, Father can say it better than I can, so, let's go and read it: II Chronicles 7:1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. -> Had I continued on to the next verse here in II Chronicles 7, we would have read that the priests couldn't enter into the Temple because of the Glory of Father filling it. A sure sign that He had indeed accepted the Offerings and Sacrifices, and also by His manifesting glorying filling the House, a sure sign that He accepted the Temple as well.
I Kings 8:64 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. -> As soon as Solomon finished the dedication of the altar of YHVH, he then went out to the Middle Court and dedicated the it as well. As soon as that Offerings were offered, then the Middle Court became an Holy area.
Again, with as many people that were there for the dedication ceremony, with all their Offerings be Sacrificed, there were too many for just the one altar; therefore, additional altars had to be erected and utilized.
I Kings 8:65 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. -> All the people from the extreme north to the extreme south, east and west came to join in on this Dedicating of the Temple. All the House of Israel was there, over a million people, hence so many Offerings being made and so many animals being sacrificed.
Fourteen days the Feasts went on; the first seven for the Dedication ceremony and the second seven for the Feast of Tabernacles.
I Kings 8:66 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. -> The people of the Nation were very pleased and happy that Father had Blessed them with such good kings as David and to this point Solomon too. Remember also, that it hasn't been too long since Father appeared to Solomon in the dream and bestowed upon him the wisdom Father ahd Blessed him with, and the people remember and know this too.
Again, we can read all this a little more clear in the parallel chapter II Chronicles 7: II chronicles 7:1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. [7:2] And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house. [7:3] And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. [7:4] Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. [7:5] And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. [7:6] And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood. [7:7] Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat. [7:8] Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt. [7:9] And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. [7:10] And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people. -> So, as we see, once Solomon finished offering up his Prayers and initial Offerings, Father consumed them by fire, then Father filled the Temple and the priests could not enter because His Glory filled it and as soon as all the People saw Father fill the Temple they fell onto their faces and worshipped Him, then they started sacrificing and offering the 142,000 animals for the dediction ceremony, and also celebrated with the playing of music. This all transpired between the 8th-14th Ethanim (Tisri) and then began the Feast of Tabernacles on the 15th-21st. On the 22nd of Ethanim there was a solemn assembly of which we can read of in Leviticus 23:39 and Numbers 29:35-38, then Solomon sent every body home on the morning of the 23rd.
Jul 2014