I Kings 8:22-30
“And Solomon stood before the altar” (v. 22). The altar which Solomon stood before was the altar upon which burnt offerings were offered up to the Lord. The altar was constructed of stones not hewn by man. The smoke rising from the altar serves as a picture of prayer ascending to the Lord in heaven. At the altar and in the presence of “all the congregation of Israel,” Solomon extended his hands toward heaven and prayed.
The words that issued forth from Solomon’s lips were “Lord God of Israel” (v. 23). The Lord God of Israel is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Solomon addresses the Lord God. Solomon’s words, however, are for the ears of all the congregation of Israel — all who are joined to the Lord through the covenant of the law. The Lord God wants His people to know there is no God like the Lord their God. The Lord God wants His people to know that He keeps the covenant (His promises) and that He extends mercy to His servants — to them who walk before Him with all their heart.
In verse 24, Solomon’s words reveal that he knows God as the Lord God who has kept His promises to “thy servant David” (Solomon’s father). Again, the Lord God wants all the congregation of Israel to know the Lord God is faithful to keep His every promise. The promise to David which was fulfilled “this day” is found in II Samuel 7:13. The Lord promised David that his seed would build a house for “my name.” Every word which is recorded between verse 23 and verse 61 is the prayer of dedication of the house for the Lord which Solomon finished building in the eleventh year of his reign (I Kings 6:38).
In II Samuel 7:12, the Lord told Nathan that He (the Lord) would establish the kingdom of David’s seed after David’s death. The promised seed would build a house for the Lord’s name. Solomon became king of Israel before David died (see I Kings 1:43). Solomon built a house for the Lord. Solomon, however, could not be the promised seed of David whose kingdom would be established after David’s death unless the Lord would establish his kingdom forever. Solomon’s kingdom was divided immediately after his death and ceased to exist in any form after Babylon conquered the kingdom of Judah.
Solomon, in his prayer, reveals that he knew that his kingdom would not endure forever unless “thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me” (v. 25). David is the “thy” and “thou” of verse 25 to whom God spoke. David was not without sin. David walked in faith, believing the Lord God. For Solomon (whom David made king before he died) to be the promised builder of God’s house, Solomon and all who would reign after him would need to walk as David walked.
New Testament believers take note. We are children of the King, the promised Son of David, who is the foundation and cornerstone of God’s house (the kingdom of heaven) and whose kingdom is forever. We walk, as David walked, believing and standing upon God’s every promise. In verse 26, Solomon asks God to verify all that which He promised David. Again, New Testament believers take note. We are testimony of the verification for which Solomon prayed. Again, we are children of the King whose kingdom is forever. History attests to the fact that the lineage of David through Solomon failed to walk as David walked and Solomon’s kingdom ended with the rise of Babylon some five hundred years later.
After confessing that the house which he had built to be totally inadequate to serve as God’s dwelling place (v. 27), Solomon prays that the Lord God be attentive to the prayers of His people who would lift up petitions to Him from this house and this place.
“Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication” (v. 28). Solomon counts himself as a servant of the Lord God. Servants of the Lord God do as the Lord God directs. The words of Solomon’s prayer have been placed before us at God’s direction. The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, guides believers such that we might read and hear that which the Lord would have us to understand.
Solomon, servant of the Lord, asks: “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” (v. 29). The Lord desires that we, New Testament believers, know that it is the desire of His servant’s heart that “this house” (the house which His servant built) should be subject to the Lord’s attention, day and night. The Lord intends that all should note that the house which Solomon built is where “My name shall be.” The Lord God wants believers to know the Lord’s dwelling place is where His name (Yaweh) is.
A thought for believers — The Comforter resides within all who have called upon the name of Jesus (Yaweh saves), believing.
Solomon, additionally, asks that the Lord to hear “the supplication of thy servant” and of “thy people Israel” — that the Lord hear and forgive (v. 30). A prayer to God asking forgiveness is a request that the Lord not look upon one’s sin. Genesis 3:21 reveals that Adam did not physically die on the day in which he ate the forbidden fruit. Adam did not die because he accepted the covering which God provided. God does not see the sin of them who have received His covering. Prayers asking the Lord to forgive are, effectually, pleas for Him to provide an acceptable covering.
Isaiah 53:11-12 reveals that the blood of “my righteous servant” is the acceptable covering which God would provide. The children of Israel were spared death of the first-born in Egypt because they were covered by the blood of the passover lamb.
New Testament believers know that God is not willing that any should perish, that all should come to repentance (II Pet. 3:9). Coming to repentance means casting aside the pursuit of covering one’s self. Repentance means calling upon the name of the Lord and accepting the covering blood of the Lamb.
The Lord would have His people Israel and people of every nation call out, believing, and be eternally covered by the blood of His righteous servant.
