The Lord has fulfilled his promise (1 Kings 8; note)

1 King 8:1-9:9

Key Verse 8:20 

1. [1-11] When (2), from where (1), and how (3-5) did Solomon brought the ark of the Lord? Where was it placed and what was inside of it (6-9)? Then what happened (10-11)? Discuss what might be the significance of each of these facts.
   (1) Bringing the Ark to the Temple (8:1–13)

The entire event of the dedication of the temple is comparable to the dedication of the tabernacle (when God came to be with Israel for the first time. : First, it is a continuation of the theme of God being with Israel—all sacrificial system, including the Law of Covenant; second, it differs from the tabernacle that the kingdom has been established by the Lord and God’s name is to reside at a fixed place of God’s choice located at the heart of the kingdom Third,  in the past, the Lord governed directly in and through the tabernacle through the Levitical system of priest/high priest since there was no king. But here God established a king of His own heart and entrust the kingdom in the hand of the King of His choice. The king is to govern the nation and the Lord will give the kingdom/king autonomy through the lordship will be exercised through the Covenant—the fulfillment of God’s promise for His nation and formed the ultimate style of God’s rule over the world. 

When: at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. —this is the time of the feast of the tabernacle. It is significant in four ways: 1) it is the time of harvesting near the end of the year, the final feast of the year. 2) it is the feast to remind them of the life in the wilderness, while enjoying the harvest, the fulfillment of God’s promise for the land, 3) it is the time when the eschatological blessing is born and high. 4) Canaanite calendar- Ethanim, indicates that all nations under Solomon’s rule joined in this celebration—reinforcing the coming of the eschatological time when all nations of the world will come to Jerusalem in the name of the LORD.  

 Where: the temple was built beside the City of David/Zion; the tabernacle was in the city of David and brought to the temple. Later, the city of David and the temple complex are put together called the city of David or Zion.  The city of David has a remarkable history that is associated with the threshing floor of Araunah’s field. David ordered the census of the nation to assess the strength of the nation. This was against God’s will. God inflicted the nation with a disease and 70k people died. As the angel of death came to Jerusalem, particularly to the threshing floor of Araunah, which David bought, God withheld His punishment. This was the place where God withheld his punishment, for the sake of David. Also, this place was thought to be where Abraham sacrificed Isaac, and Abraham gave the tenth to the king of Salem (Gen 14:18-19; Ps 110:4). This was the place where men’s sin and God’s grace met; where God gave life to Abraham, to Isaac, and then to David. 

God did say earlier that Israel must worship only one place which He would choose; According to His Word, the LORD selected this place over all others, as the place where Israel had to come and worship. It is remarkable that God chose the place, the threshing floor of Araunah for God loved David because what He saw in David (8:16b). David legacy is summed up ‘ a man after God’s own heart’; that is to have the fear of the Lord; this fear of the Lord was revealed in three: 1) he grew and displayed his faith as he defeated Goliath, and fought numerous enemies and protected Saul 2) when he committed adultery and murder, he repented and believed the Lord’s forgiveness 3) David was willing to take the punishment of sin on behalf of the nation (2 Sam 24). Solomon knew this legacy more than any other David’s children and inherited the kingship. In other words, the spirit that was in David, the fear of the Lord, must be in all succeeding kings of the nation. The history of the place speaks well of this and God chose this place as the place where He would put his name forever—a clear will to uphold the spirit that was in David as was with Abraham.  

The ark of the Lord: only two tablets of stone were inside of it (it is also noted in 2 Chron 5:10). Both made an emphasis on the fact that there was nothing but these two stone tablets. The importance is that there was nothing but the TEN WORDS in between the LORD and Israel/the nation; The relationship is covenantal and as the Covenant indicates, there will be blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.  The covenantal obedience is in Solomon’s prayer and LORD’s response to his prayer (9:1-9) with great emphasis. 

2. [12-21] In his address to the whole assembly, what did he recognize concerning his work, the Lord’s, and his father David’s (12-19)? What was his point of this address (20-21)? Discuss its significance in regard to God’s promise and His kingdom.
   (2) Solomon’s Thanksgiving (8:14–21)

Until then, God put off of choosing the place where Israel could come and worship. But now the LORD chose David, instead of a particular place, and his heart desired to build a place for the Lord.  In other words, God loved the spirit and faith that David had, which was characterized by the genuine fear of the Lord as mentioned in q1, and by choosing him along with the place that he desired would surely carry the spirit and faith of David. –the full significance of choosing the location of the temple is recognized by Solomon; if we simplify this, it is saying that anyone comes to the temple to meet the Lord, he is to have the same spirit and faith that David had and expressed and God wanted to be honored as David honored the LORD. (12-16)

God honored David’s heart to build the temple but promised to let his son Solomon built the temple. God kept his promise and enable ‘me’ Solomon to do so. (17-20)

Having done so, now the temple will be the place where the ark of God will be placed.  The ark of God is the essence of the Covenant between the LORD and Israel and the temple will be whereby all the Covenant blessings and Covenant curses will be kept, watched and played out (v21). 

3. [22-53] In his prayer to the Lord, what did he recognize about Him (23-24)? What’s his personal request (25-26)?  Based on what (23-24)? What limitation of the temple did he recognize (27)? Despite this limitation of the temple, what plead did he make (28, 29a, 30)?  Based on what (29b)? Find the details of the seven petitions (31-53). What is one theme that flows throughout these petitions?
   (3) Solomon’s Dedication Prayer (8:22–53)

Solomon recognized that the LORD is the only one lord, keeps the covenant of love, and keeps His promises. Also, he recognized the limitation of this temple for it is too small a place for the LORD to dwell. Nevertheless, based on these three trustworthy characters of the LORD, he made seven petitions.  

Few findings to worthy to note: 

1) These petitions may be offered in the temple itself (vv. 31, 33), towards it (vv. 35, 42, 38), towards YHWH’s chosen city (v. 44) and even from exile towards the ‘promised land, the chosen city and the house’ (v. 48). 

2) may be offered by an individual (v. 31), by ‘your people Israel’ (vv. 33, 36, 44, 46), and offered by a foreigner (v. 41), proving that YHWH’s house is indeed a house of prayer for all nations (Isa. 56:7).

3) YHWH’s answer may serve to teach Israel to walk in YHWH’s ways or fear him (v. 36, 40)

4) They ask for YHWH’s forgiveness when Israel comes back to him in repentance (even in lieu of the fact that the covenant ceremony seals the covenant curses). 

5) the seven occasions when they needed petitions: as quoted below, many of these ‘covenant curses’ are listed in Deut 28. 

31–32. I. When a man wrongs a neighbor:

33–34. II. When the nation is defeated (Deut 28:25.48)

35–36. III. Disaster following drought: Deut 28:24 rain

37–40. IV. Other natural disasters: famine, blight, siege : Deut 28:21-22,38,59

41–43. V. The need of non-Jews:

44–45. VI. Success in war

46–51. VII. Defeat-exile in war: Deut 53-63 exile (*AOTC; truncated and modified)

Their failure to keep the covenant was anticipated strongly. It was not a matter of possibility but a certainty as Moses told Israel in Deut. In other words, in repentance, seeking God’s mercy for forgiveness is the main theme. While Leviticus and Deuteronomy focus on individual repentance, here the focus is the nation of which the king plays the most important role (LL) 

4. [54-66] What three blessings did he make for the people (57-59)? Based on what (56)? After prayer, what offerings did he make (62-64)? This is followed by what? How long? Who were the participants (65-66)?
   (4) Solomon’s Blessing (8:54–61)
   (5) Solomon’s Sacrifices (8:62–66)

Solomon asks for three blessings: The LORD be with them (57); He may turn their hearts to Him (58) May Solomon’s prayer may be heard by the LORD (59) He called for these blessing based on the faithfulness of the Lord who gave them rest according to His promise to Moses (56). He sees the entire event of the dedication of the temple as the signature event that speaks of the fulfillment of God’s promise to Moses, providing the land and peace in His blessing in the land—this is the key theme of this section. (LL) 

Solomon sacrificed so many animals; three offerings were given; burnt offering, the grain offering, and fellowship offering. These three are the essential and basic offerings if one comes to the LORD for full acceptance. It begins with the burnt offering, and is followed up with grain offering and must end with the fellowship offering. Why so many sacrifices?  It is my conjecture that most of these were fellowship offerings which are shared with God and people; to celebrate the unity or peace between Israel and the Lord YHWH. (LL) 

5. [9:1-9] When did the Lord appear to him (9:1)? Why (Cf. 9:2; 3:4-15)? What was God’s answer concerning his petition for the temple (3) and concerning his throne (4-7a; Ref. 2 Sam 7; 1 Sam )? Discuss the significance of Solomon’s life for the kingdom and the temple.
   (6) God’s Second Appearance to Solomon (1 Ki 9:1–9)

The LORD appeared to Solomon the second time in response to his prayers at the dedication of the temple. There is a subtle difference from the one he had at Gibeon (3:14-15) in how God gave the message; at that time, the word of the Lord came to Solomon. At this time, God ‘appeared’ and ‘said’, indicating that the force or importance of the message given at this time weighs more than previous ones. This weightiness of this message is in two ways: 

1. God explicitly expressed that He would put His name forever on the temple. 
2. The Lord spent more words in a warning (v6-9; comparing to v4-5) against disobedience. 
3. God goes back to the Covenant and addressed his blessing and his curses.  

As a whole, the dedication of the temple is an emblematic event of the fulfillment of God’s promise given through Moses and then to David. This celebration signifies the fact that the rest that God promised to give to Israel has come. Having finished His work, by establishing His kingdom with the king of His choice, in the land of His blessing, God let His kingdom run herself with an autonomy. The autonomy is not as the king desires or the nation wants but King’s and the nation’s will to follow the LORD’s covenant.  In other words, God wants to sit back and see how their willing heart to serve the Lord would come about. In this sense, this celebration marks a time of transition from the past when the LORD made direct management as the King of the nation, to the time of indirect management through the king of His choice and his descendants. In this regard, the first king, his spirit, his faith in the Lord was so important; Also, the second king Solomon must understand the spirit and faith of the first king for he was the one who carried out what David had in mind. 

If the kings after him would carry the same spirit and attitude toward the Lord? From this point on this will be the main issue. 

*AOTC -Apollo Old testament Commentary