1 Kings 8:1-30
Q.1. What part did God’s people play in bringing the Ark of the Covenant into the Temple? – (1 Kgs.8:1-5)
The heads of the tribes were accompanied by the leaders of the families – to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the city of David, which is Zion (1 Kgs.8:1). Then all the men of Israel joined them, and they came together to King Solomon. With the elders of Israel in attendance –They brought up the ark of the Lord and the tent of meeting and all the holy utensils, which were in the tent, and the priests and the Levites brought them up (1 Kgs.8:4). King Solomon and Israel sacrificed so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted (1 Kgs.8:5).
Q.2. Why were the two stone tablets placed into the Temple? Did God approve of the dedication? – (1 Kgs.8:6-11)
The priests then took the Ark of the Covenant into the inner sanctuary of the Holy Place, under the wings of the Cherubim, with the carrying poles protruding (1 Kgs.8:6-8). No one could touch the Ark. Not even those assigned to carry it could safely enter the Holy of Holies. The two stone tablets were placed in the Ark by Moses at Horeb – … where the Lord had made a covenant with the sons of Israel when they came out of the land of Egypt (1 Kgs.8:9 c.f. Exo.19:8; 24:3-8). Everything was going according to plan – God’s plan – and He answered in a unique and never-to-be- forgotten way – 10 It happened that when the priests came from the holy place, the cloud filled the house of the Lord, 11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord (1 Kgs.8:10-11 c.f. Exo.40:34-35). The Shekinah Glory would never again descend after the captivity of Israel and the destruction of the temple.
Q.3. How did Solomon honour both God and his father David? What was the purpose of the Temple? – (1 Kgs.8:12-30)
Solomon acknowledged that this Temple was a fulfilment of God’s promise to his father, King David (1 Kgs.8:12-16). David had intended to build the Temple but was promised that a son yet to be born to him would be the one to build a more permanent house for the Ark (1 Kgs.8:17-21). Solomon greatly honoured the Lord. (i) No god could compare with Israel’s God – O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart (1 Kgs.8:23); (ii) He called on the Lord to fulfill all His promises to his father, David (1 Kgs.8:24-26). (iii) He humbly acknowledged – Will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built (1 Kgs.8:27) (iv) He asked for God’s continued presence and protection (1 Kgs.8:29-30). The Temple was to be a House of Prayer. Solomon pleaded – 28 Yet have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today; 29 that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward the place of which You have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place. 30 Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive (1 Kgs.8:28-30).