Dedicating the temple… (5 things)

• 1^st – Dedicating the Temple… vs. 1-13 Read: I Kings 8:1-11
  • 1^st – Solomon assembled everyone – people and leaders – to Jerusalem… vs. 1
    • They gathered together in October – during the time of the ‘Feast of Tabernacles’…
      • The Temple had been complete for 11 months – but Solomon had waited…
      • He wanted to wait for the perfect opportunity to dedicate the ‘House of the Lord’…
      • The Feast of Tabernacles was a required Feast of Israel – Exodus 23:14-17
      • Meaning all of the people would already be gathered in Jerusalem…
    • It was also the year of Jubilee – Leviticus 25
      • The people all gathered 2 days before Yom Kippur – ‘The day of Atonement’…
      • The one day a year when the High Priest entered into the ‘Holiest of All’!
      • Then on Yom Kippur – the trumpets were blown loud throughout the land…
      • Announcing it was a Holy year – to proclaim freedom for all who live in Israel…
      • All debts were forgiven – all borrowed land restored – all slaves set free!
    • Making it the perfect time to dedicate the Temple…
      • The people were already coming to celebrate the exodus from Egypt – Tabernacles…
      • And they were all the more excited because of the Year of Jubilee…
      • Now in addition to what would already be a HUGE celebration – the Dedication!
      • It would end up being a 14 day festival – rejoicing in the Goodness of God!
      • Often when people come to church / Bible study – it is with a long face…
      • They are there because they feel like the are performing their required duty to God…
      • But we forget that God has taken us out of Egypt / world – and called us His people…
      • More than that  all our sin debt is forgiven / Jesus has set us free!
      • And now we are coming to the ‘House of the Lord’ to worship our Great God…
      • It should not be a burden – it should be the highlight of the week – a celebration!
  • 2^nd – The Ark had been placed by King David on Mt. Zion – II Samuel 6… vs. 2-4
    • It was not far from the Temple – Mt. Zion is only ½km from Mt. Moriah…
      • And once everyone had arrived the priests picked up the Ark – on poles…
      • David had tried to move the Ark on a cart – pulled by ox…
      • And when the ox stumbled – Uzzah touched the Ark to keep it from falling…
      • And the anger of the Lord blazed out – and He killed Uzzah – II Samuel 6:7
    • The Bible had specific instructions on how to move the Ark- Exodus 25:14
      • Solomon did not make the same mistake – he followed the Word!
      • Suppose I gave you a bomb – and your life depended on disarming it…
      • But along with it I gave you an instruction manual – would you ignore it / or read it…
      • God has given us an instruction manual – the Bible – so we do not blow up our lives…
      • The only question is do we read it – or do we try to just guess / and end up with a mess!
  • 3^rd – As Solomon and the people offered sacrifices beyond counting… vs. 5-9
    • The priests placed the Ark in the Holiest of All – beneath the two golden cherubim…
      • There was nothing in the Ark – expect the commandments of God…
      • Interesting that the golden pot of manna was no longer in the Ark – Exodus 16:33
      • It had been placed in the Ark to remind the people God would provide!
      • Also Aarons budding rod was no longer in the Ark – Numbers 17:10
      • It had been placed there to remind people not to rebel against the Lord!
    • All that was left was the Word – because only the Word lasts forever – Luke 21:33…
      • One day we will all be with Jesus – worshiping before the Throne of God…
      • And when that day comes all rebellions against the Lord will cease…
      • And in that day no one will ever have to worry about food again…
      • But even through rebellions and worry disappear – the Word of God is eternal!
  • 4^th – As the priests came out of the ‘Holiest of All’… vs. 10-13
    • The presence of God filled the Temple – and the priests had to stop their work…
      • God had come to dwell among His people – just as he had been in the wilderness…
      • When God had led Israel for 40 years– cloud by day / fire by night – Exodus 13:21
      • Like when the Tabernacle was done – and God filled it – Exodus 40:34
    • God still wants to meet with His people – fill us with His presence…
      • II Corinthians 6:16 – “You are the temple of the living God… I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
      • The great mystery of the church is that Jesus does not live in a building…
      • The church is not stick and bricks – it is you and me – we are the temple of God!
        
• 2^nd – A chosen city / king… vs. 14-21 Read: I Kings 8:14-17 / 20
  • 1^st – Solomon turned to address the nation… vs. 14-18
    • Since Egypt God had never chosen a city – a place people could come to meet with Him…
      • In fact the Tabernacle had moved several times over the years – Shiloh / Gibeon…
      • And God had never chosen a King – but now God had chosen Jerusalem…
      • And He chose David to be the King – Because David wanted to build a Temple!
    • Because David had a heart for the Lord – God choose to use David…
      • A lot of people talk about wanting to be used by God – serving the Lord… 
      • But then they go off and live their lives with no thought how to please God…
      • When we have a right heart for the Lord – then we are going to be used by the Lord!
      • I Peter 3:12 – “The Lord watches over those who do right, his ears are open to their prayers.”
  • 2^nd – David had the idea for the Temple – but it was Solomon who finished the work… vs. 19-21
    • He had built a temple for the ‘name’ of the Lord God of Israel…
      • The Temple was not a house for the Lord – no building could ever contain Him…
      • Isaiah 66:1 – “This is what the LORD says: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you ever build me a temple as good as that?’”
      • The Temple was the place where God would come to meet with Israel!
    • So often we get the idea that God lives in the church – the ‘House of God’…
      • That is why people build huge ornate buildings / cathedrals…
      • The ‘house of God’ is heaven – and the entire earth is just His footstool…
      • So it does not matter if a church is tile and cement / or grass and sticks…
      • The church is not for God – the church is for us – a place to come ‘meet’ with God!
        
• 3^rd – The prayer of Solomon… vs. 22-27 Read: I Kings 8:22-23
  • 1^st – Solomon built a bronze platform 4’ high in the courtyard – II Chronicles 6:13… vs. 22
    • Then Solomon stretched out his hands towards heaven – knelt down and prayed…
    • Now for me this does seem to be a bit showy – the bronze platform is a bit much…
    • But there is nothing wrong with a public prayer to God…
    • But we need to watch the motive of the heart – do not pray to impress others…
    • Matthew 6:5 – “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the churches where everyone can see them…”
    • People who use big words – pray REALLY loud – just to sound more spiritual…
    • God is not impressed – at best they are acting like a fool embarrassing themselves…
    • Prayer should be natural – simple conversation with God – no matter who is there!
  • 2^nd – Solomon began – ‘There is no God like the Lord – He keeps all of His promises’… vs. 23-27
    • God had promised David his son would build the Temple – done…
      • God had promised that one of his sons would always sit on the throne of Israel…
      • If – they followed the commands of the Lord – were obedient to His Word!
    • God is ALWAYS faithful to His promises
      • II Corinthians 1:20 – “All the promises of God are Yes and Amen…”
      • God cannot lie – and He never changes His mind – God says it / that settles it!
      • If God promises to take care of all your needs – He will!
      • If God promises you salvation through faith in Jesus – heaven in your destination!
      • But we also have a responsibility – we need to follow and obey the Lord!
        
• 4^th – Praying to the Temple… vs. 28-53 Read: I Kings 8:28-30
  • 1^st – Solomon asked to God listen to the prayers made TOWARDS the Temple… vs. 28-32
    • Not that the people prayed TO the Temple – it was just a symbol…
      • The Temple represented the way for sinful people – to get access to a Holy God!
      • In fact every Jew to this day faces towards Jerusalem when they pray…
      • Every Jewish church is built facing Jerusalem / where the Temple once stood…
    • Solomon prayed – asking God to do 5 things if people prayed towards the Temple!
      • First – if a judge needed to know who was telling the truth and who was lying…
      • A person would take an oath before the Temple – knowing God would judge!
      • The same why it used to be in a court – you would swear on the Bible…
      • To remind you that if you lied – God knows – and you WILL answer to Him!
        
        
  • 2^nd – If Israel rebelled – and was defeated by her enemies… vs. 33-34
    • But then Israel called out to the Lord – and prayed towards the Temple…
    • Solomon asked that God hear them – and bring them back to the Land…
    • When Israel was sent to captivity in Babylon – as a consequence for their sins…
    • Daniel would pray 3 times a day facing Jerusalem – for God to bring them home – Daniel 6:10
    • And after 70 years of captivity – God listened and the people came back to Israel! 
  • 3^rd – If the heavens no longer give rain – because of sin – causing a famine or plague… vs. 35-40
    • But Israel prayed towards the Temple – God would hear them and bring the rain…
    • Leviticus 26:19 – “I will break down your arrogant spirit by making the skies above as unyielding as iron and the earth beneath as hard as bronze.”
    • God knows how to get our attention – one of the best ways is food…
    • When we are full/in need nothing – we tend to get arrogant – ignore God…
    • So God will allows us to go through times of ‘famine’ – no food / no money…
    • God desires to teach us – His kids – how to live a pure and holy life!
  • 4^th –If Israel went to war – and they pray towards the Temple – give them victory… vs. 41-45
    • Or if a foreigner came to the Temple to learn about God…
    • Give them whatever they ask for – so the whole world will hear about You!
    • In Acts 8 – an Ethiopian eunuch traveled hundreds of miles – to come to the Temple…
    • And because the Eunuch was seeking God – God was seeking the Eunuch!
    • Jeremiah 29:13 – “You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
    • We all want to victorious / be blessed in life – but being blessed comes from seeking God!
  • 5^th – If Israel sinned – and who does not sin – forgive them… vs. 46-53
    • Even if they are captive in a foreign land – help them be an example to a lost world!…
      • God did not promise to take them out of captivity – just be a good example in captivity!
      • When we pray to God – we expect that He is going to save us from hard times…
      • But often God will instead use those hard times – to let Jesus shine through our lives!
    • We no longer need a Temple to pray towards…
      • John 1:14 – “The Word became human and [set up His tabernacle] among us…”
      • Jesus did all the work for us – Jesus died on the cross so that we could come to God…
      • But if we reject the way God has provided – there is no second option…
      • The one and only way to talk to God – is through faith in Jesus Christ!
      • It is only through Him we have complete access – to our Holy and Perfect God!
      • I Timothy 2:5 – “For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus.”

By having fellowship daily with the Lord – God provides all we need – and we grow in Jesus!

5^th – The blessing of the Solomon… vs. 54-66 Read: I Kings 8:54-58

1^st – When Solomon had finished – he got up and blessed the people… vs. 54-61

May God never forsake us – may He give us the will to follow His commands…

So that the Lord can give us what we need every day…

And so that we all the nations on the Earth – know about the goodness of the Lord!

2^nd – They offered 22,000 ox / and 120,000 sheep peace offerings to God… vs. 62-66

The fat of the animal was burnt on the bronze Altar – but the rest was to share…

The peace offering was having a meal with God – He got part / you got part…

They had to use the courtyard for some of the sacrifices – the Altar was too small!

We choose on a daily basis where we spend our time – in the world / or with the Lord…

Instead of hanging out with the world – take the opportunity to fellowship with God…