Solomon's Benediction

Introduction

Read 1 Kings 8:54-61

1 Kings 8:54–61 ESV

Now as Solomon finished offering all this prayer and plea to the Lord, he arose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had knelt with hands outstretched toward heaven. And he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying, “Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has failed of all his good promise, which he spoke by Moses his servant. The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us, that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers. Let these words of mine, with which I have pleaded before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, and may he maintain the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as each day requires, that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other. Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the Lord our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.”

Explanation

1 Kings 8:54-55 “Now as Solomon finished offering all this prayer and plea to the Lord, he arose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had knelt with hands outstretched toward heaven. And he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying,”

Solomon prayed that God would bless the temple (v22-53).

He arose from before the altar where He had knelt with his hands outstretched to heaven.

He turned back to the people and finished with a “benediction.”

Some of your Bible’s use the word benediction for the section header. What does that word mean?

“Blessing.” In Baptist churches, it means “closing prayer.” In a wider sense, it means a blessing at the end of a worship service.

This could be a prayer, a scripture, a challenging word, or simply an encouragement.

1 Kings 8:56-58 ““Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has failed of all his good promise, which he spoke by Moses his servant. The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us, that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers.”

God has given rest to his people Israel.

QUESTION: How had God given His people rest?

They have now settled into the land of promise. The temple has been built. They are living in a fruitful day.

Scholars often call this the “gilded” or “golden” age of Israel.

It is the most prosperous and peaceful time in Israel.

Solomon is acknowledging that God has brought them into a great season. They have received what they (and many generations before them) had prayed for.

Have you ever had a time like that in your life. Where you received from the Lord everything that you prayed for? Where you felt exceptionally blessed and loved?

Solomon’s benediction is a challenge and encouragement to the people in a time of God’s great blessing.

“Not one word has failed of all his good promise, which He spoke by Moses His servant.

Solomon acknowledges that everything the Israelites currently have comes from the Lord.

In the same way, nothing that God had promised them failed in the slightest.

Everything that God promised came true. He was faithful to His promises and His people.

Solomon expounds upon this idea.

He is with us, AS He was with our fathers.

May He not leave or forsake us THAT he may incline our hearts to Him

How does He incline our hearts to Him?

Walk in all His ways

Keep his commandment, statutes, and rules which He commanded our Fathers.

1 Kings 8:59-60 “Let these words of mine, with which I have pleaded before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, and may he maintain the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as each day requires, that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other.”

May our Words be close to the heart of God.

What is close to God’s heart?

That he would maintain His servant’s cause for His covenant people.

That the people of the earth would know that Yahweh is God and there is no other.

We don’t get to pick the plans that God blesses. God blesses certain things, and we line up with His will to complete them.

1 Kings 8:61 “Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the Lord our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.””

How should we watch our hearts in times of prosperity?

Wholly true: The more the Lord blesses, the more opportunities to turn aside from the Lord with what He blesses us with.

Application