1 Kings 8/2 Chronicles 6:12-42

Dedication of the Temple

Solomon’s prayer asks God to hear their cries and be merciful to them despite their sins.

(Weirsbe) “Solomon makes it clear that he knew the condition of Israel’s heart was more important than the presence of the Temple. He knew that sin would bring chastening, but that repentance would bring forgiveness and blessing. It was more important to dedicate the people than the building.”

Original Audience context:   post-exilic (Ezra-Nehemiah)--i.e., the rebuilding of the Temple

- the struggle for hope, for "comfort"

(Illustration: Tuesday of this past week was mine and Cara’s 8th wedding anniversary. May 27, 2017 was a special day and on my anniversary each year I am always thankful for the two most important people from that day. #1 is obviously my beautiful wife Cara (insert picture with arrow point to Cara) and #2 is this guy and his iPad (move arrow). He shows up from time to time. In fact, here is a picture oh him and his iPad at my brother’s wedding also. One of my classmates was set to record the ceremony, but she didn’t do it. We only realized after our special day was over that there were many pictures, but no video of our wedding existed at all to watch or to show our kids. Until we heard from my dad’s cousin Larry who sent us the 22 minute video of our entire ceremony which he recorded on his iPad. Larry gave us the chance to look back at our wedding and reminisce on who we were now, how God brought us together, and our covenant oaths made before God and His church.

Remember when we study God’s word that it is written FOR you, but not TO you. To understand our passage today you must understand its original purpose. 2 Chronicles was written from the Jews returning from exile in Babylon. For many centuries, God’s people had failed to keep his covenant eventually facing judgment for their sin coming in the form of an attack an exile in Babylon. Over 400 years have passed between Solomon’s dedication of the Temple and the writing of 2 Chronicles. After being in exile for so long, Ezra and Nehemiah lead some Israelites back to Jerusalem with the the logical question: “Is God done with us because of our sin?” For God’s people, reading this story is like watching the video of your wedding as the one who has committed adultery, wondering if your relationship with your beloved could ever be restored. The readers were like prodigals, wondering if God would ever welcome them back.

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THE POSTURE (22)

Solomon…

(22) Stood

before God’s people (Israel)

before the altar of the Lord

On the bronze platform

with his arms reaching up to heaven

Does the our posture matter when we pray? Let’s consider the prayers offered by other religions. (Eastern Mysticism, Buddhism, Judaism (The wailing wall in Jerusalem), Islam

Should we carry a compass? Should we carry a prayer mat? Do we have to dress a particular way? Must we close our eyes? Are we required to lift our hands? Is there mandatory language required? Is any posture acceptable? HOW SHOULD I LOOK WHEN I PRAY?

THE PROMISE (23-26)

Present: “There is no God like you…keeping covenant and showing steadfast love…”

Past: “You have

THE PLACE (27)

THE PLEA (28-30)

Solomon understood that it was not as important to bless the place (temple) than the people, to dedicate the temple as it was to dedicate the people.

Christ is the true temple

Tabernacle (Exodus 40:34 “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”)

Temple (

Christ (John 1:12–14 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” )

Christians (1 Corinthians 6:19–20 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” )

The Church (Ephesians 2:21 “in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” )

Jewish Temple, Antichrist Overtakes adn Demands Worship in Tribulation (2 Thess 2:1-12)

Glorious Temple during the Millennial Reign of Christ (Ezekiel 40-48)

-Use the story of our wedding video, and uncle Larry’s ipad (Do we have a picture of him at all of our weddings.

Comparable to the parable of the prodigal son

The people listening to this are the prodigals, wondering if God will ever welcome them back, take them back

Stark contrast between the characters in the story and the original recipient audience

The bible is for the pagan, but also for the prodigal:

The Bible is written for you, but its not written to you

We are eavesdropping in the Bible, often to people who are worse off than us in more difficult circumstances than ours

THE POSTURE (12-13)

(12-13) prostration - Solomon, the example / pattern Israelite (vv. 12-13):  on knees, open arms

Verses begin and end with Solomon with open Arms

raised up for all to see, built a platform (when he is lifted up as an example, he then lowers himself so as to show humility and submission)

reverent, receptive

 THE PRAYER (14-42)

- prayer (vv. 14-42):

- he speaks of God's incomparable reliability (vv. 14-15): 

- this is who you alone are:  "you who keep your covenant"… to those committed to you

- this is what you've actually done:  "You have kept…"

- how has he kept it?  He promised his life-giving presence (a temple), and he's put it there

- he seeks God's continued reliability (vv. 16-17):

- this is what we now ask:  "Now…keep…"

- how should keep his word?  He promised the preservation of David's line, IF his sons "keep" God's ways (see 2 Sam. 7.13ff; Dt. 17.14-20)

- this preservation means peace:  IF he rules well, all will be well

- preservation is premised on / presumes the king's piety, NOT his military prowess, diplomatic or economic acumen, etc.; that is, the length of David's line leans fully on their alignment with the law--namely, by their love of God and love of neighbor

- this is worlds apart from how kingship was understood anywhere else in the ANE

 THE PLEA (for Mercy)

 - he seeks God's continued mercy (vv. 18-21)

- plea:  though unlimited in majesty / authority, hear and have mercy

- spatial metaphor:  the more room, the more the reign

- illus.:  "she needs her space" or "stop invading my space"

- illus.:  "important" people can fill a room

- see language of Eph. / Col.:  e.g., Eph. 1.22-23; 4.10; Col. 1.18-19; 2.9-10.

- v. 18 is beautiful:

- "Let's be real"; "I mean, really? seriously?" (!); see 2 Chr. 2.6

- Solomon unwittingly hints at the mystery of the incarnation!

- Recall David's words in Ps. 139.7-10: "Where can I go from your Spirit…?"; Jer. 23.24

- vv. 18-21 hold together three amazing things about his Presence: 

1) that he is holy:  see Isa. 66.1-2;

2) that he hears (and sees): 

- "hear" is found 5x (!) in vv. 18-21; and 12x in the entire prayer

- v. 20: "May your eyes be opened day and night…"

3) that he has mercy

- summary:  though filling the universe, he feels for us and forgives us, IF we're for him

He actually hears us

- he seeks God's continued equity (vv. 22-23)

- he seeks God's continued mercy (vv. 24-31: see "forgive" in vv. 25, 27, 30), in the face of…

- foes (vv. 24-25)

- famine (vv. 26-27)

- a fractured nation (vv. 28-31)

- a balance of collectivity and individuality

- he seeks God's generosity / charity for (and glory from) every ethnicity (vv. 32-33)

- Solomon's motive of mercy and mission is simply awesome!

(Wright) The nations as….

Spectators

Benefactors

Included with Israel

- he seeks God's security / advocacy (vv. 34-35)

- he seeks God's mercy in the face of foreign captivity / exile (vv. 36-39)

- he seeks God's presence and his approval of the One he's appointed (vv. 40-42)

- these verses are taken from Ps. 132

- Note:  A persistent appeal to God's "name" (vv. 20, 24, 26, 32, 33, 34, 38)

- in putting his name on the Jerusalem temple, he's putting his name on the line, “my reputation is at stake”

- illus.:  co-signing on a loan (e.g., for your kid's car or home); is that a good idea?

Mocking of Christ on the cross: For the sake

Compare to Exodus 32 and Psalm 23

- Christology: 

- Christ is the true Temple, the Presence of God ("Immanuel")

- He is the true "Anointed" / Messiah / Christ, whose perfect reign brings permanent peace

- in him there is full forgiveness for all (the prodigal and the pagan), true flourishing, freedom from every foe

- through him a holy God hears and has mercy