Solomon’s Temple and His Prayer
Below is the Message Audio followed by typed notes.
The building of God’s Temple in Jerusalem was when Solomon the son of King David was King.
King David was living in his palace, and the Lord had given him peace from all his enemies around him. Then David said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I am living in a palace made of cedar wood, but the Ark of God is in a tent..”2 Samuel 7:1-2.
Nathan said to the king, “Go and do what you really want to do, because the Lord is with you.” But that night the Lord spoke his word to Nathan: “you must tell my servant David, this is what the Lord All-Powerful says: I took you from the pasture and from tending the sheep and made you leader of my people Israel. I have been with you everywhere you have gone and have defeated your enemies for you. I will make you as famous as any of the great people on the earth. When you die and join your ancestors, I will make one of your sons the next king, and I will set up his kingdom. He will build a house for me, and I will let his kingdom rule always.” 2 Samuel 7:1-4, 8-9 &12-13.
David’s background of shedding blood in times of war was God’s reason for choosing David’s son to build the House of God. “God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.” 1 Chronicles 28:3. God wanted a man of peace to construct the temple, not a man of war.
Features of Slomon’s Temple also known as the First Temple probably built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem believed to have existed between the 10th and 6th centuries BC. It was destroyed during the Siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar of the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 587 BC.
The temple was constructed with stone, cedar wood, and gold. Stone blocks formed the foundation and walls, while cedar wood was used for the beams, roof, and flooring. The gold adorned several parts of the temple, including its walls, furnishings, and sacred objects.
It features included two massive, freestanding pillars known as Jachin and Boaz. Additionally, the walls of Solomon’s Temple were adorned with intricate carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.
The Holy of Holies, also known as the inner sanctuary, was the Temple’s most sacred chamber. Only the High Priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies, and even then, it was only once a year on the Day of Atonement. It included The Ark of the Covenant which contained the Ten Commandments inscribed on two stone tablets on Mount Sinai. This symbolizing God’s presence among the Israelites.
Solomon’s Prayer at the Temple.
Solomon stood before the Altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven and began his prayer. I Kings 8:22.
Key statements in Solomon’s prayer after building the Temple for the nation of Israel recorded in 2 Chronicles Chapter 6 Vs. 2-25.
I have built an house of habitation for God, and a place for His dwelling for ever. And Solomon turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel and said, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who hath fulfilled that which he spake to my father David, saying, since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt, I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.
I was raised up in the room of David my father, and am now set on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. And in it have I put the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that he made with the children of Israel. Vs. 2-11.
And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands and said, “O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts..” Vs. 12-14.
“And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house; Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers.” Vs. 24-25.
Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house.
God’s reaction to Solomon’s prayer. 2 Chronicles ch. 7
And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, “I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.” vs. 12.
“And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments, then will I establish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.” vs. 17-18.
Below is the underlined Typed Notes pdf