1 Kings 8:54-66: Solomon’s Benediction
Introduction: Most good Christian events happen around food. And the dedication of the temple is another example of this. We are approaching the end of Solomon’s prayer where he gives a final benediction of praise, some final requests and an exhortation to Israel. And then there is a huge nationwide feast. Solomon’s prayer has been very rich theologically as it has spoken to us about the God we are approaching and how to pray about our sins. The last part of this prayer is no less rich. Three things dominate this closing prayer. Firstly, in v56 Solomon blesses God...
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1 Kings 8:31-53: Praying about sin
Introduction: Ps. 103:8-14, ‘The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to...
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1 Kings 8:10-21: The Blessing of Solomon
Introduction: The temple has taught us so much about God already. God is a God of grace who dwells with a sinful people, this is illustrated in the existence of a temple at all. He is a holy God, this is demonstrated through the cherubim, and the layers of separation. He is a just God, this is seen in the demand of propitiation for broken laws. Solomon has just brought all the items of the furniture into the new temple, and God appears in the form of a cloud. This is followed by Solomon blessing God. As we move...
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1 Kings 8:1-11: The Ark of the Covenant
Introduction: The Temple of Solomon as we have been seeing was an amazing architectural accomplishment. However, the One who was to dwell in the temple is more important still. 1 Kings 8:1-11 is all about God manifesting His residence in the temple. I say manifesting His residence not taking up His residence because God is omnipresent and no temple can be a house for Him. So He manifests His presence in the location of the temple to indicate that He is pleased and He will abide among His people, and the temple will be the central place of worship...
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1 Kings 6:19-38: Holy and Glorious God
Introduction: No Israelite apart from the priests would be able to enter the temple, and no priest but the High priest could enter the holy of holies, and that only once a year. For this reason 1 Kings 6 would have been of special fascination to the Israelite. Never seeing it with their own eyes they would hang on the verbal descriptions. Recognising the importance of the house and how each part had significance, the Israelite could ponder each part to gain more information about God. They would have picked up on the fact that more attention os paid...
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1 Kings 6:14-18: God of beauty
Introduction: Phillip Ryken in his commentary on this portion points out that you can know a person by going through their house. You can tell if they are rich, attracted to art, conservative, etc. God’s house, the temple, tells us about God. We have been looking at the interior parts of the temple, and now it is time to turn our attention to the interior. The interior aspects of the temple will direct our attention to three things about God, He is a God beauty, glory and holiness. Today we want to explore how God is a God of...
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1 Kings 6:1-13: ‘Unless the Lord builds the house…’
Introduction: As we look at the start of the building process, in among all the building details the text points us to the most important part of this building venture, the blessing of God. The portion we are looking at begins with the details of the exterior of the temple, but God interrupts the building process with a very important message in v11-13, ‘Now the word of the LORD came to Solomon,12 “Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes and obey my rules and keep all my commandments and walk in them,...
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1 Kings 5 – Preparation for the Temple
Introduction: Do you know the seven wonders of the ancient world? The Great Pyraminds of Giza, the hanging gardens of Babylon; the statue of Zeus at Olympia; the temple of Artmeis at Ephesus; the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus; the Colossus of Rhodes and the lighthouse of Alexandria. Only the pyramids are still standing. What are the new seven wonders of the world? The Great Wall of China; Christ the Redeemer statue; Machu Picchu; Chichen Itza; the Roman Colosseum; the Taj Mahal. Now what is the most important building that has or ever will been built? Solomon’s Temple. 1 Kings 5 gave a...
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