09-16 – 1 Kings 8 [22-30] – Dedication in God’s House

Text: 1 Kings 8:22-30

In the presence of the entire assembly of Israel, Solomon stood in front of the Lord’s altar. He stretched out his hands toward heaven and said, “Lord God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below. You keep your promise of mercy to your servants, who obey you wholeheartedly. You have kept your promise to my father David, your servant. With your mouth you promised it. With your hand you carried it out as it is today.

“Now, Lord God of Israel, keep your promise to my father David, your servant. You said, ‘You will never fail to have an heir sitting in front of me on the throne of Israel if your descendants are faithful to me as you have been faithful to me.’ So now, God of Israel, may the promise you made to my father David, your servant, come true.

“Does God really live on earth? If heaven itself, the highest heaven, cannot hold you, then how can this temple that I have built? Nevertheless, my Lord God, please pay attention to my prayer for mercy. Listen to my cry for help as I pray to you today. Night and day may your eyes be on this temple, the place about which you said, ‘My name will be there.’ Listen to me as I pray toward this place. Hear the plea for mercy that your people Israel and I pray toward this place. Hear us when we pray to heaven, the place where you live. Hear and forgive.