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SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
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international Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday January 19, 2020
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SOLOMON’S PRAYER OF DEDICATION
(Solomon Seeks God’s
Blessing)
(1 Kings 8:22-53)
In the Hebrew, the word used for “hear” is “shama” (shaw-mah) and it
means “to listen intelligently, carefully, and attentively”. Here in 1 Kings 8,
verses 28-49, in Solomon’s prayer of dedication of the new Temple of GOD in
Jerusalem, he uses the word “shama”, or, “hear”, 14 times. Also, in this prayer
of dedication, Solomon uses the word “calach” (saw-lakh), which is translated “forgive”
in the English, 5 times, and it means quite simply “to pardon, or spare”.
Here is this passage, after
honoring GOD, and thanking HIM for keeping HIS promises to his father David and
himself, and, for GOD’s “presence” and “protection” (Vs.22-30), Solomon now
prays to GOD in Heaven for “forgiveness” regarding many things (specifically 4
things) for his people, Israel. Here in this powerful petition Solomon prays
for;
·
Forgiveness of all trespasses in
general (Vs.31-32)
·
Forgiveness of past sins that caused
defeat in battle (Vs.33-34)
·
Forgiveness of past sins that brought
on drought (Vs.35-36)
·
Forgiveness of past sins that had
brought on a variety of catastrophes such as famine, pestilence, and disease
(Vs.37-40)
Also, here in this passage (Vs.41-53) Solomon
also prays for;
·
GOD’s acceptance of the prayers of believing foreigners
(Vs.41-43)
·
GOD’s restoration of HIS people after sin’s
consequences have run their course (Vs.46-51)
·
GOD’s special attention to all earnest prayers
(Vs.52-53)
Solomon, through his great
wisdom, could foresee several situations in which Israel would have a “special
need for confidence”, that, the LORD GOD would “hear”, and “answer”, her prayers.
His charge to his people seems to link “two great truths” that even we who are
currently living in this day and age, must abide by.
One “truth” is that we live
by “GOD’s grace”, and HIS promises have never failed us. That is the “privilege”
that we enjoy as being GOD’s children. The second “truth” is that, our hearts
must be totally committed to the GOD WHO never fails us and provides us with HIS
grace. And we, as HIS children, must live and abide by HIS decrees, at all
times. That is the “responsibility” that comes with the “privilege” of being
GOD’s children, representing HIM on this earth.
Solomon
dedicated the temple standing outside the building’s holy areas that were
reserved for the priests only. Although he was king, only the priests were
allowed inside the “Holy” and “Most Holy Place” of the Temple. And so, Solomon
stood before the bronze altar located in the inner courtyard outside of the Temple,
where all the people of Israel could see, and hear him.
Solomon
stood with his arms lifted high toward the heavens, demonstrating the highest
praise for GOD, with openness and surrender to the LORD. He spoke confidently
to GOD about the nation of Israel, “requesting” and “believing” that the FATHER
in Heaven hears and answers prayers. He quoted many Old Testament verses in his
prayer of dedication, and he held Israel’s GOD up as being supreme and unique
to all other gods in the surrounding pagan nations, as in fact, there was no
other comparisons.
Solomon clearly understood that a “spiritual”
GOD (GOD is spirit) would not actually “physically” live inside the Temple. However,
he confidently felt that any believer would be able to reach GOD through the
Temple no matter how great a distance there may be between the believing
petitioner, and the Temple itself.
Today the believing community of GOD can
always reach HIM through CHRIST JESUS, our LORD and proven SAVIOR. And whatever
our failures may be, and whatever consequences may result, through repent and
forgiveness, our FATHER in Heaven will always faithfully welcome us home.
In the Hebrew the word used for “punishment
is “anah” and it means “to afflict and oppress to a point of humbleness”. It is
linked to terrible conditions such as “poverty” and “states of helplessness” or
being “defenseless”. “Affliction from GOD” can also be viewed as “a gift” as it
is intended to help GOD’s people “turn from their sins”. When we understand
this, we will be able to say, right along with the psalmist in Psalm 119:71,
that; “The suffering YOU sent was good for me, for it taught me to pay
attention to YOUR principles” (NLT).
A Sunday school lesson
by,
Larry D. Alexander
larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com
LARRY D. ALEXANDER-
Official Website
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