WEEKLY
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An
international Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday January 26, 2020
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THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE
(Fully committed hearts draw people to
GOD)
(1 Kings 8:54-66)
There is no conflict
between “faith” and “works”, and nor is there any conflict between “GOD’s
sovereignty” and “human responsibility” as GOD’s greatest creation. GOD has
always been eager to pour out HIS grace on an undeserving people. Yet, it is still
through our obedience that we can be brought to the banks of the everlasting
river from which GOD’s grace overflows.
In 1 Kings 8, verses 54-61, after Solomon
had finished his prayers and petitions to the LORD for himself and his people
Israel, he rose to his feet in front of the bronze altar of the LORD in the
courtyard, and he shouted this blessing over the entire community:
“Praise
the LORD WHO has given rest to HIS people Israel, just as HE promised. Not one
word has failed of all the wonderful promises HE gave through HIS servant
Moses. May the LORD our GOD be with us as HE was with our ancestors; may HE
never forsake us. May HE give us the desire to do HIS Will in everything and to
obey all the commands, laws, and regulations that HE gave our ancestors. And may
these words that I have prayed in the presence of the LORD be before HIM
constantly, day and night, so that the LORD our GOD may uphold my cause and the
cause of HIS people Israel, fulfilling our daily needs. May people all over the
earth know that the LORD is GOD and that there is no other god. And may you,
HIS people, always be faithful to the LORD our GOD. May you always obey HIS laws
and commands, just as you are doing today.”
After Solomon finished this benediction, he
and all the people of Israel began to present their sacrificial offerings to
the LORD. The number of animal sacrifices (22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep) may
seem incredibly large. However, in those days, it was quite common during holy holiday
festivals such as this, “the Festival of Tabernacles”, that is celebrated here
in this passage. And now, coupled with “the dedication of the Temple”, this
gala event was extended from seven to fourteen days.
The Festival of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33,
41-33), commemorated the Israelite’s forty years of wandering in the wilderness
after their release from chattel slavery in Egypt. And now this permanent
Temple, which Solomon built here in Jerusalem, served to symbolize an end to
their wandering. It was to forever replace the “mobile Tabernacle tent” that
was constructed by Moses and their ancestors, all those years ago.
Solomon showed total commitment to
finishing GOD’s Temple, and his prayer of dedication demonstrated deep insight
into the nature of GOD’s relationship with believers. He also showed great
understanding of the truth that GOD is truly the GOD of all peoples, not just
the Jews.
Yet, in Solomon’s later years, despite all
of his wisdom and zeal, he seems to have totally forgotten GOD’s special rules
for HIS “Davidic Line of Kings”, of which he was only the second member. As a
member of that special Davidic Line of Kings, Solomon was not to make any
treaties, with the pagan nations around him. GOD had already assured him that his
kingdom would be free of war and conflict.
However, Solomon, over time, began to show
little faith in GOD’s promise of peace, even though he had earlier urged all of
Israel to do. As king, he brokered many
treaties with unGODly nations, and he cemented those treaties by intermarrying
into the families of those nation’s leaders.
Furthermore, Solomon did not prohibit the hundreds
of women from continuing to worship their own pagan gods, and in fact, he even
began to, over time, worship them himself. And so, sadly, we see that, even
while possessing the most abundance of human intelligence, still, that abundant
intellect can be no substitute for one’s faith in GOD.
A Sunday school lesson
by,
Larry D. Alexander
larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com
LARRY D. ALEXANDER-
Official Website
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