Greetings everyone and thanks for joining me for this edition of our Sunday School preview. This Sunday’s lesson is entitled “Solomon’s Blessing” and is found in 1 Kings 8:54-61.
While the previous lessons focused on the moving and the placing of the Ark of the Covenant inside the temple, on Solomon’s address to the congregation at the dedication, and on what Solomon prayed to the Lord at the dedication, this lesson describes what Solomon said as he concluded the dedication and dismissed the people.
First, I could not help but notice that In the previous lesson Solomon is said to have stretched forth his hands toward heaven as he began to pray. In today’s lesson we learn that Solomon also bowed himself down in that prayer.
This is so significant because the highest ranking and most honored person in Israel is kneeling before the Lord in a voluntary gesture of sincere submission, honor, reverence and servitude. The examples of leaders, whether godly and ungodly, has a great influence on the people they lead then as well as now.
A blessing can be something that is said or done that is designed to benefit someone in some way. The blessing that Solomon gives to Israel at this moment is knowledge and advice. He wants them to know that God promises go well beyond what He promised his father David as he recalls God’s promises He made to Israel through Moses.
God promised that one day He would give them peace from all their enemies and bring them into a land of plenty and bless them with all the blessings they need. And at that time and in that place, they shall choose the place from among the tribes where they will build a place where He will place His name to abide. In that place will sacrifices, offerings and tithes be brought and made.
Solomon lets them know that in the dedication of this temple God has fulfilled that promise He made to their fathers by Moses. Then Solomon affirms to Israel that God is with them as He was with their fathers and has been and will be attentive to their hearts and prayers. His advice to them is to obey God and walk in all He has commanded them for in doing so it will ensure God’s continued blessing toward them.
Finally, he says to them that God has chosen them to make Himself known to the rest of the world and that is another reason they must be the people He has called them to be. This was definitely a high point, if not the highest point, of Israel’s existence as a nation.
God had given them all the things He had promised. Not only from Moses and David, but as far back as Abraham. They were safe and secure in a fertile and prosperous land and had a new beautiful temple where God has placed His name.
But as we later learn, they failed, beginning with Solomon himself, to follow God with their whole heart and the kingdom continued to spiral downward until this temple was destroyed by their enemies and they were exiled from the land God had given them.
The same thing is happening in America as it continues to spiral toward ungodliness, distrust, fear and unconcern of and for fellow citizens and strangers. Self-centerness continues to dominate the thoughts and actions of its people and truth is trample upon by those in and who seek power.
We must work and pray that the hearts of people will change toward God or something worst than anything we can imagine is going to happen in the form of God’s judgement. Well, I hope you will attend SS this coming Sunday and share your thoughts with your class. If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section of this preview. So, until next time remember to fear God and keep His commandments.
Pastor Jordan
