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BLESSED BEGINNING. I Kings 8:14-21. 07/03/2022. #20.
14 Then the king turned around and blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. 15 And he said: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David, and with His hand has fulfilled it, saying, 16 ‘Since the day that I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have chosen no city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house, that My name might be there; but I chose David to be over My people Israel.’ 17 Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 18 But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. 19 Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.’ 20 So the Lord has fulfilled His word which He spoke; and I have filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised; and I have built a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 21 And there I have made a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord which He made with our fathers, when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.”
1. Dedication speech
a. Solomon gives an accurate summary of the history leading up to the dedication of the temple
a1. In typical Jewish fashion, Solomon goes back in history & brings events forward to the present time of the speaker (Acts 7; 22)
a2. God brought Israel out of Egypt (this is the starting point of Israel as a nation)
b1. God receives credit for Exodus
b2. God had a singular purpose in making Israel: His people
b. Several pertinent points in the summary
a1. For centuries God had not directed Israel to build a Temple in any city
a2. God chose David of Judah as king
a3. David desired to build the temple for the Lord, but God did not allow it
a4. God promised David that his son would build the temple for God’s name
a5. Solomon had fulfilled God’s promise to David on this Day of Dedication
a6. The Ark of the Covenant now has a permanent home in Jerusalem
c. God accomplished his will for his purpose to use Israel to exalt his holy name
2. Hint of self-exaltation
a. Solomon used the pronoun “I” three times to refer to his accomplishment of God’s promise
a1. I filled the position of my father David
a2. I built the temple for the name…
a3. I made a place for the ark…
b. Solomon could have meant that God used him to accomplish his will
a1. There is a contrast between Moses’s statement, “shall we bring water out of this rock for you” and both Joseph & Daniel declaring that only God could interpret dreams
a2. Several points God alone has power: Elijah could not bring down fire from heaven on his own; Paul could not heal on his own; God raises up & brings down (Exodus 4)…
c. By not publically giving God credit for the building of the temple, Solomon demonstrates a character flaw
a1. I Kings 11 Solomon “loved” many women (lusted
after pretty young virgins) – contrast this
to Job refusing to look on a maiden-Job 31:1
a2. Ecclesiastes 2 – I denied myself nothing I desired
d. Ego can be very subtle
a1. Sol. emphasis the glory of the temple over
the glory of the God of the temple
a2. Deuteronomy 8 God gives the power to achieve
a3. I Corinthians 4:7 we have nothing to boast about
a4. I Corinthians 10:31 all things done for glory of God
a5. II Corinthians 12 Paul given a thorn to humble him
e. Signs of pride:
a1. Glorying in accomplishments (Nebuchadnezzar)
a2. Coveting another’s place (Uzziah)
a3. Overuse of “I” (pharaoh)
a4. Seeking to take credit (Herod)
a5. Abuse of power (Jezebel, Saul)
a6. Abuse of gifts (Samson; I Corinthians 12-13)
a7. Desire to be honored (Haman, Cain)
f. Solomon may have thought that his motives were pure
g. Pride, jealousy, & envy can be unrecognized in self