27 But will God H430 indeed H552 dwell H3427 on the earth? H776 behold, the heaven H8064 and heaven H8064 of heavens H8064 cannot contain H3557 thee; how much less H637 this house H1004 that I have builded? H1129
Whither shall I go H3212 from thy spirit? H7307 or whither shall I flee H1272 from thy presence? H6440 If I ascend up H5266 into heaven, H8064 thou art there: if I make my bed H3331 in hell, H7585 behold, thou art there. If I take H5375 the wings H3671 of the morning, H7837 and dwell H7931 in the uttermost parts H319 of the sea; H3220 Even there shall thy hand H3027 lead H5148 me, and thy right hand H3225 shall hold H270 me. If I say, H559 Surely the darkness H2822 shall cover H7779 me; even the night H3915 shall be light H216 about me. H1157 Yea, the darkness H2822 hideth H2821 not from thee; but the night H3915 shineth H215 as the day: H3117 the darkness H2825 and the light H219 are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed H7069 my reins: H3629 thou hast covered H5526 me in my mother's H517 womb. H990 I will praise H3034 thee; for I am fearfully H3372 and wonderfully made: H6395 marvellous H6381 are thy works; H4639 and that my soul H5315 knoweth H3045 right well. H3966 My substance H6108 was not hid H3582 from thee, when I was made H6213 in secret, H5643 and curiously wrought H7551 in the lowest parts H8482 of the earth. H776 Thine eyes H5869 did see H7200 my substance, yet being unperfect; H1564 and in thy book H5612 all my members were written, H3789 which in continuance H3117 were fashioned, H3335 when as yet there was none H259 of them.
Howbeit G235 the most High G5310 dwelleth G2730 not G3756 in G1722 temples G3485 made with hands; G5499 as G2531 saith G3004 the prophet, G4396 Heaven G3772 is my G3427 throne, G2362 and G1161 earth G1093 is my G3450 footstool: G4228 G5286 what G4169 house G3624 will ye build G3618 me? G3427 saith G3004 the Lord: G2962 or G2228 what G5101 is the place G5117 of my G3450 rest? G2663
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Kings 8
Commentary on 1 Kings 8 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 8
The building and furniture of the temple were very glorious, but the dedication of it exceeds in glory as much as prayer and praise, the work of saints, exceed the casting of metal and the graving of stones, the work of the craftsman. The temple was designed for the keeping up of the correspondence between God and his people; and here we have an account of the solemnity of their first meeting there.
1Ki 8:1-11
The temple, though richly beautified, yet while it was without the ark was like a body without a soul, or a candlestick without a candle, or (to speak more properly) a house without an inhabitant. All the cost and pains bestowed on this stately structure are lost if God do not accept them; and, unless he please to own it as the place where he will record his name, it is after all but a ruinous heap. When therefore all the work is ended (ch. 7:51), the one thing needful is yet behind, and that is the bringing in of the ark. This therefore is the end which must crown the work, and which here we have an account of the doing of with great solemnity.
1Ki 8:12-21
Here,
1Ki 8:22-53
Solomon having made a general surrender of this house to God, which God had signified his acceptance of by taking possession, next follows Solomon's prayer, in which he makes a more particular declaration of the uses of that surrender, with all humility and reverence, desiring that God would agree thereto. In short, it is his request that this temple may be deemed and taken, not only for a house of sacrifice (no mention is made of that in all this prayer, that was taken for granted), but a house of prayer for all people; and herein it was a type of the gospel church; see Isa. 56:7, compared with Mt. 21:13. Therefore Solomon opened this house, not only with an extraordinary sacrifice, but with an extraordinary prayer.
1Ki 8:54-61
Solomon, after his sermon in Ecclesiastes, gives us the conclusion of the whole matter; so he does here, after this long prayer; it is called his blessing the people, v. 55. He pronounced it standing, that he might be the better heard, and because he blessed as one having authority. Never were words more fitly spoken, nor more pertinently. Never was congregation dismissed with that which was more likely to affect them and abide with them.
1Ki 8:62-66
We read before that Judah and Israel were eating and drinking, and very cheerful under their own vines and fig-trees; here we have them so in God's courts. Now they found Solomon's words true concerning Wisdom's ways, that they are ways of pleasantness.