54 And it was so, that when Solomon H8010 had made an end H3615 of praying H6419 all this prayer H8605 and supplication H8467 unto the LORD, H3068 he arose H6965 from before H6440 the altar H4196 of the LORD, H3068 from kneeling H3766 on his knees H1290 with his hands H3709 spread up H6566 to heaven. H8064
55 And he stood, H5975 and blessed H1288 all the congregation H6951 of Israel H3478 with a loud H1419 voice, H6963 saying, H559
56 Blessed H1288 be the LORD, H3068 that hath given H5414 rest H4496 unto his people H5971 Israel, H3478 according to all that he promised: H1696 there hath not failed H5307 one H259 word H1697 of all his good H2896 promise, H1697 which he promised H1696 by the hand H3027 of Moses H4872 his servant. H5650
57 The LORD H3068 our God H430 be with us, as he was with our fathers: H1 let him not leave H5800 us, nor forsake H5203 us:
58 That he may incline H5186 our hearts H3824 unto him, to walk H3212 in all his ways, H1870 and to keep H8104 his commandments, H4687 and his statutes, H2706 and his judgments, H4941 which he commanded H6680 our fathers. H1
59 And let these my words, H1697 wherewith I have made supplication H2603 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 be nigh H7138 unto the LORD H3068 our God H430 day H3119 and night, H3915 that he maintain H6213 the cause H4941 of his servant, H5650 and the cause H4941 of his people H5971 Israel H3478 at all times, H3117 H3117 as the matter H1697 shall require:
60 That all the people H5971 of the earth H776 may know H3045 that the LORD H3068 is God, H430 and that there is none else.
61 Let your heart H3824 therefore be perfect H8003 with the LORD H3068 our God, H430 to walk H3212 in his statutes, H2706 and to keep H8104 his commandments, H4687 as at this day. H3117
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.