1 Kings 8:12

_THEN SPAKE SOLOMON, THE LORD SAID THAT HE WOULD DWELL IN THE THICK DARKNESS._ Then spake Solomon. For the re-assurance of the priests and people, the king reminded them that the cloud, instead of being a sign ominous of evil, was a token of approval. THE LORD SAID - not in express terms, but by a continuous course of action (Exodus 13:21; Exodus 24:16; Numbers 10:15)....

12-21 Solomon encouraged the priests, who were much astonished at the dark cloud. The dark dispensations of Providence should quicken us in fleeing for refuge to the hope of the gospel. Nothing can more reconcile us to them, than to consider what God has said, and to compare his word and works together. Whatever good we do, we must look on it as the performance of God's promise to us, not of our promises to him....

Verse 1 Kings 8:12. _THE LORD SAID - HE WOULD DWELL_] It was under the appearance of a cloud that God showed himself present with Israel in the wilderness; see Exodus 14:19-2. And at the dedication of the tabernacle in the wilderness, God manifested himself in the same way that he did here at the dedication of the temple; see Exodus 40:34-2....

Rather, “The Lord spake of dwelling in the thick darkness” (margin reference). Solomon sees in the cloud the visible symbol of God’s presence, and accepts the token as a proof that He has taken possession of the house built for Him, and will thenceforth dwell there 1 Kings 8:13....

EXPOSITION THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE.—The stately and impressive service with which the Temple, the character and contents of which have now been described, was dedicated, is related in this chapter, and divides itself into four sections. We have (1) the removal of the ark and Solomon's ascription of praise on the occasion (1 Kings 8:1). (2) The prayer of consecration (1 Kings 8:23-11). (3) The benediction of the congregation (1 Kings 8:55-11), and (4) the festal sacrifices which followed on and completed the dedication ...

AND THEN SPAKE SOLOMON,.... Perceiving by this symbol that the Lord was come into his house, to take up his dwelling in it, and seeing the priests and people in consternation at it, spake the following words to their comfort: THE LORD SAID THAT HE WOULD DWELL IN THE THICK DARKNESS; and now was fulfilling his promise, and therefore to be considered not as a token of his displeasure, but of his gracious presence; this was done for the greater awe of the divine Majesty, and to denote the darkness of the former dispensation; reference may be had to Leviticus 16:2 or rather this was now said by the Lord, that is, it appeared to be his resolution and determination to dwell in this manner; the Targum is, "the Lord is pleased to cause his Shechinah or divine Majesty to dwell in Jerusalem,'' in the temple there. This was imitated by the Heathens; hence

CHAPTER 8THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE _ 1. The great assembly (1 Kings 8:1)_ 2. The transportation of the ark (1 Kings 8:3) 3. The glory of the LORD filling the house (1 Kings 8:10) 4. Solomon's opening words (1 Kings 8:12) 5. Solomon's great prayer (1 Kings 8:22) 6. Solomon's benediction (1 Kings 8:54) 7. The sacrifices and the feast ...

SOLOMON'S DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE, PRAYER AND ADDRESS. This chapter is mainly Deuteronomic, being clearly written from the standpoint of one who has seen the Temple as the one national sanctuary of Israel, and has either witnessed its downfall or perceived that it was imminent. 1 Kings 8:1 is, however, probably from the early record of how the house of Yahweh was dedicated by Solomon, of which 1 Kings 8:62 is the continuation, the prayer of Solomon being Deuteronomic. In 1 Kings 8:12 f. we may have preserved an authentic poetic utterance of Solomon himself in the words of the dedication of the Temple. As they are given in the LXX they read as follows: Yahweh set the sun in heaven,...

DWELL. Figure of speech _Anthropopatheia_. App-6....

Solomon's opening blessing (2 Chronicles 6:1-11) 12. _The Lord said that_he _would dwell in the thick darkness_ Better, as in 2 Chronicles 6:1, -The Lord HATH said, &c." The king's words are called forth by what he sees: the house enveloped in a thick cloud such that none could remain within nor enter. The allusion is to Leviticus 16:3, where God says -I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat." Cf. Psalms 97:2, -Clouds and darkness are round about Him." So too God speaks of coming to Moses -in a thick cloud,...