1 Kings 8:42

_(FOR THEY SHALL HEAR OF THY GREAT NAME, AND OF THY STRONG HAND, AND OF THY STRETCHED OUT ARM;) WHEN HE SHALL COME AND PRAY TOWARD THIS HOUSE;_ No JFB commentary on these verses....

22-53 In this excellent prayer, Solomon does as we should do in every prayer; he gives glory to God. Fresh experiences of the truth of God's promises call for larger praises. He sues for grace and favour from God. The experiences we have of God's performing his promises, should encourage us to depend upon them, and to plead them with him; and those who expect further mercies, must be thankful for former mercies. God's promises must be the guide of our desires, and the ground of our hopes and expectations in prayer. The sacrifices, the incense, and the whole service of the temple, were all typical of the Redeemer's offices, oblation, and intercession. The temple, therefore, was continually to be remembered. Under one word, "forgive," Solomon expressed all that he could ask in behalf of his people. For, as all misery springs from sin, forgiveness of sin prepares the way for the removal of...

GREAT NAME - A somewhat rare expression. It does not occur at all in the Pentateuch; though “mighty hand” and the “stretched out arm” are so frequent Exodus 6:6; Exodus 13:9; Deuteronomy 9:29 : only once in Joshua Joshua 7:9; and twice in the Psalms Psalms 76:1; Psalms 99:3. About the time of the captivity the use of the phrase became more common Ezekiel 36:23;...

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 ...

(FOR THEY SHALL HEAR OF THY GREAT NAME,.... Of his great name, Jehovah; of him as the eternal, immutable, and self-existent Being; of the perfections of his nature, as displayed in his mighty works: AND OF THY STRONG HAND, AND OF THY STRETCHED OUT ARM); which had done formerly such mighty works in Egypt, at the Red sea, in the wilderness, in the land of Canaan, in the times of David, and still under the reign of Solomon, and even in future ages, besides the works of creation and providence in general: WHEN HE SHALL COME AND PRAY TOWARDS THIS HOUSE; not being admitted into it, only into a court, which in later times was called the court of the Gentiles, see Acts 21:19....

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,...

THEY SHALL HEAR. Compare 1 Kings 10:1 1 Kings 10:6, 1 Kings 10:7....

_of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm_ A constant phrase in Deuteronomy to express God's power, see Deuteronomy 3:24; Deuteronomy 4:34; Deuteronomy 5:15, &c. The greater part of 1 Kings 8:41 and the whole of 42 are omitted in the LXX. (_Vat_.). _when he shall come and pray towards this house_ For the earlier provision whereby the stranger might be admitted to share in the worship of Israel, see Numbers 15:14. The rule was "as ye do, so shall he do....

C. THE DEDICATORY PRAYER 8:22-53 The dedicatory prayer of Solomon is one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible. No doubt the author of Kings copied this composition from the _book of the acts of Solomon_ (1 Kings 11:41), or possibly from the _book of Nathan_ (2 Chronicles 9:29). Modern critics have attacked the authenticity of the prayer on the dubious grounds that it contains too many references to the Pentateuch! Of course if the Pentateuch in its entirety be regarded as Mosaic in origin, there is no reason in the world why Solomon could not or would not have alluded to it frequently. It is interesting to note that in the entire prayer there is not one reference to offering sacrifice in the Temple. The concept of the Temple as a house of prayer was not, then, a postexilic e