1 Kings 8:44

_IF THY PEOPLE GO OUT TO BATTLE AGAINST THEIR ENEMY, WHITHERSOEVER THOU SHALT SEND THEM, AND SHALL PRAY UNTO THE LORD TOWARD THE CITY WHICH THOU HAST CHOSEN, AND TOWARD THE HOUSE THAT I HAVE BUILT FOR THY NAME:_ If thy people go out to battle ......

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...

Verse 44. _IF THY PEOPLE GO OUT TO BATTLE_] The SIXTH case refers to wars undertaken by Divine appointment: _whithersoever thou shalt_ _send them_; for in no other wars could they expect the blessing and concurrence of the Lord; in none other could the God of truth and justice _maintain their cause_. There were such wars under the Mosaic dispensation, there are none such under the Christian dispensation: nor can there be any; for the Son of man is come, not to destroy men's lives, but to save them. Except mere _defensive war_, all others are diabolic; and, _query_, if there were no _provocations_, would there be any _attacks_, and consequently any need of _defensive_ wars?...

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 ...

IF THY PEOPLE GO OUT TO BATTLE AGAINST THEIR ENEMY,.... In a foreign country, threatening to invade them, or having trespassed on their borders, or some way or other infringed on their liberties and privileges, and so given them just occasion to go to war with them: WHITHERSOEVER THOU SHALT SEND THEM; this case supposes their asking counsel of God, or having a direction and commission from him by a prophet, or some other way, to engage in war with the enemy: AND SHALL PRAY UNTO THE LORD TOWARD THE CITY WHICH THOU HAST CHOSEN, AND TOWARD THE HOUSE I HAVE BUILT FOR THY NAME: for, notwithstanding the justness of their cause, and having a warrant from God to go to war, yet they were to pray to him for success when at a distance, even in a foreign land, and about to engage the enemy; and this they were to do, turning their faces towards the city of Jerusalem, and the temple there; declaring...

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,...

ENEMY. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "enemies"....

_If thy people go out to battle_ The case here is of a war undertaken by God's direction, and therefore in a righteous cause. Under such circumstances the people may trust in Him for support. _shall pray unto the Lord toward the city_ Not only the Jews but other people were wont to turn their faces toward some sacred spot when praying in a distant land, as Daniel did in Babylon (Daniel 6:10). Thus the Mohammedans turn towards Mecca, and the early Christians inherited from the Jews the custom of turning to the east when they prayed. Cf. Tert. Revelation 16; Revelation 16....

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