1 Kings 8:61

_LET YOUR HEART THEREFORE BE PERFECT WITH THE LORD OUR GOD, TO WALK IN HIS STATUTES, AND TO KEEP HIS_ _ LET YOUR HEART THEREFORE BE PERFECT WITH THE LORD OUR GOD, TO WALK IN HIS STATUTES, AND TO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, AS AT THIS DAY._ Let your heart therefore be perfect, х_ SHAALEEM_ (H8003) _ `IM_ (H5973) _ YAHWEH_ (H3068)] - be at peace with God; i:e., consecrated, given to him. The solemn devotion was concluded an appropriate exhortation to the people to maintain a sincere and steady obedience to the divine law....

54-61 Never was a congregation dismissed with what was more likely to affect them, and to abide with them. What Solomon asks for in this prayer, is still granted in the intercession of Christ, of which his supplication was a type. We shall receive grace sufficient, suitable, and seasonable, in every time of need. No human heart is of itself willing to obey the gospel call to repentance, faith, and newness of life, walking in all the commandments of the Lord, yet Solomon exhorts the people to be perfect. This is the scriptural method, it is our duty to obey the command of the law and the call of the gospel, seeing we have broken the law. When our hearts are inclined thereto, feeling our sinfulness and weakness, we pray for Divine assistance; thus are we made able to serve God through Jesus Christ....

Verse 61. _LET YOUR HEART THEREFORE BE PERFECT_] Be sincere in your faith, be irreproachable in your conduct....

AS AT THIS DAY - i. e. “as ye are now doing, in coming with pious intentions to this festival.”...

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 ...

LET YOUR HEART THEREFORE BE PERFECT WITH THE LORD YOUR GOD,.... Sincere in their love to him, united in their worship of him, and constant in their obedience to him: TO WALK IN HIS STATUTES, AND TO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, AS AT THIS DAY: as they did that day, neither king nor people having as yet fallen into idolatry, but showing by their then present appearance a zeal for God, his house, and worship....

PERFECT The word implies whole-heartedness for God, single-mindedness, sincerity -- not sinless perfection....

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,...

PERFECT WITH. loyal: i.e. not divided between Jehovah and other gods; hence wholly devoted to. Not heeded by Solomon himself. Compare 1Ki 9:6. 1 Kings 11:4....