1 Kings 8:56
Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.
Solomon spoke the words at the dedication of the finished temple in great splendor, as part of both his prayer and his address to Israel together with many visiting nations gathered for the occasion. They stand at the close of Israel's pilgrimage of nearly forty years from Horeb to Jerusalem with the ark of God, which symbolized His presence and had rested in the wilderness tabernacle before being brought to a permanent location in the good land of Canaan. While dwelling in his palace of cedar, David had been troubled in conscience that there was no suitable dwelling for the ark and had conceived the idea of a more worthy temple, the site was indicated and the most complete instructions were given, and Solomon entered upon the great work.
God approved Solomon's work by filling the house with the cloud and His glory so that the priests could not stand to minister. This showed that Jehovah is not like heathen gods confined to temples built for them, for His presence is not confined to numbers but meets His people by His Spirit when they assemble in the house dedicated to His worship, so that a small company receives His presence in worship as did the millions at Solomon's temple. The verse declares that the rest given to Israel in its land fulfilled God's promise, and that not one word of all His good promise given through Moses failed.
It therefore shows that God is faithful to His covenant, able to fulfill every promise He has made, and sure in His word so that He can be trusted to keep every promise. It also shows that Israel depended on the God of Israel for blessing and that God's blessings in worship were received on conditions His people were required to meet. His people should recognize and carry out His Word and give Him glory, living by every word He has spoken with hearts wholly given to the Lord, and when they fall short of complete obedience they cannot receive the promised fulfillment.
Solomon's prayer for the people to give their hearts wholly to the Lord stands as a warning because he later followed a course contrary to that prayer and turned from God. Its testimony to God's faithful care calls families to receive temporal and spiritual blessings with gratitude, to trace every good gift to God, and to express thanksgiving and praise in worship. Its assurance applies to personal faith that God is willing to answer prayer and His promises can be accepted with confidence.