That all the people of the earth may know that the LORDis God, and that there is none else.
In Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple he declared God's purpose that through Israel's faithful worship and obedience all the people of the earth would come to know that the Lord alone is God and there is no other. God showed His approval when His glory filled the house so the priests could not stand to minister, yet He is not like heathen gods confined to temples made for them, for heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him, but He meets His people by His Spirit when they assemble in the house dedicated to His worship. That knowledge was to spread as Solomon for a time honored God by turning visiting rulers away from himself to the Giver, teaching them of the great Creator who dwells in the highest heaven and rules over all, so that instead of extolling him they blessed the Lord who made him king to do judgment and justice. The same purpose is fulfilled when leaders enter the house of prayer in times of war or oppression and plead for deliverance, as Hezekiah's prayer against Assyria asked God to save Judah so the nations would know the God of the Hebrews still lived and reigned, for His honor was at stake and He alone could bring deliverance. Solomon urged the people to give their hearts wholly to the Lord in walking in His ways and keeping His commandments in order to receive His blessing, but he later betrayed that prayer by leading Israel into the worship of false gods.
Temple Dedication Prayer
That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God and there is none else belongs to Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple and states the conditions God required of His people in order to receive His blessings in worship. It followed David's desire, while dwelling in his palace of cedar, to build a more worthy residence for the ark of God which symbolized His presence. This came after the nation ended its pilgrimage of nearly forty years from Horeb to Jerusalem bearing the wilderness tabernacle and obtained a permanent location in Canaan, with the site indicated and the most complete instructions given and Solomon entering upon the great work. God showed His approval of the work when the cloud filled the house of the Lord and His glory filled it so that the priests could not stand to minister.
The dedication took place before all Israel with many nations present to tear away heathen superstitions about Jehovah. It teaches that God is not like the heathen gods who are confined to temples built for them, for heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him. Yet the God of Israel meets His people by His Spirit when they assemble in the house dedicated to His worship. A Greater than Solomon was the designer of the temple, and the wisdom and glory of God stood revealed there. Those who did not know this admired and praised Solomon as architect and builder, but Solomon disclaimed all honor for its conception and erection and pointed them to God.
In the prayer Solomon asked God to maintain the cause of the king and of Israel at all times as need arose. He urged the people to give their hearts wholly to the Lord and to be wholehearted in walking in His ways and keeping His commandments. Solomon later betrayed that prayer by leading Israel into the worship of false gods. His idolatry and apostasy ran contrary to its purpose that all people on earth should know that the Lord alone is God.
Making Nations Know God
The purpose of Israel's worship, faithfulness, obedience and witness was that all the people of the earth might know that the Lord alone is God and there is none else, making His name known far beyond Israel itself. Solomon's prayer joined to that purpose the appeal that God would maintain the cause of the king and of Israel at all times as need arose, and it urged the people to give their hearts wholly to the Lord and be wholehearted in walking in His ways and keeping His commandments. Israel was to remain faithful so that peoples throughout the earth would learn that the Lord alone is God.
That knowledge was to be impressed upon the world through Solomon's wisdom, prosperity and temple. For a time he honored God by turning visiting rulers away from himself as the mere human agent to the Giver, teaching them of the God of nature, the great Creator who dwells in the highest heaven and rules over all, the Ruler of the universe, the All-wise. Thus instead of extolling Solomon they were led to bless the Lord who loved Israel and made him king to do judgment and justice. Israel's part as a light to the surrounding nations could have been fulfilled through obedience, through turning away from their evils, and through using Solomon's wisdom and influence to bring those who did not know God and His truth to allegiance to Him.
The prayer especially applies when in times of war or oppression by an enemy or army the leaders of Israel enter the house of prayer and plead for deliverance, with the assurance that God will show favor. Solomon prayed that God would uphold Israel's cause whenever need arose, particularly when Israel's leaders sought deliverance from war or oppression. Hezekiah's prayer for help from heaven against Assyria was in harmony with that dedication prayer and with God's mind, asking deliverance for Judah so that the nations would know the God of the Hebrews still lived and reigned. The honor of Jehovah was at stake, and He alone could bring deliverance.
Solomon's prayer shows Israel's dependence on God, and those who worship Him sincerely receive His blessing. The truth that the Lord alone is God and there is no other calls people to depend on Him rather than on themselves and to seek His counsel in prayer. He reads every motive and knows every impulse of the human heart. The passage in 1 Kings 8:55-61 is instruction for families to teach and practice the Lord's Word, receiving temporal and spiritual blessings with gratitude and giving God glory for them. It shows that God is the source of every good gift and that worship and offerings are acceptable when given with reverence and a humble, thankful heart.
In Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple he declared God's purpose that through Israel's faithful worship and obedience all the people of the earth would come to know that the Lord alone is God and there is no other. God showed His approval when His glory filled the house so the priests could not stand to minister, yet He is not like heathen gods confined to temples made for them, for heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him, but He meets His people by His Spirit when they assemble in the house dedicated to His worship. That knowledge was to spread as Solomon for a time honored God by turning visiting rulers away from himself to the Giver, teaching them of the great Creator who dwells in the highest heaven and rules over all, so that instead of extolling him they blessed the Lord who made him king to do judgment and justice. The same purpose is fulfilled when leaders enter the house of prayer in times of war or oppression and plead for deliverance, as Hezekiah's prayer against Assyria asked God to save Judah so the nations would know the God of the Hebrews still lived and reigned, for His honor was at stake and He alone could bring deliverance. Solomon urged the people to give their hearts wholly to the Lord in walking in His ways and keeping His commandments in order to receive His blessing, but he later betrayed that prayer by leading Israel into the worship of false gods.
Temple Dedication Prayer
That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God and there is none else belongs to Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple and states the conditions God required of His people in order to receive His blessings in worship. It followed David's desire, while dwelling in his palace of cedar, to build a more worthy residence for the ark of God which symbolized His presence. This came after the nation ended its pilgrimage of nearly forty years from Horeb to Jerusalem bearing the wilderness tabernacle and obtained a permanent location in Canaan, with the site indicated and the most complete instructions given and Solomon entering upon the great work. God showed His approval of the work when the cloud filled the house of the Lord and His glory filled it so that the priests could not stand to minister.
The dedication took place before all Israel with many nations present to tear away heathen superstitions about Jehovah. It teaches that God is not like the heathen gods who are confined to temples built for them, for heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him. Yet the God of Israel meets His people by His Spirit when they assemble in the house dedicated to His worship. A Greater than Solomon was the designer of the temple, and the wisdom and glory of God stood revealed there. Those who did not know this admired and praised Solomon as architect and builder, but Solomon disclaimed all honor for its conception and erection and pointed them to God.
In the prayer Solomon asked God to maintain the cause of the king and of Israel at all times as need arose. He urged the people to give their hearts wholly to the Lord and to be wholehearted in walking in His ways and keeping His commandments. Solomon later betrayed that prayer by leading Israel into the worship of false gods. His idolatry and apostasy ran contrary to its purpose that all people on earth should know that the Lord alone is God.
Making Nations Know God
The purpose of Israel's worship, faithfulness, obedience and witness was that all the people of the earth might know that the Lord alone is God and there is none else, making His name known far beyond Israel itself. Solomon's prayer joined to that purpose the appeal that God would maintain the cause of the king and of Israel at all times as need arose, and it urged the people to give their hearts wholly to the Lord and be wholehearted in walking in His ways and keeping His commandments. Israel was to remain faithful so that peoples throughout the earth would learn that the Lord alone is God.
That knowledge was to be impressed upon the world through Solomon's wisdom, prosperity and temple. For a time he honored God by turning visiting rulers away from himself as the mere human agent to the Giver, teaching them of the God of nature, the great Creator who dwells in the highest heaven and rules over all, the Ruler of the universe, the All-wise. Thus instead of extolling Solomon they were led to bless the Lord who loved Israel and made him king to do judgment and justice. Israel's part as a light to the surrounding nations could have been fulfilled through obedience, through turning away from their evils, and through using Solomon's wisdom and influence to bring those who did not know God and His truth to allegiance to Him.
The prayer especially applies when in times of war or oppression by an enemy or army the leaders of Israel enter the house of prayer and plead for deliverance, with the assurance that God will show favor. Solomon prayed that God would uphold Israel's cause whenever need arose, particularly when Israel's leaders sought deliverance from war or oppression. Hezekiah's prayer for help from heaven against Assyria was in harmony with that dedication prayer and with God's mind, asking deliverance for Judah so that the nations would know the God of the Hebrews still lived and reigned. The honor of Jehovah was at stake, and He alone could bring deliverance.
Solomon's prayer shows Israel's dependence on God, and those who worship Him sincerely receive His blessing. The truth that the Lord alone is God and there is no other calls people to depend on Him rather than on themselves and to seek His counsel in prayer. He reads every motive and knows every impulse of the human heart. The passage in 1 Kings 8:55-61 is instruction for families to teach and practice the Lord's Word, receiving temporal and spiritual blessings with gratitude and giving God glory for them. It shows that God is the source of every good gift and that worship and offerings are acceptable when given with reverence and a humble, thankful heart.