Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David.
This cry belongs to Solomon's public prayer spoken aloud after the temple was finished, offered kneeling on the brazen scaffold before the altar in the presence and hearing of all Israel with hands spread toward heaven, and preserved in the biblical record. The prayer expresses deep humility and devotion. Before this plea Solomon praises God as having no equal in heaven or earth, keeping covenant and showing mercy to servants who walk before Him with all their hearts. He acknowledges that God has already kept toward David what He promised and fulfilled as of that day by enabling the temple to be built.
The verse itself is a plea to the Lord God of Israel to verify, confirm and fulfill the word He spoke to His servant David, affirming that God keeps His word. The promise in view is that David would not fail to have a man to sit on the throne of Israel, on condition that his children and descendants take heed to walk in God's law as David walked before Him. With this plea Solomon marvels that heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain God, much less the house that was built. He asks God to respect prayer and supplication, to keep His eyes open day and night upon the house where He set His name, to hearken to prayer made toward that place, to hear from His dwelling place in heaven, and when He hears to forgive.
God is not confined to a temple but meets His people by His Spirit when they gather for worship and may be worshiped by His children wherever they are. After the prayer ended God answered by sending fire from heaven that consumed the burnt offering and by appearing to Solomon by night to say He had heard his prayer.
This cry belongs to Solomon's public prayer spoken aloud after the temple was finished, offered kneeling on the brazen scaffold before the altar in the presence and hearing of all Israel with hands spread toward heaven, and preserved in the biblical record. The prayer expresses deep humility and devotion. Before this plea Solomon praises God as having no equal in heaven or earth, keeping covenant and showing mercy to servants who walk before Him with all their hearts. He acknowledges that God has already kept toward David what He promised and fulfilled as of that day by enabling the temple to be built.
The verse itself is a plea to the Lord God of Israel to verify, confirm and fulfill the word He spoke to His servant David, affirming that God keeps His word. The promise in view is that David would not fail to have a man to sit on the throne of Israel, on condition that his children and descendants take heed to walk in God's law as David walked before Him. With this plea Solomon marvels that heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain God, much less the house that was built. He asks God to respect prayer and supplication, to keep His eyes open day and night upon the house where He set His name, to hearken to prayer made toward that place, to hear from His dwelling place in heaven, and when He hears to forgive.
God is not confined to a temple but meets His people by His Spirit when they gather for worship and may be worshiped by His children wherever they are. After the prayer ended God answered by sending fire from heaven that consumed the burnt offering and by appearing to Solomon by night to say He had heard his prayer.