But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever.
The house spoken of is a dwelling-place built for the Lord God, not for man, to be formally dedicated to Jehovah and His worship. It was set apart for Him and for His worship forever, as a house of habitation and a place for God to dwell forever, built for His name. In allowing Solomon to build it, God fulfilled His promise.
The words were spoken at the formal dedication of the temple after its several years of building were complete. Solomon spoke facing the great altar of burnt offering before the assembled hosts of Israel with representatives of foreign nations present. The dedication statement was addressed to the assembled congregation of Israel in their presence and hearing.
Immediately before, the trumpeters and singers had sounded as one in praise of the Lord for His goodness and enduring mercy. Then the cloud of the glory of the Lord filled the house of God, so that the priests could not stand to minister. Realizing the significance of this cloud, Solomon declared that the Lord had said He would dwell in the thick darkness.
The chapter preserves Solomon's vocal public prayer, offered kneeling upon a brazen scaffold in the presence and hearing of the people of Israel, with its words given in the Bible. When the prayer ended, God answered by sending fire from heaven that consumed the burnt offering. God also appeared to Solomon by night to say that He had heard his prayer.
The house spoken of is a dwelling-place built for the Lord God, not for man, to be formally dedicated to Jehovah and His worship. It was set apart for Him and for His worship forever, as a house of habitation and a place for God to dwell forever, built for His name. In allowing Solomon to build it, God fulfilled His promise.
The words were spoken at the formal dedication of the temple after its several years of building were complete. Solomon spoke facing the great altar of burnt offering before the assembled hosts of Israel with representatives of foreign nations present. The dedication statement was addressed to the assembled congregation of Israel in their presence and hearing.
Immediately before, the trumpeters and singers had sounded as one in praise of the Lord for His goodness and enduring mercy. Then the cloud of the glory of the Lord filled the house of God, so that the priests could not stand to minister. Realizing the significance of this cloud, Solomon declared that the Lord had said He would dwell in the thick darkness.
The chapter preserves Solomon's vocal public prayer, offered kneeling upon a brazen scaffold in the presence and hearing of the people of Israel, with its words given in the Bible. When the prayer ended, God answered by sending fire from heaven that consumed the burnt offering. God also appeared to Solomon by night to say that He had heard his prayer.