Journal Through the Bible: Week 47 Thursday

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I Kings 8:62-9:28

Does God issue any commands?

• God commanded Solomon and the people to be faithful to Him.

Does God  make any promises?

• God appeared unto Solomon the second time. This time He promised that His name would forever be put onto the site that Solomon dedicated. (We know the building was destroyed long ago, but God has reserved that hallowed ground for Himself. One day we will see Him claim it again.)
• God promised Solomon that if he would follow God's commands and remain faithful to Him God would fulfill His promise to David of an everlasting kingdom through the line of Solomon.
• God promised a curse upon the people and the hallowed house if the people would not obey Him. Then they would be scattered and become a byword to all people.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Solomon dedicated the Temple with many offerings. These offerings are pictures of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the propitiation for our sins. Solomon offered so many because he was representing the people of Israel who needed to have their sins covered under the blood. Hebrews tells us that the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sins but were a picture of the perfect Lamb of God. Here the sacrifices filled the house. In Isaiah and in Revelation we are told that the glory of the Lamb of God fills the House!

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• The grand celebration and feast that Solomon and his people enjoyed at the culmination of the building of God's House is a reminder of what is coming when all God's people are together for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb which celebrates the culmination of the building of God's House, all those who are His representative "temples" finally together!
• One day God will take possession of His inheritance, the ground that Solomon dedicated to Him as the Temple Mount.