1 Kings 8:55 And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying, The great ceremonial of dedicating the temple was threefold. The first stage was setting the ark in its place, which was the essence of the whole thing. God's presence was the true dedication, and that was manifested by the bright cloud that filled the sanctuary as soon as the ark was placed there. The second stage was the lofty and spiritual prayer, saturated with the language and tone of Deuteronomy, and breathing the purest conceptions of the character and nature of God, and all aglow with trust in Him. Then follows, thirdly, this "Blessing of the Congregation." 1. Note the thankful retrospect of the nation's past (ver. 56). 2. Note the prayer for obedient hearts (vers. 57, 58). The proper subject-matter of this petition is "that He may incline our hearts to walk in His ways," and God's presence is invoked as a means thereto. The deepest desire of a truly religious soul is for the felt nearness of God. That goes before all other blessings, and contains them all But Solomon desires that God may be with him and his people for one specific purpose. As in his choice in his dream, so now, he asks, not for these things, but for an inward influence on heart and will. What he wants most for himself and them is moral conformity to God's will. All will be right if that be right. The prayer implies that, without God's help, the heart will wander from the paths of duty. 3. Note the prayer for God's defence (vers. 59, 60). The proper subject-matter of this petition is that God would maintain the cause of king and nation; and it is preceded by a petition that, to that end, the long former prayer may be answered, and is followed by the desire that thereby the knowledge of God may fill the earth. The prayer for outward blessings comes after the prayer for inward heart-obedience. Note the grand aim of God's help of Israel — the universal diffusion of His name among all the peoples of the earth. Solomon understood the Divine vocation of Israel, and had risen above desiring blessings only for his own or his subjects' sake. God's choice of Israel was not meant for the exclusion of the Gentiles, but as the means of transmitting the knowledge of God to them. The one nation was chosen that God's grace might fructify through them to all. The fire was gathered into a hearth, that the whole house might be warmed. 4. The blessing ends with one brief, all-comprehensive charge to the people, which seems based, by its "therefore," on the preceding thought of Jehovah as the only God. The only attitude corresponding to His sole and supreme Majesty is the entire devotion of the heart, which leads to thorough-going obedience to His commandments. We, too, are tempted to bring Him divided hearts, and to carry some of our love and trust as offerings at other shrines. But if there be one God, and none other but He, then to serve Him with all our hearts and strength and mind is the dictate of common sense, and the only course which He can accept, or which can bring our else distracted natures peace and satisfaction. His voice to us is, My son, give Me thy whole heart. Our answer to Him should ever be that prayer, "Lord unite my heart to fear Thy name." (A. Maclaren, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying,WEB: He stood, and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying, |
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