THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE This chapter reveals God’s longing for man. He, whom heaven and earth cannot contain, finds pleasure in dwelling in the midst of His people. Inclines His ears to listen to their requests, blesses them, and turns their life into a perpetual feast. Solomon’s heart was enflamed with joy in those moments for which he waited so long, and for which his father David desired. He did not rejoice alone, but with him were the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the priests, the Levites, and all the people. For it has been a work that touched the life of every believer, whatever his role was. 1- A call to the leaderships and people `` 1 - 2 2- The role of the priests 3 - 9 3- God’s glory in His house 10 - 11 4- The dedication of the temple 12 – 66 a- Remembering the promises of God 12 - 21 b- Praising God 22 - 27 c- A prayer and a supplication 28 - 40 d- Proclaiming love for all men 41 - 43 e- A request for conquest 44 - 53 f- Blessing the people 54 - 60 g- A call to keep the commandment 61 h- Offering sacrifices of love 62 - 64 i- A feast and joy 65 – 66 1- A CALL TO THE LEADERSHIPS AND THE PEOPLE: (1-2) https://coptic-treasures.com/ “Now Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel, to king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the arc of the covenant of the Lord from the city of David which is Zion” (1) According to Archbishop Usher, Solomon postponed the dedication of the temple for about a year after finishing its building; to do it on the first year of the fourth thousand jubilee, namely , in year 3001 of creation. If God created the whole world to be a palace for man to live like a king of authority; On the inauguration of the fourth thousand Jubilee of creation, man presents this building as a symbolic work of the longing of creatures to have the King of kings live and reign in His palace.. God presented the whole world as a palace for us, and we, in our weakness, present very little of what He granted us, as a palace for Him, He who could never be limited by a place. He intends to set kings out of us, but we insist on having Him as the King of kings who moves us by His royal Spirit. “And all the men of Israel assembled to King Solomon at the feast in the month of Ethanim, which is the seventh month” (2) The way king David was at the head of the celebration of bringing forth the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, so was his son Solomon, at the head of the celebration of the dedication of the house of the Lord. That celebration could not be realized by the presence of the king alone, nor together with all the men of his state; but should be shared with all the religious and civil leaderships, the priests, and the whole people; as it was a declaration of the dwelling of of God among His people. Cherishing the bond between him and the people, Solomon called himself “preacher’, “teacher” (Ecclesiastes 1: 1), and “scholar” (Ecclesiastes 12: 11). https://coptic-treasures.com/ The month of “Ethanim”, or “Trchri”, corresponds to a part of October and another part of November. Despite the beauty and exaltation of the temple, Without the arc of the covenant in it, it would be like a body without a spirit, a house with no resident, or a lampstand without a lamp. All what was done by king David and his son king Solomon, of preparation and execution of the building of the temple, would lose its value, if the Lord does not live in it, and proclaim His glory inside it. 2- THE ROLE OF THE PRIESTS: (3 – 9) “Then all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. And they brought up the Ark of the Lord, the tabernacle of meeting, and all the holy furnishings that were in the tabernacle. The priests and the Levites brought them up” (3, 4) Together with the ark of the covenant they brought forth the tabernacle of meeting, that was probably the same one built by the prophet Moses; then temporarily set in Zion until the building of the temple. The temple, with all what it bears of holiness is an extension of the tabernacle with all its holiness. God who filled the tabernacle with His glory, is He Himself who, yesterday, today, and forever, fills His church along all eras with His divine glory. “And king Solomon and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled to him were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be counted or numbered for multitude” (5) https://coptic-treasures.com/ Presenting sacrifices was a work of two aspects: One of reconciliation with God by blood together with repentance; and another aspect of thanksgiving together with joy for the salvation work of God. Presenting sacrifices to God by the king and the whole people, is therefore a proclamation of true longing for reconciliation together with true joy and an exultation for the fellowship with God. “Then the priests brought in the ark of the covenant to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the Most Holy Place , under the wings of the cherubim. For the cherubim spread their two wings over the place of the ark; and the cherubim overshadowed the ark and its poles. And the poles extended so that the ends of the poles could be seen from the holy place, in front of the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen from outside. So they are there to this day” (6-8) Not forgetting the bitter experience of his father David, when God’s anger was aroused on Uzzah, who stretched his hand to the ark of God (2 Samuel 6: 6). Solomon learned that the ark of the Lord should only be touched or carried by the priests. “There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out from the land of Egypt” (9) The pot of Manna and the rod of Aaron, were beside the ark. God intended to bind between His divine presence and His Word. Whoever encounters God enjoys His Word In Him, not separate from Him, but one with Him. https://coptic-treasures.com/ + It is befitting of the bride of Christ to be like the ark, overlaid by gold on the inside and the outside (Exodus 25: 11); It is befitting of her to be a keeper of the law of the Lord. Like the ark which contains nothing but the two tablets of the covenant, it is befitting of you to have no outer thoughts; fir the Lord would have pleasure to sit in your mind, as He did once when He sat on the throne of mercy, and on the cherubim (Exodus 25: 22). (St. Jerome) 3- GOD’S GLORY IN HIS HOUSE: (10-11) “And it came to pass when the priests came out of the holy place that the cloud filled the house of the Lord” (20) This phrase reveals that the book was written before the first desolation of the temple. The appearance of the clouds filling the temple was a sign of God’s pleasure on what the king and the people did together; the way it happened in the days of the prophet Moses (Exodus 16: 10; 40: 38; Numbers 9: 18 etc.)…. Why so? The cloud refers to the holy souls that become as light as the clouds, rising up to heaven. The appearance of the clouds is a confirmation that the glory of God is proclaimed in His saints who rise with their hearts up to heaven, to become like a cloud bearing Him. “So that the priests could not continue ministering because of the clouds; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord” (11) Although the building and furnishing of the temple was a climax of magnificence and beauty; Yet its glory was not because of the huge stones, the silver and gold, https://coptic-treasures.com/ but because of the dwelling of God in it. It is God, Himself, who gives His church its splendor and inner glory. After putting the ark of the covenant in the Most Holy place, all the priests came out before the start of the ministry; as it was not allowed for anyone to enter into it except the High Priest. The house of the Lord and the heavenly icon: + God made us according to His image and likeness; as He teaches us, saying: “See, O Jerusalem, I have inscribed your walls” (Isaiah 49: 16). If we walk well, that heavenly icon will abide in us; Otherwise that image; namely, the icon of Him who came down from heaven, would be taken away, (or would be distorted), and only the image of the earthly man would remain in him. Accordingly, the apostle Paul says: “As we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the Heavenly Man” (1 Corinthians 15: 49). That is why the images of the good men continue to shine in the city of God. But if man divert to the deadly sins and does not repent, the heavenly icon would be destroyed in him, or would be cast away, the way Adam was cast away from paradise (Genesis 3: 21-24). But he who walks in holiness, will enter into the city of God (Revelations 3: 12), and will shine with his personal image in the city of God. But he who clothed himself with the works of darkness, will never shine in the light. (St. Ambrose) 4- THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE: (12 – 66) a- Remembering the promises of God: https://coptic-treasures.com/ At the beginning of the rite of dedication, the Lord proclaimed His dwelling in His house, and the dwelling of his glory in it, to reveal His exalted love. He initiates love, and longs for pouring His glory upon His believers. And the believers are committed, in their turn, to respond to His love by love; by remembering His divine promises, by entering into a debate of love with Him; by having a wide heart toward their brethren; by trusting in the enjoyment of the spirit of conquest and victory; by joyfully keeping the divine commandment; by presenting the sacrifices of love, accepted by Him, beside practicing the joyful life as a shadow of the heavenly life. This, in short, what we would call the dedication of the house of the Lord. It is a mixture of the mutual love between God and men, together with prayers, praises, obedience, giving, and unceasing joy. If the church practices a special rite for dedication, the dedication of the church by prayers and praises, is a starting, as well as a final point. The priests, together with the people remain practicing love, together with prayers and joy, with the spirit of obedience, to experience the dedication as the work of the Holy Spirit, continuous in the life of the church. The house of the Lord is not just a place for practicing worship, but it is a place for a living encounter with God, the Lover of mankind; where the believers enjoy the mutual love with God, and with one another, and partake with the heavenly hosts, of their continuous joy. At the dedication of the tabernacle of meeting, the glory of God filled the sanctuary; that Moses could not enter into it (Exodus 40: 34-35); The same thing happened at the dedication of the temple. Some erroneously mix between the appearance of the cloud of the divine glory in the temple, and that of the smoke coming up from the altar of burnt offering, when a multitude of sacrifices are presented. But the text clearly indicate that the cloud here in the house, is not that of smoke, but that of the divine glory. https://coptic-treasures.com/ The glory of God that appears as a consuming fire (Exodus24: 17; Deuteronomy 9: 3), that no one could stand, proclaims itself here as a glorious cloud, which covers, not only the Most Holy place, but the whole temple, so that all the people would enjoy that glory, and that all would perceive the pleasure of God to dwell among them, and to accept dwelling in the house set for Him. “Then Solomon spoke: ‘The Lord said He would dwell in the dark cloud” (12) When the disciples of the Lord, at the time of His transfiguration on the Mount, entered into the cloud of light, they were fearful (Luke 9: 34); So the priests were when the cloud of the glory of the Lord filled the house; Hence Solomon, gave a sermon which, beside encouraging them, was in essence a song of praise to God who granted him what his father longed for; as though by this praise he pays a debt on behalf of his father. The cloud was as though a divine voice through which the Lord says: ‘I, in truth, am coming to dwell in my house, and to dwell among you’ And Solomon’s praise came like a response to that divine voice, as though saying to Him: [‘Yes, Come, O Lord, as You have already promised. Come, for the house is Your house, of Your goodness and graces on us; we built it for You; for You alone; and for no one but You.’] “I have surely built You an exalted house, and a place for You to dwell in forever’. And the king turned around and blessed the whole congregation of Israel, while all the congregation of Israel were standing” (13) The Holy Book did not mention the words by which Solomon blessed the congregation; It was probably the same blessing by which the high priest blesses https://coptic-treasures.com/ the people: “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel, say to them: ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I shall bless them’” (Numbers 6: 22-27). It so seems that Solomon, here, took over the role of the high priest (except for offering the sacrifices); or the role played by the prophet Moses in his leadership of the people to worship the Lord. In his blessing, Solomon, did like his father David, about whom it is said that when he, and all the house of Israel, brought the ark of God up to the city of David: “And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts” (2 Samuel 6: 18). “He dwells in the dark cloud” (12). What does the “dark cloud” here means but that the creation could not see God as He is; but each sees Him as much as his eyes can. “Then he said: ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David, and with His hand has fulfilled it, saying: Since the day that I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have chosen no city of any of the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that My name might be there, but I chose David to be over My people Israel’. Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David: ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for My name; you did well that it was in your heart. Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son, who https://coptic-treasures.com/ shall come from your loins, he shall build the house for My name. . So the Lord has fulfilled His word which He spoke, and I have filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and I have built a house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. And there I have made a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord, which He made with our fathers, when He brought them out of the land of Egypt” (15 – 21). Solomon did not refer to the greatness of the house, the magnificence of its building, nor to its valuable treasures; but referred to two things, which are the secret of the power, holiness, and glory of the house: the first, the divine promise to David, and the second, the presence of a place for the ark of the covenant, seen as a center and a star for the whole house, representing the divine presence; . The secret of its power is the divine promise, and the divine presence. So it is for the church; its power is the divine commandment, or the divine promise, and the covenant by which we have got the reconciliation with the Father, and our enjoyment of salvation, to enjoy the fellowship of the heavenly glory. b- Praising God: “Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven” (22) Solomon’s face was toward the Most Holy Place, when the priests brought the ark of the covenant in, and as they got out when the cloud filled the house. he https://coptic-treasures.com/ started his talk with his face toward the Most Holy Place; But now, when he started blessing the people, he turned his face toward them (14). For no one should bless someone else, while giving him the back, but should face him. In the church, as well, when the priest blesses someone, or the whole congregation, he gives them his face, even when he stands before the altar. The dedication of the temple bore the following living concepts of the house of the Lord: -- The house of the sacrifice: Solomon and the whole people offered a multitude of sacrifices; for ”without blood shed, there can be no forgiveness” (Hebrew 9: 22). St. Agnatius defined the church as “the place of sacrifice”. For in the church we encounter the Lord Christ, the true Sacrifice, and unite with Him, so that our life would become an exalted living sacrifice of love. -- The house of prayer: Solomon raised a prayer for the dedication. -- The house of joy: The dedication was joy for all. The church is a life in the Lord, the Grantor of perpetual joy. -- The house of praise: Solomon blessed and praised the Lord. According to St. Augustine, [You should care to gather together in a multitude to present thanksgiving and glory to God. For every time you gather together for the holy Eucharist, the power of the devil will deteriorate before your faith]. -- The house of love: Love, Solomon sought, not only for the sake of his own people, but for all the people of the earth. https://coptic-treasures.com/ By the altar of the Lord here, before which Solomon raised his prayer before the whole congregation, is meant the altar of the burnt offering and not the altar of incense, “And he said, ‘Lord God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above, or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before you with all their heart” (23) “Who keep Your covenant and mercy”. Solomon learned this from his father David who proclaims in his praise to God: “He is the tower of salvation to His king; and shows mercy to His anointed, to David and his descendants forevermore” (2 Samuel 22: 51). As David perceived that God makes mercy by fulfilling His divine promises which He presented to him, and to the account of his descendants forevermore. In this, David enjoyed the same thought lived by the prophet Moses who says: “Therefore know that the Lord Your God is , He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments” (Deuteronomy 7: 9). God is faithful in His promises, it is befitting of His own, therefore, to be faithful to Him, not by writing false eloquent poems, but by faithfully keeping His commandments; to glorify Him, not by words, but by works. He is faithful “for a thousand generations”, for He is the fountain of love along the generations. “You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth, and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day” (24) After giving thanks to God, who kept His covenant, and fulfilled His divine promises, Solomon asked Him for the following: -- Durability of the throne of Israel, by keeping His commandments (25) https://coptic-treasures.com/ -- Continuation of the divine presence among His people.(29) -- Condemnation of the wicked, and the justification of the righteous (32, 31) -- Salvation from the enemies through the forgiveness of sins (33) -- Salvation from calamities (35-40) -- Giving support to the godly foreigner (41-43) -- Giving conquest in the battles to come (45, 44) -- Liberation from captivity through the collective forgiveness (46-50) -- Continuation of the divine covenant set with the people (51-53) “Therefore, Lord God of Israel, now keep what You promised Your servant David my father, saying: ‘You shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel; only if your sons take heed to their way, that they walk before Me as you have walked before Me. And now I pray, O God of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David my father. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less the temple which I have built!” (25-27) Solomon raised a long prayer, and what came here are just quotations of his prayer. For, once the heart open widely to God, the mouth would find no difficulty to talk to his beloved God. + Living on earth, clothed in the body, and dwelling among his fellow men, He is affected by the bond and harmony between the righteous, who build and set a new temple. The believers are the earth, which, as well, is compared to the greatness of God. Hence the blessed Peter did not hesitate to say: “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2: 5). https://coptic-treasures.com/ God sanctifies the circumcised body, as a holy place for Him on earth; having said: “’Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up’ . Then the Jews said, ‘It has taken 46 years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?’. But He was speaking of the temple of His body” (John 2: 19-21). c- A prayer and a supplication: “Yet regard the prayer of Your servant, and his supplication, O Lord my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today” (28) It is love that makes God condescend to dwell in such a house. Whatever Solomon and his people present to God, there would never be anything befitting to present to the Mighty and limitless Creator. Yet, for the sake of His love, He receives our gifts which we get from His hands, to present to Him as though it is from us. “That Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My name shall be there’, that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place” (29) By saying: “My name shall be there”, he means God’s presence in His house among His people; where He presents His strength a strength for them; His glory, as inner glory for their souls; lightens their eyes to make them perceive His divine secrets, and understand His plans toward them; He grants them continuous growth, and forgiveness of their sins, and sanctification for their spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional being; and joyful salvation. That is the dwelling of God’s name in His house. https://coptic-treasures.com/ “And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel. When they pray toward this place, then hear in heaven, Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive” (30) It is a prayer of a servant in need of his Creator and Master; yet it represents an inner cry-out of his heart, enflamed with faith and love. The temple, the ark of the covenant, with all their articles, are all symbols of the Word of God, who incarnated, and whose body became a holy temple, through whom we pray. He is the intermediary through whom we encounter the Father. The Lord Christ brings us forth into the bosom of His Father, whom we hear forgiving us by the blood of the Savior, and justifies us by His resurrection. “When anyone sins against his neighbor, and is forced to take an oath, and comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this temple; then hear in heaven and act and judge Your servant, condemning the wicked, bringing his way on his head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness” (31-32) He starts by the harmed party, who has doubt against someone being is the cause of the harm that came upon him. He brings him over to the house of the Lord and let him take an oath. If he falsely swears, the Lord will condemn him; and if he truly swears, He will justify him. “When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and when they turn back to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication to You in this temple, then hear in https://coptic-treasures.com/ heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to their fathers” (33-34) After presenting the previous examples of those who cry-out to the Lord, toward His temple, here, he presents a general supplication for the sake of all. The temple has been a symbol of the Lord Christ who stretches His hands to embrace everyone; who longs to give generously to whoever asks Him. God has previously warned them that He would allow for them to be defeated and captivated if they persist on their evil ways, saying: “I will set My face against You, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursue you” (Leviticus 26: 17, 18); “The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; You shall go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them; and you shall become (an object of horror) to all the kingdoms of the earth. Your corpses shall be food for all the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and no one shall frighten them away” (Deuteronomy 28: 25-26). Before they enter into the promised land, and enjoy conquest over the nations dwelling in the land of Canaan, the Lord confirmed to them that in case they disobey His commandment, they would lose their conquest and their honor, and their corpses would be food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, whether on the level of the people as a whole or on the level of individuals. And as the prophet Ahijah said to Jeroboam’s wife: “The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Jeroboam and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field; for the Lord has spoken it” (1 kings 14: 11). And as it came in the psalm: “O God, the nations have come into Your inheritance. Your holy temple they have defiled. They have laid Jerusalem in heaps. The dead bodies of Your servants, they have given as food for the birds of heavens; the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth” (Psalm 79: 1-2). The Lord says on https://coptic-treasures.com/ the tongue of the prophet Jeremiah: “The days are coming, says the Lord, … the corpses of this people will be food for the birds of heaven and for the beasts of the earth. And no one will frighten them away” (Jeremiah7: 32-33). The literal translation of the phrase: ”You shall become an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth” (25) is: All the nations of the earth will move it here and there, up and down; namely, it will become like a ball for all the nations of the earth to play with. And as said in Jeremiah: “I shall hand them over to trouble, to all kingdoms of the earth” (Jeremiah 15: 14); and “I will deliver them to trouble into all the kingdoms of the earth, for their harm, to be a reproach and a byword, a taunt and a curse, in all places where I shall drive them” (Jeremiah 24: 9; 29: 18). God will allow for them to be defeated before all nations to perceive their inner defeat before sin. And will allow for them to be captivated to make them seek their liberation from the captivity of the devil, and from the bondage of lusts and sins. “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You; when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them, then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk, and give rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance. When there is famine in the land, or pestilence, blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, when their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities, whatever plague or whatever sickness there is”. (35-37) https://coptic-treasures.com/ Here, he includes a series of calamities that may dwell upon the people as a fruit of their disobedience to the Lord: Hunger: a great reduction in the grain, wheat in particular, as a result of draught. Pestilence: Spread of deadly contagious illnesses. Blight and mildew: When the plants are infected for any reason; the ear grains do not mature, but carry some kind of black dust instead of seeds or wheat; the little blossoms or flowers fall off the branches. Locusts: A plague that sometimes come upon vast stretches of land, when huge waves of locusts consume everything green on earth.. Grasshoppers: are the locusts in their early stages of growth, Locusts come from far lands, whereas grasshoppers appear on the same land. An enemy attacks and besieges the land and cities. Whatever plague dwells upon man or animal, or plants. Whatever sickness makes man lose his energy and ability to work and produce. “Whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward the temple” (38) Speaking of the prayer in the time of affliction, when man prays toward the temple, as though toward God Himself, namely, toward the divine presence, he should not put the blame upon the circumstances nor upon any person, but looks deep at “the plague of his own heart”, putting the blame upon himself, and upon the narrowness of his own heart, struck by the draught of love toward the others. That is the real plague, for which we should cry-out to God. “Then hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, and forgive and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men)” (39) https://coptic-treasures.com/ By saying: “Forgive, act, and give”, Solomon presents a sound spiritual concept of our look at the house of the Lord. It is not just a place where we seek only our temporal needs, but it is the house of forgiveness, the house of divine action, and the house of heavenly gifts; where we encounter with God in His house, to seek, first reconciliation with Him, and to enter into a relationship of unity and love, for then we may enjoy His divine action in our inner life, and enjoy His gifts that satisfy all our spiritual, mental, social, and material needs. By forgiveness, we may enjoy the gifts of giving, and by the divine act, we receive in us His possibilities; and by giving, we get His goods. It is as though the king here seeks that the believers enjoy God Himself, His abilities, and His gifts. “That they may fear you all the days that they live in the land which you gave to our fathers” (40) a- Proclaiming love for all men: “Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for Your name’s sake (for they will hear of Your great name and Your strong hand and Your outstretched arm), when he comes and pray before this temple; Hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all of which the foreigner calls to you, that all people of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name” (41-43) The strong hand and the outstretched arm refer to the exalted care of God for His people. https://coptic-treasures.com/ Balaam, who came from the land of Moab (Numbers 22) heard of God’s amazing works with His people. In the prayer of dedication, Solomon, the Sage, looking at God , being, not God of Israel alone, but God of all the people of the earth, He asks Him to listen to the prayers of all, that all the peoples of the land may know His name and fear Him. (See also 2 Chronicles 6: 32) The prophet Moses allowed the strangers who sojourn among the children of Israel to present sacrifices in the tabernacle of meeting (Numbers 15: 14, etc.); and it is said that the great name of the Lord and His outstretched arm were heard by the surrounding nations (Exodus 15: 14; 18: 1; Joshua 5: 1). He talks here of some heathens who came to the house of the Lord to become proselytes in the true faith. b- A request for conquest: “When Your people go out to battle against their enemy, wherever You send them, and when they pray to the Lord toward the city which You have chosen , and toward the temple which I have built for Your name; then hear in heaven their prayer, and their supplication, and maintain their cause. When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to the land of the enemy, far or near” (44-46) By saying, “There is no one who does not sin” he does not mean to justify the sinner, but shows the human weakness to draw the mercies of God, and, at the https://coptic-treasures.com/ same time, to open the door of hope before the sinners, on account of that all, with no exception, are in need of the work of the Savior. + Wisdom, particularly on the way, proves to be far better than the company of the strongest men in the city; and it truly forgives those who fail in doing their duty, for there is not a single one with no offense. (St. Gregory the wonder-maker) + Paul, the chosen vessel says: “For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all” (Romans 11: 32); And, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3: 21). And the preacher, who speaks in the name of the divine wisdom, openly says: “For there is no just man on earth who does good and does not sin” (Ecclesiastes &: 20). “And when Your people sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin” (1 kings 8: 46). “Who can say, ‘I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” (Proverb 20: 9).; For no one is pure and without blemish even though his life on earth be a single day; which was also confirmed by the prophet David, saying: “I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin, my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51: 5); and in another psalm he says: “In Your sight no one living is righteous” (Psalm 143: 2). Saying, “In Your sight”, he refers to that those who may seem saints in the sight of men, may not be as such in the sight of God, in His perfect knowledge. ; “For the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16: 7). (St. Jerome) https://coptic-treasures.com/ “And when they come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of those who took them captive, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong, we have committed wickedness’. And when they return to You with all their heart and all their soul in the land of their enemies who led them away captive, and pray to You toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and the temple which I have built for Your name” (47-48) Here Solomon prays with the spirit of prophecy, and sees what will dwell upon the people and upon the temple of the Lord, by the Babylonian captivation on the hand of Nebuchadnezar in the year 586/5 B.C.. By saying, “When they return to You with all their heart”, he confirms the importance of prayer and repentance from the heart. + God does not seek the words, but seeks the hearts. + By the heart we ask, and by the heart we seek, and by the voices of the heart, the door is opened. + Crying out to God is not done by a carnal voice, but by the heart. There are many with silent lips, but they cry out with their hearts; While there are many who produce loud noise with their lips, when their hearts are unable to present anything. Therefore, if you cry out to God, do it from the heart , for there He listens to you. (St. Augustine) “Then hear from heaven, Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplication and maintain their cause; and https://coptic-treasures.com/ forgive Your people who have sinned against You, and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You; and grant them compassion before those who took them captive, that they may have compassion on them” (49-50) God, with whose love He moves everyone to the edification of our souls, is He who allows for chastisement, and even for captivation; and who moves the hearts of those who captivate, whether to practice their violence, yet within the limits He sets; or to practice mercy, and let His people find favor in their sight; about which the psalmist says: “For their sake He remembered His covenant; and relented according to the multitude of His mercies. He also made them to be pitied by all those who carried them away captives” (Psalm 106: 45, 46). Solomon did not pray for the sake of their release from captivity, by returning to their land, but for getting compassion before those who took them captive, to let them worship the Lord and testify to Him in the land of their captivity,. “(For they are Your people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out of Egypt, out of the iron furnace), that Your eyes may be open to the supplication of Your servant, and the supplication of Your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they call to You” (51-52) Assuming that he and his people are men of prayer in all their affairs, who concentrate their eyes upon the house of the Lord, and open their mouths to talk to Him, and their hearts to cry-out to Him, Solomon presents specific cases: -- In case of judgment between the people, to justify the righteous and to punish the wicked; Namely, responding to the prayer of a member in the holy congregation. https://coptic-treasures.com/ -- In case of the defeat before an enemy; namely, in case of a collective calamity. -- In case of a natural calamity, like a pestilence or draught. -- In case a foreigner comes to seek from the true God, trusting in Him, and not in his idols. He presents four examples of God’s response to prayer, whether on the level of the individual or of the congregation as a whole, as well as of foreigners; with the assumption that whatever dwell upon the individual or the congregation, is the fruit of sin. Hence he binds the prayer with repentance, and the return to God. “For You separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be Your inheritance, as You spoke by the hand of Your servant Moses, when You brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God” (53) c- Blessing the people: “And so it was, when Solomon finished praying all this prayer and supplication to the Lord, that he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven” (54) Solomon presented to us a living portrait of prayer; he prayed before the altar of the Lord, humbly kneeling on his knees, and spreading his hands toward heaven, to bear, together with godliness, the image of the cross, the gate to heaven. So the apostle Paul used to pray, kneeling, saying, ”For this reason, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 3: 14). https://coptic-treasures.com/ God stretches His hands to proclaim embracing all men, to receive their prayers, and to proclaim His longing to grant the believer all his needs; And the believer spreads his hands in prayer to proclaim the width of his heart, and his longing that his heart would ascend by love up to heaven. Spreading the hands refers, as well, to that the believer’s sureness that he gets from God, heavenly gifts which he receives by his hands to carry to his heart. “Then he stood and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying: ‘Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses. May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He not leave us nor forsake us, that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers. . And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the Lord, be near the Lord our God day and night, that he may maintain the cause of His servant, and the cause of His people Israel, as each day may require, that the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God, there is no other” (55-60) As Solomon ended his sermon in the book of Ecclesiastes, to give a summary of what he said, here does he same here: -- He gives glory to God for the sake of His works with His people (56) -- He refers to the true promises of God to the prophet Moses and the prophet David, and to how all His words were fulfilled (56) https://coptic-treasures.com/ -- He opens the door of hope before the people; As God was with our fathers, so he will be with us, and will never forsake us (57) -- He confirms our need for God to incline our hearts to Himself, to keep His commandment (58) -- God listens to the prayers (59) -- God is glorified in His people Israel among all the peoples of the earth (60). Solomon often repeats his confirmation of the need for the divine presence, for the enjoyment of the strength of His grace, for his receiving our prayers, and for the glorification of God among the peoples of the earth. d- A call to keep the commandment: “Let your heart, therefore, be loyal to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes, and keep His commandments, as at this day” (61) e- Offering sacrifices of love: “Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the Lord” (62) As the reign of Solomon was characterized by peace, and riches, that reflected on the economic status of the people; it was the duty of the people, together with the sacrifice of praise and joy, to offer of what God granted them of riches and sheep as sacrifices. “And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the Lord, 22,000 bulls, and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord” (63) https://coptic-treasures.com/ To counter the wrong assumption by some people that it is impossible for Solomon to offer such a huge number of sacrifices, we say: -- By saying: “Solomon offered”, does not imply that he slaughtered those thousands of sacrifices by himself, but he presented them to be slaughtered. And we can say that the people partook of that procedure by presenting those sacrifices to the priests and the Levites; and God counted them as a gift from Solomon as a representative of all the people. -- According to some, although the people could have taken part of the actual slaughtering, yet the priests have to scatter the blood, and put the lamb on the altar to be burnt. -- According to the Jewish Historian Jusephus, in the days of Beron, Cestius asked the priests to count the number of the lambs that were sacrificed, who found them to be 250,000 lamb in a duration of three hours in the afternoon, whose blood was scattered on the altar. -- According to others, the number of priests and Levites, was enough to present the sacrifices. In the time of king David, there were 38,000 Levites, over 30 years of age; and the number of priests was probably two or three thousands. -- Those sacrifices were not offered in one day, but through the period of the two feasts (two weeks): the feast of the dedication of the temple, and the feast of the tabernacles. “On the same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that was in front of the house of the Lord, for there he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that was https://coptic-treasures.com/ before the Lord was too small to receive the burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings” (63) f- A feast of joy: “At that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt, before the Lord our God, seven days and seven more days. On the eighth day he sent the people away, and they blessed the king, and went to their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the Lord has done for His servant David, and for Israel His people” (65-66) From Hamath in the north, most probably Syria, to the valley of Egypt south; namely, from the far north to the far south. Solomon and all the leaderships, together with the people celebrated the dedication of the temple all along seven days, followed by seven days during which they celebrated the feast of the tabernacles; And on the eighth day he blessed the people and sent them away, exultant with joy. The people not only found exalted joy in the house of the Lord, but they carried that joy with them to their homes to practice their whole life. “They blessed the king”; namely, they prayed for his sake to the Lord to grant him His blessing, and to let His peace dwell on him; And that was how Solomon, likewise blessed the congregation. It was a mutual love between the leader and his people in the Lord. ---------------------------- https://coptic-treasures.com/ AN INSPIRATION FROM 1 KINGS 8 YOUR HOLY SPIRIT DEDICATES YOUR TEMPLE + The day Your temple is dedicated is a heavenly feast; You rejoice in Your people, and Your people rejoice in You; Solomon, the elders, the priests, and the people exulted; They offered sacrifices beyond counting; Your glory filled the house, that the priests could not stand for ministering; + Your Holy Spirit dedicates Your temple; You rejoice in me and sanctifies me; And I rejoice in You, and dedicate my life to You; As a king, my will exults; And my mind like the elders of the people; And my feelings like the priests of the Most High; And all my energies like the congregation of the Lord; All the energies of my soul and my body will partake of presenting burnt offerings of love. + You promised to dwell in me, together with Your Holy Father; That no cloud would fill my soul; But Your Holy Spirit would fill my whole being; Let me pray together with Solomon, saying: May Your eyes be open on this house day and night; To hear the prayer said by Your servant in this place; From Your place in heaven, hear his prayer; And if You hear, forgive; + Grant me a perfect heart; https://coptic-treasures.com/ To walk according to Your commandments; to Keep them, and they keep me; May my whole life become a double feast for the dedication of my heart; Let me return to my tent, exultant, and anticipating Your encounter face to face.
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