1 Kings 8:1-13; 27-30, Worthy
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Introduction:
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Setting the Stage:
How did Israel get to the point of having a temple?
1 Kings 6:1 states that it was 480 years from the Exodus until the building of the temple!
In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites came out of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, the second month, he began to build the temple of the Lord. 1 Kings 6:1
During the wilderness wondering Israel had the tabernacle.
During Joshua and Judges they continued to use the tabernacle without any real thought to a temple.
Nothing that I can think of during the reign of Saul suggests he was interested in building a temple.
David had a heart for God and a great desire to build the temple but was not permitted to do so.
Finally, 480 years later Solomon took on the task.
What is the significance of this passage?
The passage is framed by two events, moving the ark to the temple (8:1-13) and offering sacrifices of dedication (8:62-66).
In describing 1 Kings chapter 8, Paul House makes the following claim.
Chapter 8 is one of the most theologically significant texts in 1, 2 Kings. Here readers encounter more than the pomp, ceremony, and ritual associated with major religious building dedications. The author certainly includes these details yet also selects the aspects of the ceremony that underscore Israel’s theological heritage. Whether in describing the procession to the temple, Solomon’s prayers and speeches, or the Lord’s reaction to the scene, the writer interweaves into the story awe, theological history, warnings, and encouragements [1]
In the coming week we will be moving into and dedicating the sanctuary.
=As we dedicate we must remember it is not about us, it is about God
Body
God is worthy of human effort in worship (8:1-5).
Worship is both an individual and a corporate undertaking (1-2).
The act of worship was a national act of worship.
First Kings 8 opens with an exciting and important step. The temple has been completed and furnished. The issue is that one of the most important pieces for worship is not present at the Temple. The Ark of the Covenant was housed on Mount Zion in the Southeast portion of Jerusalem called the City of David. With construction complete, the time has come for the ark to be moved. Solomon has wide support for this effort as evidenced by the three specific groups mentioned. The elders, heads, and chiefs comes together to bring the ark. The date is chosen to correspond with the Feast of Tabernacles. The focus in these first two verses is on the broad participation. Moving the ark will be an act of worship and while there are times to worship God individually, in this case the act of worship is a corporate national act of worship. The entire nation is going to participate in this act of worship!
The timing of worship celebrated the end of wilderness wanderings.
The choice Solomon made to move the ark at the feast of tabernacles was a strategic choice when the nation would all have gathered together. Likely, this dedication was 11 months after completion of the temple (1 Kings 6:38 tells us the temple was completed in the 7th month). By waiting Solomon was able to emphasize the significance of God having a dedicated place of worship with the people. These people who had formerly been a wondering people were now a people with a land and a place in that land dedicated to God.
Worship is not intended to be a free-for-all (3-4).
In other words, in real worship you do not call the shots. God is the one who determines what worship should look like.
God had a carefully prescribed means by which the ark and temple utensils were to be transported.
God had prescribed that the priests should be the ones who would carry the ark (remember David made a mistake in exactly this place in 2 Samuel 6). God further prescribed that the Levites were the ones to carry the other furnishings.
Each person accepted their proper role
Solomon funded the project.
The rulers provided the leadership and community support.
The Levites provided labor
The priests provided for spiritual needs
Solomon might have said "I paid for this project, I am going to be the one who leads this worship." But that was not God's model! Worship is not a free-for-all, instead we follow God's leading.
Worship should be abundant (5).
In a beautiful picture of true worship we see that the sacrifices were so substantial that they lost count!
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MTR: This week will you commit to individual and corporate abundant worship?
God is worthy of careful and purposeful acts of worship and remembrance (8:6-9).
God's presence matter in worship and remembrance (6-7).
God's prescription matters in worship and remembrance (9).
Image: When every pound matters what do you take? Flying a small plane to Colorado.
MTR: This week will you commit to being careful and purposeful as you worship and remember our God?
God Himself is the only real source of glory (8:10-13; 27-30).
God's glory overwhelms any human effort (10-11).
People can try to construct on behalf of God (12-13).
However, God cannot and will not be limited to human construction (27).
Therefore, human efforts must always have one focus, to point the God of the Universe (28-30).
MTR: This week take some time to participate in both individual worship that is careful to focus on God and purposeful.
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- ↑ Paul R. House, 1, 2 Kings, vol. 8, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 135.
