Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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1 Kings
Book: 1 Kings
Chapter: 8
Overview:
The
Dedication of the
Temple.
(1-11) The occasion.
(12-21)
Solomon's
Prayer.
(22-53) His blessing and exhortation.
(54-61)
Solomon's peace-offerings.
(62-66)
1-11 The bringing in the
Ark, is the
End which must
Crown the
work: this was done with great solemnity. The
Ark was fixed in
the place appointed for its
Rest in the inner part of the
House,
whence they expected
God to speak to them, even in the most holy
place. The staves of the
Ark were drawn out,
So as to direct the
high
Priest to the
Mercy-seat over the
Ark, when he went in,
once a
Year, to sprinkle the
Blood there;
So that they continued
of use, though there was
No longer occasion to carry it
By them.
The
Glory of
God appearing in a
Cloud may signify, 1. The
Darkness of that
Dispensation, in comparison with the
Light of
the
Gospel,
By which, with open
Face, we behold, as in a
Glass,
the
Glory of the
Lord. 2. The
Darkness of our present state, in
comparison with the sight of
God, which will be the happiness of
Heaven, where the Divine
Glory is unveiled.
12-21 Solomon encouraged the priests, who were much astonished
at the dark
Cloud. The dark dispensations of
Providence should
quicken us in fleeing for
Refuge to the
Hope of the
Gospel.
Nothing can more reconcile us to them, than to consider what
God
has said, and to compare his
Word and
Works together. Whatever
good we do, we must look
On it as the performance of
God's
promise to us, not of our promises to him.
22-53 In this excellent
Prayer,
Solomon does as we should do in
every
Prayer; he gives
Glory to
God. Fresh experiences of the
Truth of
God's promises
Call for larger praises. He sues for
Grace and favour from
God. The experiences we have of
God's
performing his promises, should encourage us to depend upon
them, and to plead them with him; and those who expect further
mercies, must be thankful for former mercies.
God's promises
must be the guide of our desires, and the ground of our hopes
and expectations in
Prayer. The sacrifices, the
Incense, and the
whole service of the
Temple, were all typical of the
Redeemer's
offices, oblation, and intercession. The
Temple, therefore, was
continually to be remembered. Under one
Word, "forgive,"
Solomon
expressed all that he could ask in behalf of his people. For, as
all misery springs from
Sin, forgiveness of
Sin prepares the way
for the removal of every evil, and the receiving of every good.
Without it,
No deliverance can prove a blessing. In addition to
the teaching of the
Word of God,
Solomon entreated the
Lord
himself to teach the people to profit
By all, even
By their
chastisements. They shall know every
Man the
Plague of his own
Heart, what it is that pains him; and shall spread their hands
in
Prayer toward this
House; whether the trouble be of body or
mind, they shall represent it before
God. Inward burdens seem
especially meant.
Sin is the
Plague of our own hearts; our
in-dwelling corruptions are our spiritual diseases: every true
Israelite endeavours to know these, that he may mortify them,
and watch against the risings of them. These drive him to his
knees; lamenting these, he spreads forth his hands in
Prayer.
After many particulars,
Solomon concludes with the general
request, that
God would hearken to his praying people.
No place,
now, under the
Gospel, can add to the prayers made in or towards
it. The substance is
Christ; whatever we ask in his name, it
shall be given us. In this manner the
Israel of
God is
established and sanctified, the backslider is recovered and
healed. In this manner the
Stranger is brought nigh, the mourner
is comforted, the name of
God is glorified.
Sin is the cause of
all our troubles;
Repentance and forgiveness lead to all human
happiness.
54-61 Never was a
Congregation dismissed with what was more
likely to affect them, and to abide with them. What
Solomon asks
for in this
Prayer, is still granted in the intercession of
Christ, of which his supplication was a
Type. We shall receive
Grace sufficient, suitable, and seasonable, in every time of
need.
No human
Heart is of itself willing to obey the
Gospel
Call to
Repentance,
Faith, and newness of
Life, walking in all
the
Commandments of the
Lord, yet
Solomon exhorts the people to
be perfect. This is the scriptural method, it is our duty to
obey the command of the
Law and the
Call of the
Gospel, seeing
we have broken the
Law. When our hearts are inclined thereto,
feeling our sinfulness and weakness, we pray for Divine
assistance; thus are we made able to serve
God through
Jesus
Christ.
62-66 Solomon offered a great
Sacrifice. He kept the
Feast of
Tabernacles, as it seems, after the
Feast of
Dedication. Thus
should we go home, rejoicing, from holy ordinances, thankful for
God's
Goodness