1 Kings 8:54-61

54 When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the LORD, he rose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven.

55 He stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying:

56 “Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.

57 May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us.

58 May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors.

59 And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need,

60 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other.

61 And may your hearts be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.”

1 Kings 8:54-61 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 8

This chapter gives an account of the introduction of the ark into the temple, 1Ki 8:1-9 of the glory of the Lord filling it, 1Ki 8:10,11 of a speech Solomon made to the people concerning the building of the temple, and how he came to be engaged in it, 1Ki 8:12-21, of a prayer of his he put up on this occasion, requesting, that what supplications soever were made at any time, or on any account, by Israelites or strangers, might be accepted by the Lord, 1Ki 8:22-53, and of his blessing the people of Israel at the close of it, with some useful exhortations, 1Ki 8:54-61, and of the great number of sacrifices offered up by him, and the feast he made for the people, upon which he dismissed them, 1Ki 8:62-66.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 39:43; Numbers 6:23; ver 14; 2 Samuel 6:18
• 2. S Exodus 33:14; Deuteronomy 12:10; Hebrews 4:8
• 3. S Joshua 21:45; Joshua 23:15; S Jeremiah 29:10
• 4. S Deuteronomy 4:31; S Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5; S Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5
• 5. S Joshua 24:23; Psalms 119:36
• 6. S Joshua 4:24; 1 Samuel 17:46
• 7. S Deuteronomy 4:35; 1 Kings 18:39; Jeremiah 10:10-12
• 8. Deuteronomy 6:5
• 9. 1 Kings 9:4; 1 Kings 11:4; 1 Kings 15:3,14; 1 Kings 22:43; 2 Kings 20:3; 1 Chronicles 28:9; 1 Chronicles 29:19; 2 Chronicles 16:9; 2 Chronicles 17:6; 2 Chronicles 25:2; Psalms 119:80; Isaiah 38:3