me chosen for the dedication was a most favorable one—the seventh
month, when the people from every part of the kingdom were accustomed to
assemble at Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. This feast was
preeminently an occasion of rejoicing. The labors of the harvest being ended
and the toils of the new year not yet begun, the people were free from care and
could give themselves up to the sacred, joyous influences of the hour.
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At the appointed time the hosts of Israel, with richly clad representatives
from many foreign nations, assembled in the temple courts. The scene was one
of unusual splendor. Solomon, with the elders of Israel and the most influential
men among the people, had returned from another part of the city, whence they
had brought the ark of the testament. From the sanctuary on the heights of
Gibeon had been transferred the ancient “tabernacle of the congregation, and
all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle” (2 Chronicles 5:5); and these
cherished reminders of the earlier experiences of the children of Israel during
their wanderings in the wilderness and their conquest of Canaan, now found a
permanent home in the splendid building that had been erected to take the place
of the portable structure.
In bringing to the temple the sacred ark containing the two tables of stone on
which were written by the finger of God the precepts of the Decalogue, Solomon
had followed the example of his father David. Every six paces he sacrificed. With
singing and with music and with great ceremony, “the priests brought in the ark
of the covenant of the Lord unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the
most holy place.” Verse 7. As they came out of the inner sanctuary, they took
the positions assigned them. The singers—Levites arrayed in white linen, having
cymbals and psalteries and harps—stood at the east end of the altar, and with
them a hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets. See Verse 12.
“It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one
sound to be heard in praising and
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thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and
cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying, For He is good;
for his mercy endureth forever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even
the house of the Lord; so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of
the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.” Verses 13, 14.
Realizing the significance of this cloud, Solomon declared: “The Lord hath
said that He would dwell in the thick darkness. But I have built an house of
habitation for Thee, and a place for Thy dwelling forever.” 2 Chronicles 6:1, 2.
“The Lord reigneth;
Let the people tremble:
He sitteth between the cherubims;
Let the earth be moved.
“The Lord is great in Zion;
And He is high above all the people.
Let them praise Thy great and terrible name;
For it is holy....
“Exalt ye the Lord our God,
And worship at his footstool;
For He is holy.”
Psalm 99:1-5.
“In the midst of the court” of the temple had been erected “a brazen scaffold,”
or platform, “five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high.” Upon
this Solomon stood and with uplifted hands blessed the vast multitude before
him. “And all the congregation of Israel stood.” 2 Chronicles 6:13, 3.
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,” Solomon exclaimed, “who hath with his
hands fulfilled that which He spake
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with his mouth to my father David, saying, ... I have chosen Jerusalem, that my
name might be there.” Verses 4-6.
Solomon then knelt upon the platform, and in the hearing of all the people
offered the dedicatory prayer. Lifting his hands toward heaven, while the
congregation were bowed with their faces to the ground, the king pleaded: “Lord
God of Israel, there is no God like Thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which
keepest covenant, and showest mercy unto Thy servants, that walk before Thee
with all their heart.”
“Will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the
heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee; how much less this house which I have
built? Have respect therefore to the prayer of Thy servant, and to his supplication,
O Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which Thy servant prayeth
before Thee: that Thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon
the place whereof Thou hast said that Thou wouldest put Thy name there; to
hearken unto the prayer which Thy servant prayeth toward this place. Hearken
therefore unto the supplications of Thy servant, and of Thy people Israel, which
they shall make toward this place: hear Thou from Thy dwelling place, even from
heaven; and when Thou hearest, forgive....
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
“If Thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have
sinned against Thee; and shall return and confess Thy name, and pray and make
supplication before Thee in this house; then hear Thou from the heavens, and
forgive the sin of Thy people Israel, and bring the
