Then a thick cloud came into the room and the priests could not minister to the people because of it. Solomon shrugged and said, “The Lord did say that He would dwell in the thick darkness…”
Then Solomon praised God, and dedicated the the House of the Lord to Him publicly.
Solomon prayed for the people of Israel, and for the people in far off countries (foreignors) that hear about God and wish to trust in Him, too, that when they face the direction of the house and pray, their prayers would be answered.
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What a dedication day that must have been! But, I wonder what happened to the manna that was in the Ark of the Covenant?
It is comforting, knowing that Solomon was praying for other peoples with his dedication prayer. He gave the temple to God, and for God’s use, to be as a tool to bring everyone in the world under God’s rule – not just the Israelites. God was not just a God of Israel. My favorite part of the prayer was this:
30And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive.
After all, Solomon even understood that:
46If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,)…
So when you dedicate something to God, understand that you are giving it to the world, so that God can use it to gain Glory for Himself.
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