prophets and kings-第7章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Now； my God； let； I beseech Thee； Thine eyes be open； and let Thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place。 Now therefore arise； O Lord God； into Thy resting place； Thou； and the ark of Thy strength： let Thy priests； O Lord God； be clothed with salvation； and let Thy saints rejoice in goodness。 O Lord God； turn not away the face of Thine anointed： remember the mercies of David Thy servant。〃 Verses 14：42。
45
As Solomon ended his prayer； 〃fire came down from heaven； and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices。〃 The priests could not enter the temple because 〃the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house。〃 〃When all the children of Israel saw 。 。 。 the glory of the Lord upon the house； they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement； and worshiped； and praised the Lord； saying； For He is good； for His mercy endureth forever。〃
Then king and people offered sacrifices before the Lord。 〃So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God。〃 2 Chronicles 7：1…5。 For seven days the multitudes from every part of the kingdom； from the borders 〃of Hamath unto the river of Egypt；〃 〃a very great congregation；〃 kept a joyous feast。 The week following was spent by the happy throng in observing the Feast of Tabernacles。 At the close of the season of reconsecration and rejoicing the people returned to their homes； 〃glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the Lord had showed unto David； and to Solomon； and to Israel His people。〃 Verses 8；10。
The king had done everything within his power to encourage the people to give themselves wholly to God and His service； and to magnify His holy name。 And now once more； as at Gibeon early in his reign； Israel's ruler was given evidence of divine acceptance and blessing。 In a night vision the Lord appeared to him with the message： 〃I have heard thy prayer； and have chosen this place to Myself for an house of sacrifice。 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain； or if I command the locusts to devour the land； or if I
46
send pestilence among My people； if My people； which are called by My name； shall humble themselves； and pray； and seek My face； and turn from their wicked ways； then will I hear from heaven； and will forgive their sin； and will heal their land。 Now Mine eyes shall be open； and Mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place。 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house； that My name may be there forever： and Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually。〃 Verses 12…16。
Had Israel remained true to God； this glorious building would have stood forever； a perpetual sign of God's especial favor to His chosen people。 〃The sons of the stranger；〃 God declared； 〃that join themselves to the Lord； to serve Him； and to love the name of the Lord； to be His servants； everyone that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it； and taketh hold of My covenant； even them will I bring to My holy mountain； and make them joyful in My house of prayer： their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon Mine altar； for Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people。〃 Isaiah 56：6； 7。
In connection with these assurances of acceptance； the Lord made very plain the path of duty before the king。 〃As for thee；〃 He declared； 〃if thou wilt walk before Me； as David thy father walked； and do according to all that I have commanded thee； and shalt observe My statutes and My judgments； then will I establish the throne of thy kingdom； according as I have covenanted with David thy father； saying； There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel。〃 2 Chronicles 7：17； 18。
47
Had Solomon continued to serve the Lord in humility； his entire reign would have exerted a powerful influence for good over the surrounding nations； nations that had been so favorably impressed by the reign of David his father and by the wise words and the magnificent works of the earlier years of his own reign。 Foreseeing the terrible temptations that attend prosperity and worldly honor； God warned Solomon against the evil of apostasy and foretold the awful results of sin。 Even the beautiful temple that had just been dedicated； He declared； would become 〃a proverb and a byword among all nations〃 should the Israelites forsake 〃the Lord God of their fathers〃 and persist in idolatry。 Verses 20； 22。
Strengthened in heart and greatly cheered by the message from heaven that his prayer in behalf of Israel had been heard； Solomon now entered upon the most glorious period of his reign； when 〃all the kings of the earth〃 began to seek his presence； 〃to hear his wisdom； that God had put in his heart。〃 2 Chronicles 9：23。 Many came to see the manner of his government and to receive instruction regarding the conduct of difficult affairs。
As these people visited Solomon； he taught them of God as the Creator of all things； and they returned to their homes with clearer conceptions of the God of Israel and of His love for the human race。 In the works of nature they now beheld an expression of His love and a revelation of His character； and many were led to worship Him as their God。
The humility of Solomon at the time he began to bear the burdens of state； when he acknowledged before God；
48
〃I am but a little child〃 （1 Kings 3〃7）； his marked love of God； his profound reverence for things divine； his distrust of self； and his exaltation of the infinite Creator of allall these traits of character； so worthy of emulation； were revealed during the services connected with the completion of the temple； when during his dedicatory prayer he knelt in the humble position of a petitioner。 Christ's followers today should guard against the tendency to lose the spirit of reverence and godly fear。 The Scriptures teach men how they should approach their Makerwith humility and awe； through faith in a divine Mediator。 The psalmist has declared：
〃The Lord is a great God； And a great King above all gods。 。 。 。 O come； let us worship and bow down： Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker。〃 Psalm 95：3…6。
Both in public and in private worship it is our privilege to bow on our knees before God when we offer our petitions to Him。 Jesus； our example； 〃kneeled down； and prayed。〃 Luke 22：41。 Of his disciples it is recorded that they； too； 〃kneeled down； and prayed。〃 Acts 9：40。 Paul declared； 〃I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ。〃 Ephesians 3：14。 In confessing before God the sins of Israel； Ezra knelt。 See Ezra 9：5。 Daniel 〃kneeled upon his knees three times a day； and prayed； and gave thanks before his God。〃 Daniel 6：10。
True reverence for God is inspired by a sense of His infinite greatness and a realization of His presence。 With this sense of the Unseen； every heart should be deeply impressed。 The hour and place of prayer are sacred； because God is
49
there。 And as reverence is manifested in attitude and demeanor； the feeling that inspires it will be deepened。 〃Holy and reverend is His name；〃 the psalmist declares。 Psalm 111：9。 Angels； when they speak that name； veil their faces。 With what reverence； then； should we； who are fallen and sinful； take it upon our lips！
Well would it be for old and young to ponder those words of Scripture that show how the place marked by God's special presence should be regarded。 〃Put off thy shoes from off thy feet；〃 He commanded Moses at the burning bush； 〃for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground。〃 Exodus 3：5。 Jacob； after beholding the vision of the angel； exclaimed； 〃The Lord is in this place； and I knew it not。 。 。 。 This is none other but the house of God； and this is the gate of heaven。〃 Genesis 28：16； 17。
In that which was said during the dedicatory services； Solomon had sought to remove from the minds of those present the superstitions in regard to the Creator； that had beclouded the minds of the heathen。 The God of heaven is not； like the gods of the heathen； confined to temples ma
