Well, once again, may the Lord be with us and bless us as we consider part of the account of the dedication of the temple in Solomon's time. And just to remember, of course, it was a most momentous occasion because they'd had the tabernacle for some 480 years.

And now, by God's grace, they built this temple, which was naturally a most magnificent building. And of course now they brought up the Ark and they put that in the Holy of Holies. So it was a wonderful occasion and here was Solomon and as we mentioned last week he said why they were in that position and what they were doing and then this evening we'll read part of his prayer. which he made to Almighty God. And it was a wonderful prayer. God gave him the gift to pray, and it's a good example for us today, many of the points at which he was able, under the influence of the Spirit of God, to speak forth. And so the first of Kings, and chapter 8, and we'll read tonight verses 22 to 30.

And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel and spread forth his hands toward heaven. And he said, Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in heaven above or on earth beneath, who keep his covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart. who has kept with thy servant David my father, that thou promised him, thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day. Therefore now, Lord God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father, that thou promised him, saying, Thou shalt not fail thee, a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me. And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father.

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee, how much less this house that I have built. Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee today, that thine eyes may be opened toward this house, night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there, that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place. And 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, when thou hearest, forgive.

Well, we'll stop there tonight and just try and consider these verses from 22 to 30. And we see that Solomon was standing before the altar. He wasn't in the holy of holies, where the ark was. He was outside of that, outside the valley of the temple, And there he was standing before the altar, altar of the Lord. It was the Lord's altar, it was the Lord's house in the presence of all the congregation of Israel. It was really a tremendous occasion for him, wasn't it? There he watched over the building of this great temple and now it was complete and now he was seeking for God's presence. and God's blessing and God's guidance to Israel in the years ahead.

And it was his privilege and favour to be that one who led the prayer to his God and how he desired and how he did lift up God as the Almighty God and so he was thus standing before the Lord although towards the end of this prayer we know he rose from the ground from his knees and so we're told the Lord he said Lord God of Israel there is no God like Thee in heaven above or on earth beneath, who keep his covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart. That was so true then. My friends, it's so true today. God has not changed. God is still that great God who keeps covenant and mercy with his servants, with his people, and walks before them. What a mercy, therefore, if he walks before us. And if we walk before God, as he said here, walk before thee with all their heart.

It's so easy, isn't it, to have a heart which doesn't go with the words we pray. It's very solemn, isn't it, to think sometimes we can become very formal in our prayers and very familiar with things to ask for and to say. And the great question is, do those prayers emanate from our heart? Well, here was the desire of Solomon all those days and years ago. who keep His covenant and mercy with Thy servants that walk before Thee with all their heart. Well, it's a solemn statement and it's important for us to be conscious of it, that when we come before God, we come into His presence through the merits of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. And we should recognise how important it is that God enables us to concentrate in our prayers, and not let our mind wander all around. We know how cunning the devil is, and how he tries so hard to distract us, and so often he's successful.

Well then, David goes on, verse 24, who has kept with thy servant David, my father, that thou promised him. This shows to us the faithfulness of God. And my friends, as he was faithful to David and faithful to his son, and he's been faithful ever since. Indeed, he's been faithful from the very beginning of time. And what a wonderful blessing it is for us today to realize we have this same God.

And we know we have the same God who doesn't change. who kept with thy servant David my father, that thou promised him, thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day. And again, very gracious evidences of that in David's life, how God did speak to him, and God did fulfill that which he spoke. and today perhaps God doesn't speak in the same audible voice but nonetheless he does speak to our souls and our hearts and he does keep his promises he does fulfill that which he has said and that's the wonder and greatness of our God and so he comes and says therefore now O Lord God of Israel Keep with thy servant, David my father, that thou hast promised him, saying, Thou shalt not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me. Well, we have gracious and glorious examples the Word of God and how we should conduct our lives and how we should walk and the example that we should set before the people that we mix with and demonstrate that we are those who serve the ever-living and true God. He's not some somebody who doesn't exist. He's the real God He lives today as he always has done. And so says the Lord to his servant, Thou shalt not fail thee, a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me.

How important that is for us, isn't it? as individuals and as we set an example for our children and our children, walk before God in the way that he has set forth.

And so he says, and now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father. Well it was good that he wanted a verification of the truth of God's word and we need the same today in our little lives don't we? To have God's word verified to us perhaps words that he's spoken to us and encouraged us and directed us And we want that word verified to our very souls so that we can be strengthened by it. And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, not man's word, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David, my father.

But will God indeed dwell on the earth Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee, how much less this house that I have built it. David had a very clear view of the greatness of Almighty God. And again, it's good for us today if we have a great view and a good view and a right view of the greatness of Almighty God to recognise this tremendous truth that behold the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee.

God is in every place. It's amazing for our little minds to try and comprehend. And yet here is a clear statement. Behold the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee. So we should realize that we are in the presence of God all the time, because he is everywhere. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and heavens cannot contain thee, how much less this house that I have built it, however wonderful it was.

And you see, Solomon draws the comparison. Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee today. Well, as we come in prayer to God, may we come truly in faith, nothing wavering, believing that we do come to a God whose ear is ever ready to hear and to remember us and to direct us and to bless us. This is the great privilege that is ours in this day and age. That's why we're thankful for the great truths contained in the Word of God. And so he comes and says, oh Lord, my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee today, that thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, my name shall be there. That thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place.

Solomon was concerned, wasn't he, that God would hear and answer his prayer. And when we pray, may we always be concerned that God will hear and answer our prayer, not just a mere form of words, but those utterances from our heart to almighty God with that real desire that he will indeed send us answers of peace and that his eyes may be open toward us as he desired it might be open toward his house day and night my name shall be there and what a blessing if God's name is here amongst us my name shall be there that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place, and hearken now 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. He realized surely that although he was praying, he believed and trusted with a right heart, yet there were still those things which perhaps penetrated even to his mind when he was praying like this, and he needed forgiveness. my friends we all need forgiveness but we have a God who is compassionate a God who knows about us and a God who does forgive well we'll leave our meditation there tonight may God instruct us from it and may we be able to meditate upon these words that Solomon was ordained by God to speak and to record for our benefit