Lesson eight: Solomon dedicates his life’s work to the Lord.

 

 

1. Read I Kings 8:1 – 11. Did Solomon make a big deal out of this? Was it important to him? Did he try to save money on this celebration? Did he try to bring other people’s attention to how important this was? How did the Lord respond to this?
2. Read I Kings 8:12 – 21. Does Solomon have a sense of history about how all this came about? Is he familiar with what God has done for His people in the past? How do you suppose he got to the point where he could recount that history from memory? Does he take credit for the building of the temple himself? Does he even mention his own name? Does he have more to say about his father than himself?
3. Read I Kings 8:22 – 27. Does Solomon seem to have a sense of awe that all these things have happened even though he actually did much of it himself? Have you ever experienced God working through you and had a similar reaction? Does Solomon have a sense of gratitude for what God has done? Count the number of times Solomon refers to himself, his father and God in verses 23-26. Count the number of references to himself, his father and God in Ecclesiastes 2:4-11. Note that he repeatedly speaks of his predecessors with awe or respect in I Kings 8:23-26, but in Eccl. 2:9 the only time he mentions his predecessors is to say that he was “greater by far” than they were. How does this change in attitude compare with Solomon’s overall frame of mind in these two books?
4. Read I Kings 8:28 – 34. Does Solomon expect God to respond to him and his people when they pray to God? Does Solomon assume that God’s people will pray to Him? How would you characterize Solomon’s relationship with God at this point? Does Solomon see God as distant and uninvolved in our world? Does Solomon see God as harsh and vindictive or eager to bless His people? Is Solomon afraid to ask God for blessings?
5. Read I Kings 8:35 – 40. Is Solomon so nave as to assume that his people will never disobey God? Does he encourage people to repent and turn back to God? Does he expect God to forgive?
6. Read I Kings 8:41 – 43. Is Solomon open to foreigners coming to Israel? Does he expect God to accept them? Does he make a special request of God to accept them? Is this similar to his actions elsewhere – does Solomon take an interest in foreign relationships or does he isolate himself from “outsiders”? Does Solomon expect God to be generous to foreigners who make requests of Him? Does Solomon believe that God is generous? What does Solomon expect the end result to be (v. 43)? Is this an admirable goal? Would God approve? How does this compare with Solomon’s relationships with foreigners in I Kings 11:1 – 9?
7. Read I Kings 8:44 – 53. Does Solomon realize the consequences of national disobedience? Does he expect God to be so attached having a people “separated to Himself for an inheritance out of all the peoples of the earth” that He cannot give it up?
8. Read I Kings 8:54 – 61. What does Solomon say to the people after he finishes praying? What is the key to God blessing His people? In verses 59 – 61 what is the purpose of God protecting His people? Is Solomon concerned with God’s reputation throughout the earth?
9. Read I Kings 8:62 – 66. How does Solomon close the celebration? Is this the equivalent of modern day “fireworks”? How did the people feel about all this? Is there an attitude of jealousy among various factions?

10.  

    Is this the same person that wrote Ecclesiastes 3:19 – 22 and 5:1 – 6? What could bring such a change in a person?