Before the altar . This means to say that Solomon stood (and afterwards knelt down) eastward of the altar indeed, but with his face to the temple and congregation. Although the voice of Solomon was raised in prayer to God, yet the prayer was to be that of the whole congregation and not of priestly proxy, and therefore of the whole congregation it must be heard. read more
Spiritual attitude. We have in these three verses four references to attitude. Solomon "stood before the altar;" he "spread forth his hands;" he "kneeled down upon his knees;" he spoke of those who "walk before God." Now, it is worth while to observe that— I. BODILY ATTITUDE IS NOT WITHOUT ITS VALUE . In the gospel of Christ, with all its precious and glorious spiritual freedom, there are no regulations as to posture in prayer; it is in no particular position of body... read more
The dedication of the temple: 3. The consecration prayer. I. THE PERSON OF THE SUPPLIANT . Solomon. 1 . Royal. That Solomon should have prayed was not surprising, considering the example and training he must have received from his father, and remembering the solemn and impressive spectacle he had witnessed. It is difficult to shake off habits formed within the soul by ancestral piety and early training; while, if a sense of God's nearness and a realization of God's... read more
A brazen scaffold . The Hebrew word is כִּיּוֹר . The word occurs twenty-one times. It is translated, in the Authorized Version, "laver" eighteen times, once "pan" ( 1 Samuel 2:14 ), once "hearth" ( Zechariah 12:6 ), and once "scaffold," here. The meaning evidently is that the stand was in some sort basin-shaped. read more
No God like thee , etc. The quoting of Scripture and the utilizing of language in which the religious feeling of those who have gone before has expressed itself had plainly set in ( Exodus 15:11 , Exodus 15:12 ; Deuteronomy 7:9 ). The prayer which this verso opens occupies twenty-eight verses; it is the longest prayer recorded in Scripture. It consists of two verses (14, 15) of opening; then follow three petitions—first, that God would perpetuate the line of David ( 2 Chronicles 6:16 ... read more
There shall not fail thee, etc. (so 2 Samuel 7:12 ; 1 Kings 2:4 ; 1 Kings 6:12 ). Yet so that thy children, etc. (so Psalms 132:12 ). read more
Let thy word be verified (so 1 Chronicles 17:9-13 ). read more
Dwell with men ( Psalms 132:14 ). Heaven and the heaven of heavens. Solomon's conception of the infinite God comes plainly to view here ( 2 Chronicles 2:6 ; Deuteronomy 10:14 ; Psalms 139:5-12 ; Psalms 148:4 ; Isaiah 66:1 ; Acts 7:4-9 ; Acts 17:24 ). read more
Will God in very deed dwell with men? I. REASON SAYS , NO ! 1 . The greatness of God forbids it. The heaven of heavens cannot contain him; how much less any house which man might build, or, even man's heart, which at the best is narrow and mean! The insignificance of man in comparison with the transcendent majesty of the Supreme has always been a difficulty in the way of accepting the religion of the Bible. 2 . The sinfulness of man opposes it. Had the thing itself—the... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 6:1-42
The dedication, and Solomon's prayer. The ark once within the most holy place, the whole temple seems to wait expectant for its own solemn offering and dedication, to that heaven from which its pattern came, to its own supreme Architect, of whose wisdom it was designed, and of whose inspiration of the mind and heart of so many, its beautiful and costly materials had been ungrudingly given and skilfully wrought. The picture photographed so faithfully in this chapter does not fail of... read more