1 Kings 8:54-61

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 8:54-61

Solomon, after his sermon in Ecclesiastes, gives us the conclusion of the whole matter; so he does here, after this long prayer; it is called his blessing the people, 1 Kgs. 8:55. He pronounced it standing, that he might be the better heard, and because he blessed as one having authority. Never were words more fitly spoken, nor more pertinently. Never was congregation dismissed with that which was more likely to affect them and abide with them. I. He gives God the glory of the great and kind... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:54

And it was so, that, when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the Lord ,.... In which he was a type of Christ, praying and interceding for his people before the golden attar, Revelation 8:3 , he arose from before the altar of the Lord ; the altar of burnt offering, over against which he was: from kneeling on his knees ; upon the brasen scaffold; see 2 Chronicles 6:13 , in which posture he was during this long prayer: with his hands spread... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:55

And he stood and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice ,.... Turning himself the altar, and his face to the people, giving them his benediction, not only as the father of his people, but as preacher in Jerusalem, closing it with a word of exhortation to them: saying : as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:56

Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according, to all that he promised .... A land of rest, and rest in the land from all enemies; see Deuteronomy 12:9 , there hath not failed one word of all his good promises, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant : so Joshua observed a little before his death, Joshua 23:14 to which Solomon seems to have respect; and who lived to see a greater accomplishment of the gracious promises of God, and his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:57

The Lord our God be with us as he was with our fathers ,.... Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and those that came out of Egypt, and especially that entered into the land of Canaan under Joshua, and subdued it; as the Lord had been with them to guide and direct them, protect and defend them, succeed and prosper them, so Solomon desires he might be with them: nothing is more desirable than the presence of God; Solomon could not have prayed for a greater blessing for himself and his people; the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:58

That he may incline our hearts unto him ,.... By his Spirit, to love, fear, and serve him; to attend to his worship, word, and ordinances: to walk in all his ways ; he has prescribed and directed to: and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers ; all his laws, moral, ceremonial, and judicial. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:59

And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the Lord ,.... At this time: be nigh unto the Lord our God day and night ; be continually remembered and regarded by him, that so gracious answers might always be returned to those who supplicated in this place: that he maintain the cause of his servant ; of himself and his successors in the throne, that they may continue to possess it in peace, to the glory of God, and the good of the people: and the cause of his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:60

That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God ,.... By chastising the people of Israel when they sinned; by bearing and answering their prayers when they prayed unto him; by forgiving their sins, and delivering them out of their troubles; by maintaining their cause, and protecting them in the enjoyment of their blessings: and that there is "none else"; no God besides him; all being else fictitious deities, or nominal ones; he only is the one living and true God. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:61

Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord your God ,.... Sincere in their love to him, united in their worship of him, and constant in their obedience to him: to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day : as they did that day, neither king nor people having as yet fallen into idolatry, but showing by their then present appearance a zeal for God, his house, and worship. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 8:55

He stood , and blessed all the congregation - This blessing is contained in 1 Kings 8:57 , 1 Kings 8:58 . read more

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