Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever ,.... In a succession in his posterity, until the coming of the Messiah: as I promised unto David thy father, saying, there shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel ; not fail one of his posterity to sit upon it; see 2 Samuel 7:12 . read more
The Second Appearance to Solomon. "Behold the goodness and severity of God" ( Romans 11:22 ). To Solomon goodness, to Israel severity. I. The GOODNESS OF GOD is manifested— 1. In revealing Himself to Solomon . The greatest favour God can show us is to show us Himself; the greatest gift is to give us Himself. "Give what Thou wilt, without Thee I am poor, And with Thee rich, take what Thou wilt away." "I will love him and will manifest myself unto him" ( John... read more
The Reviewed Covenant. This Divine manifestation was probably similar in form to that with which Solomon was favoured at the beginning of his reign, of which it is said, "In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night "( 1 Kings 3:1-28 :50). We have no means of judging as to the precise time of this occurrence; but the close connection of thought between what God here says to Solomon and the prayer at the dedication (seen most clearly in 2 Chronicles 7:14 , 2 Chronicles... read more
Then I will establish [same word as in ch. 1 Kings 2:4 , where see note. Surely he would remember this word as it would recall his father's charge to his mind] the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel forever [this is the answer to the prayer of 1 Kings 8:26 ] as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel. [ 2 Samuel 7:12 , 2 Samuel 7:16 ; 1 Kings 2:4 ; 1 Kings 6:12 ; Psalms 132:12 . But the primary reference is to 1... read more
1 Kings 9:4-5. If thou wilt walk before me, &c. He shows him that he and his people were for the future upon their good behaviour: Let them not be secure now, as if they might conduct themselves as they please, having the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord among them, Jeremiah 7:4. No: this house was designed to protect them in their allegiance to God, not in their rebellion against him, or disobedience to him. As David thy father walked Who, though he foully miscarried in... read more
The dedication ceremony (8:22-9:9)Solomon then went up on to a specially made bronze platform, knelt down and prayed to God in the presence of the assembled people (2 Chronicles 6:12-13). He admitted that only God’s grace had allowed his father and himself to fulfil their wish of building God a symbolic dwelling place. He prayed that God’s grace would rest likewise upon his royal descendants after him (22-26). Solomon knew there was no necessity for the temple, because God dwells everywhere.... read more
1 Kings 9:2-9. That the Lord appeared to Solomon— Lest this young prince's heart should be too much elated by this extraordinary grandeur, God was pleased to appear to himin a dream on the first night of the dedication, when he expressed his acceptance of that sumptuous edifice, and renewed his promises to him and his posterity, provided he and they served him with an upright heart. On the other hand, he assured him, that in case they provoked him by their idolatry and disobedience, that... read more
1. God’s covenant with Solomon 9:1-9God responded to Solomon’s dedication of himself and his nation as He had responded to David (2 Samuel 7) and to Solomon earlier (ch. 3). He offered Solomon continued blessing for continued faithfulness.First, God promised He would do what Solomon had petitioned in his dedicatory prayer (1 Kings 8:22-53; 1 Kings 9:3). Second, He said He would provide a continuous line of descendants from Solomon to sit on Israel’s throne if Solomon would continue to follow... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 9:1-9
God had given a real answer to Solomon's prayer, and tokens of his acceptance of it, immediately, by the fire from heaven which consumed the sacrifices (as we find 2 Chron. 7:1); but here we have a more express and distinct answer to it. Observe, I. In what way God gave him this answer. He appeared to him, as he had done at Gibeon, in the beginning of his reign, in a dream or vision, 1 Kgs. 9:2. The comparing of it with that intimates that it was the very night after he had finished the... read more