Day 7 - Lord's. Day - Sunday | Daily Devotions | The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2024-2025 |

 May 11

Lesson 11 (KJV)

Solomon Dedicates the Temple

Devotional Reading: 2 Chronicles 6:12, 14–27

Background Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:1–20

2 Chronicles 7:1–7, 11

1 Now, when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house.

2 And the priests could not enter into the Lord's house, because the Lord's glory had filled the Lord’s house.

3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord.

5 King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.

6 And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of music of the Lord, which David the king had made to praise the Lord, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.

7 Moreover, Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat.

11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord, and the king’s house: and all that came into Solomon’s heart to make in the home of the Lord, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.

Key Text

When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.—2 Chronicles 7:3

Costly Sacrifices

Unit 3: Special Offerings and the Sanctuary

Lessons 10–13

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

1. Summarize what happened when Solomon finished praying.

2. Explain “dedicating” or “consecrating” something.

3. State how one can respond to God’s presence and love with worship and sacrifice.

Lesson Outline

Introduction

A. Finishing a Father’s Legacy

B. Historical Context

C. Literary Context

I.. Glory of God (2 Chronicles 7:1–3)

A. Fire Comes Down (vv. 1–2)

A Third Kind of Fire

B. People Bow Down (v. 3)

Powerful Love

II. Worship by People (2 Chronicles 7:4–6)

A. Sacrifices (vv. 4–5)

B. Music (v. 6)

III. Actions by Solomon (2 Chronicles 7:7, 11)

A. Consecration (v. 7)

B. Completion (v. 11)

Conclusion

A. Seeking God’s Goodness

B. Prayer

C. Thought to Remember

How to Say It

Hezekiah	Hez-ih-kye-uh.
Josiah	Jo-sigh-uh.
Uzziah	Uh-zye-uh.

 

What Do You Think? Without fire from Heaven, how can your congregation know whether someone’s sensing of God’s presence is genuine? Digging Deeper What can happen if proper discernment is lacking in that regard?

What Do You Think? What changes might you experience by being more mindful of God’s goodness, mercy, and love? Digging Deeper How can we gain that greater mindfulness?

What Do You Think? In what circumstances should our actions as living sacrifices be visible to all? In what circumstances is something visible only to God? Digging Deeper How do Matthew 5:13–16 and 6:1–4 influence your answers?

What Do You Think? How can you better incorporate music as part of your private worship? Digging Deeper How will your decisions in that regard differ from your “good” times to your “bad” times? Why?

What Do You Think? What steps must you take for greater consecration since 1 Corinthians 6:19 establishes that your body is now the temple of the Holy Spirit? Digging Deeper What superficial efforts have you seen others make in this regard?

Conclusion

A. Seeking God’s Goodness

The temple became the center of ancient Israel’s religious life. It was the place where they could meet God. Sacrifices and prayers would occur at that temple for generations. While Solomon could not have foreseen the details of the long history of worship that followed his actions, his prayer, worship, and actions proved his trust in God. These reflected confidence in God’s holiness, power, and enduring love.

Solomon prayed to God to remember His promises to his father and previous generations. The king’s prayer was integral to his worship. His focus on completing the temple before he started his own house showed his heart (contrast Haggai 1:2–4).

Unfortunately, this interconnection of faithful prayer, worship, and actions would not last. It didn’t last for the people (2 Chronicles 36:15–21), and it didn’t last for Solomon himself (1 Kings 11:4–11). Will it last for you?

B. Prayer

O God, our Father, may we always praise You for Your merciful love and goodness. Renew in us a life of worship. Strengthen our dedication to Your holiness and help us to love others as You see them. May we be living sacrifices for Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

C. Thought to Remember

Respond to God with worship.

Involvement Learning

Enhance your lesson with KJV Bible Student (from your curriculum supplier) and the reproducible activity page (at www.standardlesson.com or in the back of the KJV Standard Lesson Commentary Deluxe Edition).

 Mark Hamilton and Andrew Wood, “Solomon Dedicates the Temple,” in The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2024–2025, ed. Jason Hitchcock et al., vol. 72, The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary (Colorado Springs, CO: Standard Publishing, 2025), 319–320.