October 18, 2009

Texts:
1 Kings 8 and 9
Psalms 56 and 57

Kings:
It is hard for us to imagine, I think, the celebration involved in bringing the ark of the covenant "home at last". After hundreds of years of traveling as the people traveled, God finally has a home. The significance of Jerusalem as God's HQ can not be underestimated, I don't think. And, again, notice that David's name is still being used to establish legitimacy in Solomon's reign.

What do you make of 8:27? "But will God, indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built!"
Most scholars see this as an indication that by the time this history is being written down, Solomon's temple has already been destroyed.
There are a number of instructions for God to "hear in heaven and act" and then "hear in heaven and forgive".

By 8:46, you can hear indications of exile. "so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near, yet if they come to their senses in the land to which they have been taken...."

And Solomon is given clear warning, as well, in 9:6-9 about what will happen if he sins.