against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them: For they be thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron.. That thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for. unto thee. Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling-place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee. Now my GoD, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. Now therefore arise, O LORD GOD, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD GOD, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness. .. O LORD GOD, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant. For thou didst separate them from among all the peo ple of the earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O LORD God. And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees, with his hands spread up to heaven. And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Is.. rael, with a loud voice, saying, Blessed Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us nor forsake us: That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers. And let these my words wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our GOD day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times as the matter shall require: that all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is GOD, and that there is none else. Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our Gop, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day. And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the LORD. Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven and consumed the burntoffering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house. 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. Then Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORd. 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. 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 brazen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt-offerings, and the meat-offerings, and the fat. ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS. The king had caused a place to be erected near the altar, raised above the people, that he might be heard and seen by all of them, whilst he was paying adoration to the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords. The prayer which Solomon offered up on this occasion is so clear and comprehensive, that there is no need of an explanation. It was perfectly consistent with that true wisdom which has piety for its foundation; and served to teach the people for what they should pray, and how they ought to address the SUPREME BEING, and from the humility with which the king entreated the LORD to shew forth his GLORY in the house which he had built, they were instructed, that as no fabric however magnificent, can be in reality fit for the habitation of the ALMIGHTY, they should receive the manifestation of his glorious PRESENCE as an instance of infinite goods ness and condescension. Solomon's Solomon's prayer is a most excellent pattern of public devotion; consisting of petitions for national blessings, spiritual and temporal; forgiveness of sins, and deliverance from the evil consequences of them: to which he added, intercession for those nations who were not yet converted to the true religion. As a token that the sacrifices offered at this time were acceptable, it pleased the LORD to send holy fire (as at the dedication of the tabernacle) to consume them. David had furnished the people with words to express their pious raptures as follows*; The LORD reigneth, let the earth rejoice: let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness, are round about Him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His throne. A fire goeth before Him, and burneth up His enemies round about. His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw and trembled. The hills melted like wax, at the presence of the Lord," at the presence of the LORD of the whole earth. The heavens declare His righteousness: and all the people see His glory. Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship Him all ye gods. Zion heard, and was glad, and the daughter of Judah rejoiced; because of Thy judgments, O LORD. For Thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: Thou art exalted far above all gods. Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of His saints, He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. * Psalms xcvii, xcviii, and xlvij Light Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; aud give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice and sing praise. Sing unto the LORD with the harps with the harp and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the king. O clap your hands, all ye people, shout unto God, with the vioce of triumph: For the LORD most high is terrible : He is a great king over all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom He loved. ·GOD is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to GOD, sing praises: sing praises unto our king, sing praises. For Gop is the king of all the earth, sing ye praises with understanding. The whole solemnity might properly end with the same blessing which David pronounced on the people*. God be merciful unto us, and bless us and cause His face to shine upon us. That Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise Thee, O GOD: let all the people praise Thee. VOL. III. *Psalm lxvii.. O let |
