2Chronicles 5-7 - Prayer Tents

5So Solomon finished all his work on the Temple of the LORD. Then he brought all the gifts his father, David, had dedicated—the silver, the gold, and the various articles—and he stored them in the treasuries of the Temple of God.H4399H8010H6213H1004H3068H7999H8010H935H6944H1732H1H6944H3701H2091H3627H5414H214H1004H430

The Ark Brought to the Temple

2Solomon then summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel and all the heads of tribes—the leaders of the ancestral families of Israel. They were to bring the Ark of the LORD's Covenant to the Temple from its location in the City of David, also known as Zion.H8010H6950H2205H3478H7218H4294H5387H1H1121H3478H3389H5927H727H1285H3068H5892H1732H6726 3So all the men of Israel assembled before the king at the annual Festival of Shelters, which is held in early autumn.H376H3478H6950H4428H2282H7637H2320 4When all the elders of Israel arrived, the Levites picked up the Ark.H2205H3478H935H3881H5375H727 5The priests and Levites brought up the Ark along with the special tent and all the sacred items that had been in it.H5927H727H168H4150H6944H3627H168H3548H3881H5927 6There, before the Ark, King Solomon and the entire community of Israel sacrificed so many sheep, goats, and cattle that no one could keep count!H4428H8010H5712H3478H3259H6440H727H2076H6629H1241H5608H4487H7230 7Then the priests carried the Ark of the LORD's Covenant into the inner sanctuary of the Temple—the Most Holy Place—and placed it beneath the wings of the cherubim.H3548H935H727H1285H3068H4725H1687H1004H6944H6944H3671H3742 8The cherubim spread their wings over the Ark, forming a canopy over the Ark and its carrying poles.H3742H6566H3671H4725H727H3742H3680H727H905H4605 9These poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Temple's main room—the Holy Place—but not from the outside. They are still there to this day.H748H905H7218H905H7200H727H6440H1687H7200H2351H3117 10Nothing was in the Ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Mount Sinai, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel when they left Egypt.H727H8147H3871H4872H5414H2722H3068H3772H1121H3478H3318H4714 11Then the priests left the Holy Place. All the priests who were present had purified themselves, whether or not they were on duty that day.H3548H3318H6944H3548H4672H6942H8104H4256 12And the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and all their sons and brothers—were dressed in fine linen robes and stood at the east side of the altar playing cymbals, lyres, and harps. They were joined by 120 priests who were playing trumpets.H3881H7891H623H1968H3038H1121H251H3847H948H4700H5035H3658H5975H4217H4196H3967H6242H3548H2690H2689 13The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the LORD with these words: "He is good! His faithful love endures forever!" At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the LORD.H2690H2690H7891H259H259H6963H8085H1984H3034H3068H7311H6963H2689H4700H3627H7892H1984H3068H2896H2617H5769H1004H4390H6051H1004H3068 14The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple of God.H3548H3201H5975H8334H6440H6051H3519H3068H4390H1004H430

Solomon Praises the Lord

6Then Solomon prayed, "O LORD, you have said that you would live in a thick cloud of darkness.H559H8010H3068H559H7931H6205 2Now I have built a glorious Temple for you, a place where you can live forever!"H1129H1004H2073H4349H3427H5769 3Then the king turned around to the entire community of Israel standing before him and gave this blessing.H4428H5437H6440H1288H6951H3478H6951H3478H5975 4"Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who has kept the promise he made to my father, David. For he told my father,H559H1288H3068H430H3478H3027H4390H1696H6310H1H1732H559 5'From the day I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I have never chosen a city among any of the tribes of Israel as the place where a Temple should be built to honor my name. Nor have I chosen a king to lead my people Israel.H3117H3318H5971H776H4714H977H5892H7626H3478H1129H1004H8034H977H376H5057H5971H3478 6But now I have chosen Jerusalem as the place for my name to be honored, and I have chosen David to be king over my people Israel.'"H977H3389H8034H977H1732H5971H3478 7Then Solomon said, "My father, David, wanted to build this Temple to honor the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.H3824H1732H1H1129H1004H8034H3068H430H3478 8But the LORD told him, 'You wanted to build the Temple to honor my name. Your intention is good,H3068H559H1732H1H3824H1129H1004H8034H2895H3824 9but you are not the one to do it. One of your own sons will build the Temple to honor me.'H7535H1129H1004H1121H3318H2504H1129H1004H8034 10"And now the LORD has fulfilled the promise he made, for I have become king in my father's place, and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised. I have built this Temple to honor the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.H3068H6965H1697H1696H6965H1732H1H3427H3678H3478H3068H1696H1129H1004H8034H3068H430H3478 11There I have placed the Ark, which contains the covenant that the LORD made with the people of Israel."H8033H7760H727H1285H3068H3772H1121H3478

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

12Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the entire community of Israel, and he lifted his hands in prayer.H5975H6440H4196H3068H6951H3478H6566H3709 13Now Solomon had made a bronze platform 7 1/2 feet long, 7 1/2 feet wide, and 4 1/2 feet high and had placed it at the center of the Temple's outer courtyard. He stood on the platform, and then he knelt in front of the entire community of Israel and lifted his hands toward heaven.H8010H6213H5178H3595H2568H520H753H2568H520H7341H7969H520H6967H5414H8432H5835H5975H1288H1290H6951H3478H6566H3709H8064 14He prayed, "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven and earth. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion.H559H3068H430H3478H430H8064H776H8104H1285H2617H5650H1980H6440H3820 15You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth, and with your own hands you have fulfilled it today.H8104H5650H1732H1H1696H1696H6310H4390H3027H3117 16"And now, O LORD, God of Israel, carry out the additional promise you made to your servant David, my father. For you said to him, 'If your descendants guard their behavior and faithfully follow my Law as you have done, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.'H3068H430H3478H8104H5650H1732H1H1696H559H3772H376H6440H3427H3678H3478H7535H1121H8104H1870H3212H8451H1980H6440 17Now, O LORD, God of Israel, fulfill this promise to your servant David.H3068H430H3478H1697H539H1696H5650H1732 18"But will God really live on earth among people? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!H430H552H3427H120H776H8064H8064H8064H3557H1004H1129 19Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you.H6437H8605H5650H8467H3068H430H8085H7440H8605H5650H6419H6440 20May you watch over this Temple day and night, this place where you have said you would put your name. May you always hear the prayers I make toward this place.H5869H6605H1004H3119H3915H4725H559H7760H8034H8085H8605H5650H6419H4725 21May you hear the humble and earnest requests from me and your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where you live, and when you hear, forgive.H8085H8469H5650H5971H3478H6419H4725H8085H3427H4725H8064H8085H5545 22"If someone wrongs another person and is required to take an oath of innocence in front of your altar at this Temple,H376H2398H7453H423H5375H422H423H935H6440H4196H1004 23then hear from heaven and judge between your servants—the accuser and the accused. Pay back the guilty as they deserve. Acquit the innocent because of their innocence.H8085H8064H6213H8199H5650H7725H7563H5414H1870H7218H6663H6662H5414H6666 24"If your people Israel are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned against you, and if they turn back and acknowledge your name and pray to you here in this Temple,H5971H3478H5062H6440H341H2398H7725H3034H8034H6419H2603H6440H1004 25then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and return them to this land you gave to them and to their ancestors.H8085H8064H5545H2403H5971H3478H7725H127H5414H1 26"If the skies are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and if they pray toward this Temple and acknowledge your name and turn from their sins because you have punished them,H8064H6113H4306H2398H6419H4725H3034H8034H7725H2403H6031 27then hear from heaven and forgive the sins of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them to follow the right path, and send rain on your land that you have given to your people as their special possession.H8085H8064H5545H2403H5650H5971H3478H3384H2896H1870H3212H5414H4306H776H5414H5971H5159 28If there is a famine in the land or a plague or crop disease or attacks of locusts or caterpillars, or if your people's enemies are in the land besieging their towns—whatever disaster or disease there is—H7458H776H1698H7711H3420H697H2625H341H6887H8179H776H5061H4245 29and if your people Israel pray about their troubles or sorrow, raising their hands toward this Temple,H8605H8467H120H5971H3478H376H3045H5061H4341H6566H3709H1004 30then hear from heaven where you live, and forgive. Give your people what their actions deserve, for you alone know each human heart.H8085H8064H3427H4349H5545H5414H376H1870H3824H3045H3045H3824H1121H120 31Then they will fear you and walk in your ways as long as they live in the land you gave to our ancestors.H3372H3212H1870H3117H2416H6440H127H5414H1 32"In the future, foreigners who do not belong to your people Israel will hear of you. They will come from distant lands when they hear of your great name and your strong hand and your powerful arm. And when they pray toward this Temple,H5237H5971H3478H935H7350H776H1419H8034H2389H3027H5186H2220H935H6419H1004 33then hear from heaven where you live, and grant what they ask of you. In this way, all the people of the earth will come to know and fear you, just as your own people Israel do. They, too, will know that this Temple I have built honors your name.H8085H8064H3427H4349H6213H5237H7121H5971H776H3045H8034H3372H5971H3478H3045H1004H1129H7121H8034 34"If your people go out where you send them to fight their enemies, and if they pray to you by turning toward this city you have chosen and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name,H5971H3318H4421H341H1870H7971H6419H1870H5892H977H1004H1129H8034 35then hear their prayers from heaven and uphold their cause.H8085H8064H8605H8467H6213H4941 36"If they sin against you—and who has never sinned?—you might become angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and take them captive to a foreign land far away or near.H2398H120H2398H599H5414H6440H341H7617H7617H776H7350H7138 37But in that land of exile, they might turn to you in repentance and pray, 'We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.'H7725H3824H776H7617H7725H2603H776H7628H559H2398H5753H7561 38If they turn to you with their whole heart and soul in the land of their captivity and pray toward the land you gave to their ancestors—toward this city you have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name—H7725H3820H5315H776H7628H7617H6419H1870H776H5414H1H5892H977H1004H1129H8034 39then hear their prayers and their petitions from heaven where you live, and uphold their cause. Forgive your people who have sinned against you.H8085H8064H3427H4349H8605H8467H6213H4941H5545H5971H2398 40"O my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to all the prayers made to you in this place.H430H5869H6605H241H7183H8605H4725 41"And now arise, O LORD God, and enter your resting place, along with the Ark, the symbol of your power. May your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation; may your loyal servants rejoice in your goodness.H6965H3068H430H5118H727H5797H3548H3068H430H3847H8668H2623H8055H2896 42O LORD God, do not reject the king you have anointed. Remember your unfailing love for your servant David."H3068H430H7725H6440H4899H2142H2617H1732H5650

The Dedication of the Temple

7When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple.H8010H3615H6419H784H3381H8064H398H5930H2077H3519H3068H4390H1004 2The priests could not enter the Temple of the LORD because the glorious presence of the LORD filled it.H3548H3201H935H1004H3068H3519H3068H4390H3068H1004 3When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the LORD filling the Temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying, "He is good! His faithful love endures forever!"H1121H3478H7200H784H3381H3519H3068H1004H3766H639H776H7531H7812H3034H3068H2896H2617H5769 4Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices to the LORD.H4428H5971H2076H2077H6440H3068 5King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats. And so the king and all the people dedicated the Temple of God.H4428H8010H2076H2077H6242H8147H505H1241H3967H6242H505H6629H4428H5971H2596H1004H430 6The priests took their assigned positions, and so did the Levites who were singing, "His faithful love endures forever!" They accompanied the singing with music from the instruments King David had made for praising the LORD. Across from the Levites, the priests blew the trumpets, while all Israel stood.H3548H5975H4931H3881H3627H7892H3068H1732H4428H6213H3034H3068H2617H5769H1732H1984H3027H3548H2690H2690H3478H5975 7Solomon then consecrated the central area of the courtyard in front of the LORD's Temple. He offered burnt offerings and the fat of peace offerings there, because the bronze altar he had built could not hold all the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and sacrificial fat.H8010H6942H8432H2691H6440H1004H3068H6213H5930H2459H8002H5178H4196H8010H6213H3201H3557H5930H4503H2459 8For the next seven days Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival of Shelters. A large congregation had gathered from as far away as Lebo-hamath in the north and the Brook of Egypt in the south.H6256H8010H6213H2282H7651H3117H3478H3966H1419H6951H935H2574H5158H4714 9On the eighth day they had a closing ceremony, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the Festival of Shelters for seven days.H8066H3117H6213H6116H6213H2598H4196H7651H3117H2282H7651H3117 10Then at the end of the celebration, Solomon sent the people home. They were all joyful and glad because the LORD had been so good to David and to Solomon and to his people Israel.H7969H6242H3117H7637H2320H7971H5971H7971H168H8056H2896H3820H2896H3068H6213H1732H8010H3478H5971

The Lord’s Response to Solomon

11So Solomon finished the Temple of the LORD, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do in the construction of the Temple and the palace.H8010H3615H1004H3068H4428H1004H935H8010H3820H6213H1004H3068H1004H6743 12Then one night the LORD appeared to Solomon and said, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices.H3068H7200H8010H3915H559H8085H8605H977H4725H1004H2077 13At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you.H2005H6113H8064H4306H6680H2284H398H776H7971H1698H5971 14Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.H5971H7121H8034H3665H6419H1245H6440H7725H7451H1870H8085H8064H5545H2403H7495H776 15My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place.H5869H6605H241H7183H8605H4725 16For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.H977H6942H1004H8034H5704H5769H5869H3820H3117 17"As for you, if you faithfully follow me as David your father did, obeying all my commands, decrees, and regulations,H3212H6440H1732H1H1980H6213H6680H8104H2706H4941 18then I will establish the throne of your dynasty. For I made this covenant with your father, David, when I said, 'One of your descendants will always rule over Israel.'H6965H3678H4438H3772H1732H1H559H3772H376H4910H3478 19"But if you or your descendants abandon me and disobey the decrees and commands I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods,H7725H5800H2708H4687H5414H6440H1980H5647H312H430H7812 20then I will uproot the people from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor my name. I will make it an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations.H5428H127H5414H1004H6942H8034H7993H6440H5414H4912H8148H5971 21And though this Temple is impressive now, all who pass by will be appalled. They will ask, 'Why did the LORD do such terrible things to this land and to this Temple?'H1004H5945H8074H5674H559H3068H6213H776H1004 22"And the answer will be, 'Because his people abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and they worshiped other gods instead and bowed down to them. That is why he has brought all these disasters on them.'"H559H5800H3068H430H1H3318H776H4714H2388H312H430H7812H5647H935H7451