2CH 6:12-9Mamma. Now Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord, in the presence of all Israel. He had made a scaffold of brass, and upon this he kneeled down, before all the people, and spread forth his hands toward heaven to pray.
Sophy. Did he pray out loud?
M. Oh yes; and all the people stood. Solomon prayed from no book, neither did the congregation; but God's Spirit taught His servant what to say and to ask for, according to the mind of God. He begins by owning, for his own heart's comfort, who God is, and what He is. God over all heaven and earth. A God who keeps covenant, and chews mercy to His servants. And such a God as this had promised to David his father, and had said He would dwell among men. Therefore Solomon prays that His eyes might be upon this house by day, and even by night; when it might seem to be dark and desolate, God's eyes would still be there—the God whose mercy endureth forever!
And if He punished man for iniquity, yet when there were confession and turning to God, He would forgive; for God knew the hearts of the children of men. Solomon had proved that, and he pleads that they were God's people, and the land was God's land. But he asks also that the stranger might prove the blessings of God's great name, and if even the stranger came to pray in this house, that God would hear the voice of a stranger, and would give to him what he asked for. Then he calls upon Jehovah to enter His resting-place, as he says, "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." And as soon as Solomon ceased, fire came down from heaven upon the burnt-offerings, and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. And when 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 upon the ground and worshipped, praising the Lord in the words of the king, and saying, For He is good; for His mercy endureth forever.
S. Why did fire come down from heaven?
M. To show that God accepted their offerings. Do you remember that, when Aaron and his sons were consecrated, on the eighth day, when Aaron blessed the people, and the glory of God appeared to all the people, fire from the Lord came down, and burnt up everything on the altar? Then the people shouted, and fell on their faces. But at that time they did not sing about His mercy enduring forever. Not until they were at peace in the promised land—until God had come into His resting-place, with the ark of His strength—then His priests were clothed with salvation, and then His saints rejoiced in His goodness.
Here all were in their right places: the priests waited on their offerings; the Levites had their instruments of music, which David had made to praise the Lord, because His mercy endureth forever. It was as though David was praising with them, when they played his music. Then Solomon and all Israel offered sacrifices, and kept the feast for seven days. We are reminded of that wonderful psalm in which David tells of the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ, when He gave Himself to be God's perfect offering. He says, "In the midst of the congregation will I praise thee." And again, "My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation.”
S. Will Jesus sing praises with His people?
M. Yes; He will lead their praises; He will join with them in praising the Father for what He Himself has done, and the fullest note in all their praises will be that He has done it. (See Psa. 22)
Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king's house, and all that came into his heart to do.
Now we get the Lord's answer to Solomon's prayer. He appears to Solomon by night. The Lord says that He has heard Solomon's prayer, and that He will do all that he has asked, but on the condition of the king's faithfulness. If the king was faithful, the Lord would bless both the king and the people. But if the king departed from the Lord, He would no longer have His eyes and His heart perpetually there. He would give up this house that was so high and great; and all the nations should know that the reason the Lord did not defend His people was because they had forsaken Him, who had done so great things for them.
After this Solomon brought home his Gentile bride; she was a type of the Gentile being brought into blessing, because she is united to the man of God's purpose.
S. You told me that Solomon had many wives?
M. Yes; after this he married a great many wives, and they led away his heart from the, Lord. But this is not told here as it is in Kings; because all is grace in this book, and the perfection of the Lord's own purposes for Israel. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Here Solomon commands the priests and the Levites. The nations around pay tribute. He reigns from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea. The Gentiles in distant lands speak of his greatness.
S. I remember about the Queen of Sheba coming to see him, and she brought camels with all sorts of precious things for king Solomon.
M. The Queen of the South came to him with her hard questions; because she had heard of his wisdom. She had great riches and power, but her heart was not satisfied. She wanted the wisdom which was better than rubies. She came to hear something about Solomon's God; who had said, I love them that love Me, and those that seek Me early shall find Me. And when she heard the words of Solomon, and saw all his greatness, she said half had not been told her; for the Lord must indeed have loved His people to bless them with so rich a blessing. She gave great offerings to Solomon; but his rich gifts to her were greater. Then she returned to her own land, she, and her servants.
S. Did Solomon give wise answers to all who came to him?
M. Yes; for all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom that God had put into his heart; and they brought him gifts out of all lands. He built a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. Six steps led up to the throne, with six lions on each side. Two lions on every step; and a footstool of gold. All the rest of the acts of Solomon are written by the prophets. For even a wise man and a great king must die. One event happens to us all. So Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David, while his son Rehoboam reigned in his stead. Solomon reigned in Jerusalem for forty years.