Turning back to Leviticus 9, when the priesthood w a s established, we find a scene that in a way parallels what is presented here; the glory of God had then appeared to all the people, and fire from God had consumed the offerings upon the brazen altar. But the priesthood had failed, the people had lost everything of title, by sin; and kingly power had set aside that system that had broken down. All now rested upon the "sure mercies of David", as we have seen fully set out in Solomon's prayer. In the millennium, all will rest upon the Messiah-King, the Lord Jesus, when He takes His power and reigns, for He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet (1 Cor. 15:2525For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. (1 Corinthians 15:25)), and there will be no failure in Him.
Solomon's reign of glory was soon over, and brightest at its beginning. Dazzled by earthly power and glory he fell into sin. We may notice the burnt offering singled out for express mention in verse 1 of our chapter; it is because the burnt offering illustrates, typifies, the entire devotion of Christ, His obedience even to death, and that the death of the cross. It is that character of His life and death here which gave the fullest delight to His Father, and was a profound motive for His love (John 10:1717Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. (John 10:17)).
In the presence of God's displayed glory (see however 2 Corinthians 3 which points to a surpassing glory, that of His grace), the children of Israel bowed with their faces to the ground, and worshiped and thanked Him Whose loving kindness endureth forever. Solomon offered in sacrifice 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep in the dedication of the temple, using the middle of the court, before the building, because the brazen altar, large though it was (chapter 4:1), was not able to receive the burnt offerings and oblations and fat to be burned thereon.
The feast of verses 8 and 9 is the feast of tabernacles, ordained of God for Israel in Leviticus 23:34,34Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord. (Leviticus 23:34) and in its order given again in Numbers 29:12,12And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the Lord seven days: (Numbers 29:12) and Deuteronomy 16:13-1513Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine: 14And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. 15Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord shall choose: because the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice. (Deuteronomy 16:13‑15). It was not kept with booths of branches of trees, however, from Joshua's day until Nehemiah's (see Nehemiah 8:14-1714And they found written in the law which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month: 15And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written. 16So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim. 17And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness. (Nehemiah 8:14‑17)).
The temple completed, and the king's house, God appeared to Solomon to tell him the conditions under which he was placed, and the people with him that the blessings now possessed might be continued; and if lost by reason of unfaithfulness, how they might be repossessed. If the house of Israel should turn away from God, the nation should be uprooted from the land of their inheritance, and the magnificent temple should become an astonishment to the passer by. Such was to occur in substantially four hundred years, because of Israel's provoking God to anger by idolatry.
God requires faithfulness; should not His children by faith in the risen and exalted Saviour today seek to profit by Israel's failure, and in deep confession, with heartfelt desire endeavor to walk in practical separation from a guilty world, whose judgment, as well as that of Christendom, is not far away?