International Sunday School Lesson September 8, 2024
1 Kings 8:22-24, 37-39, 46, 48-50a
Background
David had wanted to build a temple for God. However, God said David had shed too much blood to build the temple. His son would build it. David put a lot of preparation into building the temple. David died. The throne went to his son Solomon. Solomon reigned in relative peace. Solomon concentrated on building the temple his father planned. Today’s Sunday School Lesson describes the dedication of that temple after its completion.
No God Like You
1 Kings 8:22-24 (ESV) Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven, [23] and said, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart; [24] you have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day.
Solomon both stood and knelt during this dedication. He also lifted his hands during this time. Solomon acknowledged the awesomeness of God Almighty. Solomon praised and thanked God for His longsuffering with his family and people.
Micah 7:18 (ESV) Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.
We all can praise God as Micah praised. We all have fallen. We all have sinned. God’s mercy endures forever. Thank God that He looks out after us.
Hear in Heaven
1 Kings 8:37-39 (ESV) “If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemy besieges them in the land at their gates, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, [38] whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart and stretching out his hands toward this house, [39] then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind),
Solomon is asking God to hear His people when they call on Him. Solomon knew that hard times come in everyone’s life. Solomon also knew that God was able to fix every problem. He asked God to show mercy to the people.
Psalms 91:14-16 (ESV) “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. 15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
God looks out for the Christian. Yes, hard times come. God sees us through all of them. Sometimes deliverance comes after we pass into the next life. But God will always see us through our problems.
Repent
1 Kings 8:46-49 (ESV) “If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near, [47] yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’ [48] if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, [49] then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause
Solomon knew the people would stumble. He knew there would be consequences when it happened. He was asking God to hear the people when they came to their senses and repented.
1 John 1:8-10 (ESV) If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
These three verses cover all the major points in living a Christian life. Everyone of us will falter from time-to-time. Everyone of us will need to ask for forgiveness. God will forgive our sins when we repent. And, just as important, every one of us sins and we should never be arrogant or boastful. Be meek and humble.
Forgive
1 Kings 8:50 (ESV) and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them
We see Solomon asking for God to be tenderhearted with the people when they repent. We should pray the same prayer for those in our lives.
Proverbs 16:7 (ESV) When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
We must be careful about this verse. This is not saying that living right means that we will need have problems. There are times of persecution. We may not hit-it-off with everyone. But living a godly life makes it easier to have a good relationship with others. You are not lying, cheating, stealing, and running around on your mate. Those are major sources of conflict and are absent from the godly life.
Concluding Thoughts
A couple of concluding thoughts. One, pray for those in your life like Solomon prayed for his people. Two, look to God to heal the land. Three, never think that you or your group is without sin. Humbly look to God for your needs and the needs of others.
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