20th.: The Temple Dedication
When, the Jewish worship temple was completed,
Solomon gave a dedication prayer.
The text for this prayer is found in 1st Kings 8:22-54.
Many of the points came from the Pentateuch, or his dad’s prayers.
For example
1) Exalted God above all, as one of a kind (Exo. 15:11).
2) Reminded God of His promised covenantal relationship with Israel (Deut. 7:9).
3) Reminded God of the promises he made to David.
4) Remembered that God transcends physical buildings
5) Requested God to hear this prayer, and the prayers of the people.
6) Punish the people when they do evil (Lev. 26:17-18).
7) Give to every one according to his ways (Ps.11:4).
8) Forgive the people, as they return, confessing His name (Lev. 26:40-42).
9) Forgive so that we may learn to fear God (Ps. 130:4).
10) Hearken to non-Israelites who also want to fear God (Lev. 22:18).
11) Defend Israel against its aggressors (Deut. 28:7).
12) If Israel sins, loses in battle, and is taken captive to another land, listen to them in the foreign land. If they turn their hearts to God in the foreign land, forgive them, and defend them, as they live in the foreign land. (Exo. 26:39-40)
13) Remember that you brought them out of Egypt. (Exo. 32:11)
14) Remember that of all the peoples of the world, you made Israel special to you (Deut. 26:18).
We too can use the Scriptures to give us ideas on what to say to God.