It is now time for the grand opening of the temple; the work is complete it is time for God to move into this divine home. 1 Kings 8 begins the story of the dedication of the temple and the elaborate ceremony that is conducted by King Solomon. As the Ark, which contains the tablets of the law placed there by Moses, is brought to the temple, several theological statements are made about God. The language emphasize the Law of God, the transcendent glory of God and the mystery of God.
This first section the ceremony ends with Solomon affirming that he has done what is has been commanded to do. Solomon has fulfilled the word that was given to David, that God would make an everlasting covenant with David and that David's son would build a house to the Lord. This has been done.
Solomon then offers a prayer of dedication. He thanks the Lord for fulfilling the first half of the promise to David, a son has inherited the throne but Solomon also seeks for God to fulfill the second, the everlasting covenant with the line of kings that descend from David. Solomon is eager to insure that his own reign is legitimated by God.
Next, he then makes seven petitions to God; regarding the judicial oath, regarding the defeat of Israel, regarding drought, regarding other crises, regarding the foreigner, regarding holy war and regarding exile. In each of these petitions, Solomon asks God to hear the cries and prayers of Israel.
The chapter ends with Solomon blessing the assembly of Israel and offering sacrifices of well-being, or blessing to God.
1 Kings 9 begins with God agreeing to consecrate and dwell in the temple, but there is a warning offered, Solomon and Solomon's children must walk in the path of David, must follow in the covenant with God. If he, or his descendants fail to follow God, God will cut off Israel. Solomon and those who follow, are warned to keep Israel in line, for they must all remain faithful to the covenant.
Following the consecration of the temple, the narrative shifts again to exalt and glorify the rule of Solomon. First up, Solomon's financial acumen is demonstrated by his swindling of Hiram of Lebanon. He is able to sell worthless land to Hiram for a fortune. Of course, one would assume this would sow some seeds of discord between Solomon and Hiram but the narrative fails to mention this. It is too busy extolling Solomon.
Part of this work is the great building projects that Solomon commissions and archaeology has uncovered. This work was accomplished to a large measure by the work of the peoples of the land who were forced into labor, but worry not, these workers were not Israelite so it is ok to enslave them. Isn't it?
Psalm 56-57
Again we hear a psalmists plea for vindication against the persecution of others. Yet in the midst of this persecution, the major theme of the psalm is the trust that he or she has in God. The psalmist trusts that the moment that his or her cry is offered up to God, that God will come down and redeem them. This is trust in a God who seeks us and listens for our pain, for our cries. It is the mystery of a God who is transcendent yet imminent. So moved to trust, the psalmist closes with a statement of a need to perform proper duties of thanks for a deliverance they know is coming.
Psalm 57 continues this pattern of trust, that even in the midst of persecution, of living amongst carnivorous lions, the speaker knows that God will hear and bring about redemption. It is this knowledge that allows the psalmist to rejoice even in the midst of persecution.
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