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eople Israel； and bring them again unto the land which Thou gavest to them and to their fathers。
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〃When the heaven is shut up； and there is no rain； because they have sinned against Thee； yet if they pray toward this place； and confess Thy name； and turn from their sin； when Thou dost afflict them； then hear Thou from heaven； and forgive the sin of Thy servants； and of Thy people Israel； when Thou hast taught them the good way； wherein they should walk； and send rain upon Thy land； which Thou hast given unto Thy people for an inheritance。
〃If there be dearth in the land； if there be pestilence； if there be blasting； or mildew； locusts； or caterpillars； if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land； whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be： then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man； or of all Thy people Israel； when everyone shall know his own sore and his own grief； and shall spread forth his hands in his house： then hear Thou from heaven Thy dwelling place； and forgive； and render unto every man according unto all his ways； whose heart Thou knowest； 。 。 。 that they may fear Thee； to walk in Thy ways； so long as they live in the land which Thou gavest unto our fathers。
〃Moreover concerning the stranger； which is not of Thy people Israel； but is come from a far country for Thy great name's sake； and Thy mighty hand； and Thy stretched…out arm； if they come and pray in this house； then hear Thou from the heavens； even from Thy dwelling place； and do according to all that the stranger calleth to Thee for； that all people of the earth may know Thy name； and fear Thee； as doth Thy people Israel； and may know that this house which I have built is called by Thy name。
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〃If Thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that Thou shalt send them； and they pray unto Thee toward this city which Thou hast chosen； and the house which I have built for Thy name； then hear Thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication； and maintain their cause。
〃If they sin against Thee； （for there is no man which sinneth not；） and Thou be angry with them； and deliver them over before their enemies； and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near； yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive； and turn and pray unto Thee in the land of their captivity； saying； We have sinned； we have done amiss； and have dealt wickedly； if they return to Thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity； whither they have carried them captives； and pray toward their land； which Thou gavest unto their fathers； and toward the city which Thou hast chosen； and toward the house which I have built for Thy name： then hear Thou from the heavens； even from Thy dwelling place； their prayer and their supplications； and maintain their cause； and forgive Thy people which have sinned against Thee。
〃Now； my God； let； I beseech Thee； Thine eyes be open； and let Thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place。 Now therefore arise； O Lord God； into Thy resting place； 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。〃 Verses 14：42。
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As Solomon ended his prayer； 〃fire came down from heaven； and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices。〃 The priests could not enter the temple because 〃the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house。〃 〃When all the children of Israel saw 。 。 。 the glory of the Lord upon the house； they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement； and worshiped； and praised the Lord； saying； For He is good； for His mercy endureth forever。〃
Then king and people offered sacrifices before the Lord。 〃So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God。〃 2 Chronicles 7：1…5。 For seven days the multitudes from every part of the kingdom； from the borders 〃of Hamath unto the river of Egypt；〃 〃a very great congregation；〃 kept a joyous feast。 The week following was spent by the happy throng in observing the Feast of Tabernacles。 At the close of the season of reconsecration and rejoicing the people returned to their homes； 〃glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the Lord had showed unto David； and to Solomon； and to Israel His people。〃 Verses 8；10。
The king had done everything within his power to encourage the people to give themselves wholly to God and His service； and to magnify His holy name。 And now once more； as at Gibeon early in his reign； Israel's ruler was given evidence of divine acceptance and blessing。 In a night vision the Lord appeared to him with the message： 〃I have heard thy prayer； and have chosen this place to Myself for an house of sacrifice。 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain； or if I command the locusts to devour the land； or if I
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send pestilence among My people； if My people； which are called by My name； shall humble themselves； and pray； and seek My face； and turn from their wicked ways； then will I hear from heaven； and will forgive their sin； and will heal their land。 Now Mine eyes shall be open； and Mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place。 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house； that My name may be there forever： and Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually。〃 Verses 12…16。
Had Israel remained true to God； this glorious building would have stood forever； a perpetual sign of God's especial favor to His chosen people。 〃The sons of the stranger；〃 God declared； 〃that join themselves to the Lord； to serve Him； and to love the name of the Lord； to be His servants； everyone that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it； and taketh hold of My covenant； even them will I bring to My holy mountain； and make them joyful in My house of prayer： their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon Mine altar； for Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people。〃 Isaiah 56：6； 7。
In connection with these assurances of acceptance； the Lord made very plain the path of duty before the king。 〃As for thee；〃 He declared； 〃if thou wilt walk before Me； as David thy father walked； and do according to all that I have commanded thee； and shalt observe My statutes and My judgments； then will I establish the throne of thy kingdom； according as I have covenanted with David thy father； saying； There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel。〃 2 Chronicles 7：17； 18。
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Had Solomon continued to serve the Lord in humility； his entire reign would have exerted a powerful influence for good over the surrounding nations； nations that had been so favorably impressed by the reign of David his father and by the wise words and the magnificent works of the earlier years of his own reign。 Foreseeing the terrible temptations that attend prosperity and worldly honor； God warned Solomon against the evil of apostasy and foretold the awful results of sin。 Even the beautiful temple that had just been dedicated； He declared； would become 〃a proverb and a byword among all nations〃 should the Israelites forsake 〃the Lord God of their fathers〃 and persist in idolatry。 Verses 20； 22。
Strengthened in heart and greatly cheered by the message from heaven that his prayer in behalf of Israel had been heard； Solomon now entered upon the most glorious period of his reign； when 〃all the kings of the earth〃 began to seek his presence； 〃to hear his wisdom； that God had put in his heart。〃 2 Chronicles 9：23。 Many came to see the manner of his government and to receive instruction regarding the conduct of difficult affairs。
As these people visited Solomon； he taught them of God as the Creator of all things； and they returned to their homes with clearer conceptions of the God of Israel and of His love for the human race。 In the works of nature they now beheld an expression of His love and a revelation of His character； and many were led to worship Him as their God。
The humility of Solomon at the time he began to bear the burdens of state； when he acknowledged before God；
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〃I am but a little child〃 （1 Kings 3〃7）； his marked love of God； his profound reverence for things divine； his distrust of self； and his exaltation of the infinite Creator of allall these traits of character； so worthy of emulation； were revealed during the services connected with the completion of the temple； when during his dedicatory prayer he knelt in the humble position of a petitioner。 Christ's followers today should guard against the tendency to lose the spirit of reverence and godly fear。 The Scriptures teach men how they should approach their Makerwith humility and awe； through faith in a divine Mediator。 The psalmist has declared：
〃The Lord is a great God； And a great King above all gods。 。 。 。 O come； let us worship and bow down： Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker。〃