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SOLOMON’S THANKSGIVING PRAYER
TO men Solomon might appear most glorious when seated on his throne, and surrounded by all his courtiers: but in the eyes of God he never was so glorious, as when he was leading the devotions of all his people, and imploring blessings on them from above. Neither actuated by ostentation, nor restrained by shame, he erected a stage or pulpit in the court of the temple near the altar, and there in the midst of all the congregation kneeled down upon his knees, and with his hands stretched out to heaven poured forth his soul in the devoutest supplications. The prayer he uttered was of considerable length, and, as it should seem, the extemporaneous effusion of his own heart. How happy would it be, if all our kings were so disposed, or even if all the ministers of the sanctuary were alike earnest in their acknowledgment of God, and qualified to conduct, from the abundance of their own hearts, the service of his sanctuary!
After having offered to God his prayer and supplication, he rose from his knees to bless the people. By “blessing them,” we are not to suppose that he pretended to have any fulness in himself, whereby to make them blessed: it is not in man, however great, to make others blessed; he can only ministerially declare what God has promised, or implore in their behalf the blessing of God upon them. This is what was done by the priests of old [Note: Num_6:23-26.], and this is what he did on this occasion.
The words in which he blessed them contain,
I. An address to God—
This consisted of two parts:
1. A thanksgiving for mercies received—
[God had now fulfilled in its utmost extent the promises which he had given to Israel. “The whole land, from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates [Note: Gen_15:18 with Deu_11:24.],” was under Solomon’s dominion: the most perfect rest and peace prevailed throughout the whole empire [Note: 1Ki_5:4.]: and a place was now erected, on a spot chosen by God himself, for his worship and service [Note: Deu_12:11.]. Of “all the promises which God had given by Moses, not one word had failed:” all was come to pass; and the whole nation enjoyed a state of unprecedented prosperity. For these things Solomon now “blessed the Lord,” both in his own name, and in the name of all the people.
Have we received such blessings from the Lord? let us then bless him too. Have we a peaceable enjoyment of God’s ordinances, and freedom from the assaults of open enemies? Have we union also and harmony amongst ourselves? let us be thankful for these mercies: it is not every Church that enjoys them; nor can any thing but the peculiar favour of Heaven continue them to us.
But what if we have experienced an accomplishment of that promise of our Lord, “Come unto me, and I will give you rest?” What if we have obtained a victory over all our spiritual enemies, and be living in a sweet sense of God’s love, and the habitual enjoyment of his presence? Shall not we bless the name of our God, yea, bless him too with all our faculties and all our powers? — — —]
2. A prayer for the continuance of them—
[The presence of God with them comprehended every blessing that Solomon could desire; and therefore Solomon entreated God “never to leave them nor forsake them [Note: ver. 57.].” This alone could “incline their hearts” to serve the Lord [Note: ver. 58.]: this alone could secure to them a complete enjoyment of their happiness [Note: ver. 59]: this alone could enable them to glorify their God in the world [Note: ver. 60.].
And what can any one desire more in your behalf? If “God be with you,” and operate in you effectually for these ends and purposes, you are blessed, you must be blessed for ever. On the contrary, “Woe be to them,” saith God, “when I depart from them [Note: Hos_9:12.]!” Yes, if he depart, we shall have no more “inclination to walk in his ways,” but shall surely “walk after the imagination of our own evil hearts:” we shall no more be able to “maintain our own cause” against our spiritual adversaries, but shall fall a prey to every lust: we shall no more constrain the world to admire “the exceeding grace of God in us,” but shall rather cause them “to blaspheme his holy name.
May God therefore bless you with his continued presence and his effectual grace!]
This address to God he concluded with,
II. An exhortation to the people—
Solomon would not dismiss the people without exhorting them to perform their duties to God, who had so loaded them with his richest benefits: he therefore besought them,
1. To be perfect with the Lord—
[Absolute perfection is not to be attained in this world [Note: Ecc_7:20; Jam_3:2.]: but there is a perfection which every Christian must attain, a perfection of desire, of purpose, and of endeavour. We should see such a beauty in holiness as to long for the utmost possible attainment of it: we should desire to “be holy as God is holy,” and “perfect as our Father which is in heaven is perfect.” At this too we should aim: the great object of our lives should be to mortify every thing that is contrary to God’s will, and to get his law perfectly engraven upon our hearts. To be “cast into the very mould of the Gospel,” and to be “renewed after the perfect image of our God in righteousness and true holiness,” should be the ambition of our souls. After this also should we labour; never thinking that we have attained any thing, whilst any thing remains to be attained. This was the state of the Apostle Paul [Note: Php_3:12-14.], and must be the state of every one that would be approved of his God [Note: Php_3:15.].
Is it thought by any, that, in requiring this, we require too much? I ask, For what has “God given us such exceeding great and precious promises,” but that “by them we may be partakers of the divine nature, and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust [Note: 2. Pet. 1:4.]?” I ask again, What is the use which God teaches us to make of his promises? Is it not to “cleanse ourselves by their means from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God [Note: 2Co_7:1.]?” I ask yet further, What is the desire which every pious minister will feel in behalf of his people; and to what will he endeavour, both in his private prayers and his public labours, to bring them? Is it not, “that they may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God [Note: Col_4:12.]?” Away then with all apprehensions that we require too much: we require only what God requires, and what every soul that shall ever be saved, must possess: in actual attainments there will, in spite of our utmost exertions, be much lacking; but in desire, purpose, and endeavour, we must be perfect, not willingly harbouring the smallest imperfection [Note: 1Ch_28:9.], but striving to “grow up into Christ in all things, as our living Head.”]
2. To preserve continually the frame they now possessed—
[The people now, as well as their king, were in a very devout and heavenly frame: there was nothing they would not now have done, or sacrificed, for the honour of their God. Solomon therefore says to them, “Be perfect with the Lord, as at this day.” Now there are times when every godly person has felt himself more especially alive to the concerns of eternity: he has been humbled in the dust, under a sense of his own guilt and helplessness; he has been filled with admiration at the divine goodness to him; he has longed to have God ever with him, and to find all his happiness in the presence of his God. If such, then, have ever been our state, is there not the same reason that it should be so now? Does God deserve less at our hands, than he did at the period referred to? Why then do we not feel the same towards him? Perhaps we may be disposed to look back upon such seasons with complacency; but we should rather look upon all other seasons with shame and sorrow. O labour, Brethren, to preserve upon your minds those better feelings which you have at any time experienced; and, instead of declining from them, to get them revived and strengthened from day to day!
Such is the blessing, which, were it at our disposal, we would bestow upon you; and such is the blessing which we entreat of God to confer on every one amongst you.]